The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-14
THE II: DAILY ].
SHORT STORY
Her Wedding Day.
BY ELIZABETH SHIELDS.

a D6Q at neT IdCS Will u SpeCh VI manu-.
kerchief. then sent dimpled smile
at Murray Kent, who. seated directly
before her, was devouring 10.cent
lunch.
In the crowd OF messy laborers and
factory hands. eating with hats on.
.sprawling all over the tables. Murray
stood out conspicuously. His fair,
.wavy hair. tanned skin and slenderly.
made body radiated health against the
background Of unwashed, hopeless ia.
lces. He ate his soup quietly. sitting
upright. She noted the easy grace
with which he handled a fork.
She looked at him through curled
lashes and followed his gaze to his
yellow automobile. standing outside.
Each day he came In just such splen-
dor, leaving the car to tempt and tan
.talize her. She wanted to run away
from the repugnant smells OF the
Third avenue restaurant.
The day was uncomfortably hot.
Just across the street, beyond the yell
low car, was strip OF green grass and
trees.
: deliberately nonchalant. Murray
Kent finished his meal and came TO.
ward the cash desk. With hands deep
in the pockets OF his gray flannel suit,
he stood feasting his eyes on her al.
Turing little body and flushed face,
framed in soft brown hair.
II shall come back for you later
with the car" he said. "lt's yours for
the afternoon, little bird. You're wei.
come TO everything own"
"You'fe always making promises to
Yna - nrofaafad rocilio
"l'll keep the one" he assured her.
well drive up Riverside and pick out
a fiat right, now, sweetheart"
Cecilia smiled uncertainty and SLOW
ly withdrew her hand, which he had
covered with his. You're rich" she
said. Il wouldn't be good enough for
your family. l know"
III you had the same clothes anu
setting of the rich girls in town-say,
what's the use telling you all over
again. Run away from your job for
the afternoon. Come with me In the
car. won't you?"
Eyes, when I'm through with the
lunch hour crowd" she whispered.
She turned OH him adoring gray eyes.
The mystery of something not under.
stood but divinely thrilling, yelled
them and trembled in her voice. Lean.
ing toward Murray she exclaimed: II
have beautiful clothes-I bought a
lovely pink gown-all lace and tulle
and beads. You said you'd get your
dads box at the opera some night. /
bought It for that"
A flush mounted the mans TEN.
pies. Regular opera is off in the sum.
,mer, but you can wear the dress, girl.
ie." A boyish, impulsively laugh fill
ed the small restaurant. "I'll have
Caruso open up for night. will"
His eyes fingered in rapture on the
happy face upturned to his. a timid,
ripping sound from Cecilia's lips
blended with the irresponsible gayety
of the mans laugh.
4 Maybe we'd better 60 to the mo.
Sies." she suggested quickly.
iii go anywhere with you, child.
I'm crazy about you"
You're always laughing at me-" sha
pouted.
IN return for you at four" he as.
sured her.
When Murray crawled into the low
seat OF the car. Julia Schmitt, proprie-
tor, seated herself In the open door
way. THE loafer," she scolded his
Well.tailored back. pays 10 cents for
his lunch and spends the afternoon
here"
Cecilia felt too wilted with tho heat
to reply. Suddenly Julia demanded:
did he tell you how he happens to
have IS on the door of his dads car
II his right name is Kent? She laugh.
ed at her own shrewdness.
Cecilia stopped sorting the blue
cash checks. A seriously worried
look crept into her eyes.
The hot afternoon droned on. Ju-
liza was quietly snoring when Murray
drove his yellow car to the restaurant
at 4 o'clock. Cecilia jumped In be.
side him.
They turned into Fifth avenue,
straight up to Central Park, crossing
10 Riverside drive. They dashed pas,
blocks and blocks of apartment
houses, but If Murray remembered
anything about locating a fat he was
trying to forget It in the speed of the
car. Cecilia sat in brcathless antici.
patton till the car slowed down on q
rugged road, little more than q lane,
leading to q narrow stream. Murray
leaned forward to lift her from the
car and the warmth OF his face burn.
ed into hers as he whispered: my,
you're pretty" His lips touched hei
throat.
kiss me. sweetheart" he begged,
as he held her.
NO." Cecilia answered sharply.
Take me back to julia
He ran his fingers through his half
E:wilted collar and took off his hat.
you don't care for me after all, do
you?"
Cecilia crouched back afraid not so
much OF Murray as of herself. Her
lace famed as an overpowering i'm
pulse came to put her arms about him
and press her lips to his. However,
she ventured timidly to say, I'VE for.
got to look at apartments, d.ln't we?"
Z Murray bit his lips and then sent a
dazzling smile at her.
Why live cooped up in a ten.room
fiat? Wouldn't you rather have coun.
try house, darling? That's it-weTl
live In the country"
THAT would be wonderful" Cecilia
tried to adjust her puzzled mind, with
the himbleness Of Murray's, to a coun.
try house and garden. A mist filed
her eyes. Her head slipped to Muir.
rays shoulder as he kissed her and