The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-07-24
Daily Short Story
COMING OF SAMMY.

PROBABLY nobody tine better than
maa'k horton what the coming OF SAM
petit and Mark had lived in adioin,nx
homes Tor over fifteen years on terms
pIeasantly ~neikheorly. IL was Mark who
through the summer months and IL was
Marx who snoveled broad paths around
winter.
Everybody said IL was a downright
shame such an exceptionally nice pa r
old not marry. Mark. IN the prime OF Ire.
WIN a eomiortaoie income. had not a
was similarly situated. save that she mad
a cousin out in Kansas whom she had
not seen since girihood. Neither thought
the other lonely. but that was before the
morning Mary called to Mark over the
hedge dividing their lawns and told him
about Sammy.
There was an open letter in her hand.
and as Mark drew near his eyes beheld a
new. grave Mary. Her cheeks were soft
ly flushed. her lips tremulous and her
gray eyes danced In such . beautiful
manner Marks astonished We'll, by
Jove', was almost audible. lie stood
anu stared AT ner. speeehless when he
fssened the hedge. but when she cried
impetuously, oh. Mark Horton. such a
wonderful thinx-I'm going 20 have a
boy TO raise her transfer nation was
completely forgotten.
She LAUGHED at his amaxement: read
him the letter which informed her OF che
death or the cousin in Kansas: OF the lit
t.e BOY. fatherless and mctneriess; OF
the letter the mother had left besesch-
ing Mary to care for him.
I'm soing 10 Kansas right away" she
announced Importantly as she finished
reading won't ~ be great. Mark. hav-
Ing a child aroundy At times I'm lonely"
And mat was the first Marx knew
aoout loneliness ever comins near Mary
Tipyett.
Mary was back from Kansas with the
boy and In her happy importance Mark
again saw Mary utterly new TO him.
SOMETHING AfNTUNn~ ONNhN. HI 20 -
ment kept his eyes from the child. When
at last ne looked at him. and the little
fellow had shyly shaken hands with him
ana was making up with Marks dog.
Mark said TO Mary: He'll be n good
looking Mary. when We get
those crazy curls cut off"
Mhry's proud glance left the boy and
she flashed around at him. Mark Hor-
ton, cut that beautiful hair which they
tell me his mother was so proud Off
Why. Well. l should say noti thlnk
he looks 50 sweet"
sweet: What In thunderation has n
boy got TO do with looking sweet? For
heavens sake. make him manly. Mary:
make him manly Better let me run
down TO the BARRIERS and have that wool
taken off right away"
but after one long. Indignant glance
Mary turned away scornfuliy. Thus the
first discordant note Crept into the
peaceful friendship Of years.
In tie year that followed thcy had
many a Iangle over the raising OF Sam
my. The soft. AIR curlS. the Russian
SUITS anu IN" SUITS VIII elaborate collars
that Mar! chose To dress him in MARI
could not tolerate.
My goodness. Mary" he would storm.
hes too tall a boy FOR those foolis
clothes. BE sensible and put him in
trousers like other boys Of his height.
He's no baby.
Hut Mar. whose greatest delight %
Was 20 beautifully iron the white RL.s-
sian suits. snapped out at him. I'm go-
lux 80 keen him u baby Just as long A.
can. Marx Horton. so there AMI !
wish. Marx. Mary's head went up
haushtly. that YOU would try 20 re-
member that Sammy is not your hoy.
Mays eyes were stormy. her lips
were set IN = nrm. straight line when Sic
left him. II was the first controversy
over the uphringing Of sammy that did
not end with a laugh from Mark and a
smile from Mary. ard when Mark went
back through tile opening in tie hedge
there was something strange and sad
tugGing AT his Hcart-Something that
Kept him On the Neranda motioniess for
many moments. even his dog nosing hts
cold muzzle under his hand unnoticad.
lie Was looking down a long. long road.
called Might Have Been" over and
over Marys remark rang in his ears.