The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-07-13
HARRY HARPER'S
S W E Il Il F1 E a r T


| IElepuOue BAAlb olS u94ahy . ohAAS
set of individuals, and the young man
who attempts to chat them must be-
In conversation, about as unsettled as
they. However, there may be excep.
tons to the rule, but they are rare.
The habit is acquired, 1t seems, By
their talking to 50 many different PEG
pie on as many different subjects; as
each time there is a drop falls at the
switchboard, somebody has something
to say on a subject foreign to that Of
the predecessor, the result being that
the central girl knows something Of
everything-the good. bad and indlf
ferent-and everything that goes to
ward making up the life Of central
girl.
Edith Maynard was rather an ex'
ception to the general class Of these
individuals. She was one of the few
at this calling who was sensibly in.
cllned. Poverty was undoubtedly the
cause, as it usually casts shadow
of gloom upon those unfortunate indi'
viduals, who happen to be under Its
ban. They lived in a small two room
fiat, somewhat back from the busy
street, for rent was not so high there
as it was in some Of the more preten'
tious parts OF the city.
It was a pleasant experience to go
into their home. Everything was al.
ways so bright and cheerful, that one
could hardly keep from saying, why
are not all homes like this?" 1t was
home in which love seemed to pre-
dominate. Edith would often assist
her mother with one Of life's endless
grlnds-the housework. when her du.
ties at the Office were through for the
day.
Edith usually did the shopping. She
often going to solohon's, near Han
over Square. At this place she met a
young man, who was salesman in the
establishment, and 1t was often his
good fortune to wait on her at thu
counter. He seemed so nice, that
Edith was always glad to have him
wait on her whenever possible. By
and by they became better acquaint'
ed, and often a slight conversation
would pass between them, comment,
ing upon the weather, or some topic
about as important (9.
One day when Edith was not feel.
ing well. and was not at work. she
went into this place to do some SHOP
ping, and In their course of CONVEX,
sation Harry Harper asked permission
to call upon her at her home. The re.
quest was granted, and several even.
lngs afterward he made call Of per-
haps an hour and half. Upon leav.
ing, permission was asked that he
. might call again. The request was
granted, but with reluctance, as Edith
did not approve Of much company.
She had often read how young men
had wooed and won young girls and
had taken them away of some where
and deserted them. She had made up
her mind that she would be on the
alert for such proceedings.
Harry Harper was born in the coun.
try. but the last five years of his life
had been spent In the city. During this
time he had not spent his time as so
many young men had spent theirs
in ldleness. Instead, he had spent his
surplus hours In the Carnegie Library,
reading some of the best fiction Of
the day. However, he was not love-
story fiend. Travel and adventure
we're his favorite reading. Many were
the days he spent within the walls Of
that building pouring over some of
the stories of General Charles King,
or of peradventure, Captain Mayne
Reds sea tales.
This young man had made up mis-
mind to see some Of the world, and to
satisfy himself that some of the things
of which he read were really true. Yet
It was not his intention to startle the
world for awhile by so doing.
The next time he called upon Miss
Maynard was almost week after mis-
first call, and she was beginning to
wonder whether he intended to make
his words good or not. At seven
o'clock the door.bell rang sharp and
clear, and Edith, upon going to the
door, found Harry standing there.
Good evening" said Harry. have
come to ask you to excuse me tonight,
as am not very well. But hope you
will allow me to call again." he con.
tinued.
eyes," she ventured, "if you are not
feeling well, I shall not insist, but I
hope 1t is nothing serious. You may
call whenever you like"
Nothing but little cold, guess,
responded Harry.