The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-25
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Reunited.
BY GRAYsoN STONE
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicatel

NupSTlSnt, 1917 ny the MCCLURE
Newspaper Syndicate)
THIS was the situation with Clyde
Richards when his twenty.first
birthday arrived He had sold
his first picture as a landscape artist
ana his brother artists had found only
little fault with H. He had money
enough TO struggle along until success
came. hut none 10 make a show with.
Acqnaintanccs had cautioned him not
! tn hamper himself. and friends had
told him outright that 4 would not
In good policy 10 handicap himself
with wife. though he found himself
in love.
There are professions In which Il
]" argued that a wife can helm n hus-
band 10 rise. and In others Il is ar
Rued that she will prove hindrance;
there is logic in both cases. Clyde
richards was in love and had been for
year or more. and Marian Fletcher
Knew that lie was. hut no word had
bceh spoken. He was u regular caller
at her fathers house and had reason to
believe that his calls were rather look.
cd for. but he did not indulge in any
hopes. Her father was a broker ana
rcputed 10 be well oil. and she held
her head very high ~ a daughter OF
rich man. There were also five or
/ six other Young mcn among her call.
ers. and they were young men who hao
advantages over him
\ girl OF nineteen is romantic. how.
ever. and had he spoken his love who
could tell what would have happen.
cd" Romance might have made her
say yes. while finance would have
brought out many objections from her
father.
The case stood thus when Il word of
two from Miss Marian dashed all Of
The young artists hopes. One evening
when he was caller and they had
talked u little or his art she said In
n laughing way:
Father is so practical. He was ask
ing about you the other day, and
told him you were a landscape artist
He answered from his own view OF
things. He asked why you did not
paint houses and barns and thereby
make good living"
It was a very foolish speech and
intended more as Joke than to hurt.
and the girl regretted Il as soon as
the words had left her lips. II was
too late. however. The young man
did not show his resentment, but he
felt It and It brought about restraint
between them. He left the house
with his mind made up not to call
again.
Six months later he saw In the pa.
pers that the broker had suffered
complete collapse financially, and was
told by friends that he and his daugh-
ter had retired to the country. A rela.
tive had given him n little farm, and
all their friends soon forgot them. 1t
Is the way of the world, you know.
Nobody asked how they were to get
along. and nobody seemed 10 care. A
broker who was down and out might
make a success as farmer or he
might make another failure.
II was two years later that Mr..
Clyde Richards was motoring along a
country road when. he came TO coun.
try schoolhouse. School was dismuss.
ed for the day. On the steps sat a
young woman who was weeping, and
beside her sat an old man whom any.
body would have called skinfiint af.
ter the first glance In a dim way the
artist felt that he had seen the young
woman before. but he could not fully
recall her. He was driving his ma
chine slowly and he heard the old man
say:
THAT mortgage and interest has
got 10 be paid within ten days or
shall commence proceedings to fore
closet"
Then we shall have to live in the
flelds!" sobbed the girl.
II don't care where you live. | did
not want to give your father money,
but he came to me three or four times
and was sure he would make thou
sand dollars If let him have the three
hundred. He is fool and it will do