The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-12
Daily Short Story
THE SIX YEARS.
b. Laura Klrkman.

There was no embarrassment in
Ms. bancroft's face as she poured
a cup % tea Tor the girl from home.
me SRI Who had seen her an her hour
Of deepest humiliation.
And how o. George" she asked
frankly. striving 10 pronouncs her huS-
bands name o. though u were that
% any friend
Maud Railway started
7 believe he's vel" she said
rlardedly. though I seldom soc him.
he stays on the farm most Of the
And your cousin Amy went on
the older woman swiftly. seeing the
toof7
Al the mention OF this name Naud's
eyes snapped
Yes. she's well" she answered OK
citedly. but she's going TO marry that
frank Collier-that drunkard shes
Nluy enough 70 think she can reform
him The words froze on her hps
she had forEotten. for the instant
"drunkard."
But Edna Bancroft was neither hurt
nor angry. She smiled kindly into
me girls horror-struck face.
Let her marry him." she said
frankly. Hell never reform without
her help. perhaps with L.. he can. Just
because my trial failed. there is no
reason 10 believe that hers will"
Maud was speeches.. she maryeled
AZ the woman's frankness. But she
was yet 10 marvel still more q.
nat is -. went on Edna Ban
croft. And IL might as well BE-
brought out into the daylight ANY
way, II will do me good TO talk. The
reason ! couldn't reform George was
that ! got hold OF him too late. he
was beyond reform"
She got Up now. With reminiscent
eys. she wandered TO the window
And yet" she went on staring
down unseeingly al the street "I'd do
u all over again. III marry him again.
knowing this. for those first six years
when he was trying"
Swiftly Maud Railway rose. Tears
stung her eyes. Sha hoped Mrs.
Bancroft would understand that her
train left in 10 minutes: that she
simply had TO 20. but whether she
did or not. Maud had no voice TO tell
ner She was thankful when she wa.
out In the hall with the door closed
between them
On the other side OF the closed
door Edna stood moment with
clenChed hands. then. brding YEARLY
picked up her sewing She Sat down
beside her work table. Desperately
she tried 10 focus her thoughts on
her work, on the dance dress she was
making for Miss Evans. and the eve
ming wrap for Mrs Perrin-on ths
triumph o. having successfully trans
planted business from Greendale
TO New York
But she failed uisersbly TO govern
her mind All she could do was TO
hold the soft dance frock material
IN her hands and stare at il dazedly.
In its Wilderness she seemed 10 ind
George-George as he was in the
years when he was trying. As II to
90 TO him. she sank her head into the
soft fabric and cried
And Maud, on a train flying back 10
Greendale, was crying. too.
George Bancroft shall know Just
how big monster he isl" she vowed
Niclously. iii tell HMM a round
about way. of course. but I'll tell him
Just how she feels about things. lie
shall know hoy helpless a thing he
has crushed.
When she reached Greendale. in
stead Of going 10 him, she took a
hack 20 George Bancroft's farm
Reform work: not a social call, ."
she explained TO the hack driver,
whose wife belonged TO Maud's sew
ing club. and who was. therefore. 4
person worth explaining to.
George Bancroft was eating dinner
when she arrived
Il won't keep you a minute" she
said with a feiEned friendliness. Il
Just drove out 10 ask you a question.