The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-28

cry Mrs. Martyr called him to her and
presented him to Mrs. Morehead.
Eyerybody's discussing Kindling ths
Worlds Kinship. began Mrs. More
head, and as you are q writer perhaps
you'll dfyulge some Of the tricks OF
the trade.
She was a handsome woman. with
a restless look in her dark eyes that
did not harmonic with the grace and
dignity OF her carriage. Do.you think
a man who writes a book like that
does It to help the laboring classes or
to give vent to his envy o 5the plu-
tocrats? -
He probably had in mind helping the
plutocrats quite as much as the la
borers, began Gerald. !
And incidentally placing himself on
a financial plane between the two,
snar1ed a faultlessly-groomed ano
much bored looking man Of sixty. l
can't see why We should concern our.
selves with the vaporings Of some
young upstart who writes potboilers..
Perhaps because It is always the hit
dog that bowls, Mr.. Mason, Mrs. More.
heads sarcasm was direct and cutting,
but she turned from the older man to
Gerald, and said, quite seriously: I'm
not the one to say whether this book
is good literature, but ! know It has
made me- shudder at the thought OF, the
amount Of money thrown away on.
gewgaws blythe few when 1t could be
used to make life more worth living
Off a lot Of people.
Gerald saw that the woman was In.
tensely interested and that she was
seeking to regain a normal outlook ON
life, but his interest in; her suddenly
ceased to exist as he saw Marian and
John Morehead approaching them 1af-
ter a tete-a.tete over their tea, which
they had evidently forgotten to drink
In their enthusiasm for the subject up
on which they talked earnestly. Fol-
lowing his glance, Mrs. Morehead also
saw Marian and John Moreheadl NOV
ing toward them and her head went
a bit higher as her lips frightened no.
ticeably.
Mrs. Morehead, said Marian cordi-
ally. this is the opportunity I've been
hoping for. and I'm going to throw
myself on the mercy Of all three on
you at the same time. To you, / have
to confess an unfair monopoly Of your
husband all through the afternoon, to
your husband. 1 have to confess my
responsibility for some of his identi.
cal speeches being put into the mouth
of the hero Of Kindling the Worlds
Rinship, and to Mr.. Holmes, / must
confess that l have allowed the au-
thorship of his book to become known
to Mr.. Morehead as the last step in
proving that 1t was not prompted by
envy Of the wealthy classes.
Mr. Holmes, forgive me for sus.
pecting that you could envy anybody,
said John Morehead CALAMITY, but un.
til a few moments ago l didn't know
you were Miss Martyrs flance. l con-
graduate you.
Thank you, Mr.. Morehead, said Ger.
aid, warmly, and you're fully forgiv.
en-.
But We must keep that authorship
a secret among us for a while longer,
said Marian, with a blush and q laugh,
us she and Gerald started away from
the Moreheads, for we don't want our
honeymoon spoiled by enraged mil.
lionaires.
John Morehead looked into his wife's
eyes and asked her II they couldn't
take a little honeymoon trip TO the
Pennsylvania mountains where his
mines were. The naughty head low.
cred a little, and the words that tried
to form themselves on her trembling
lips were less eloquent Of her willing
ness than the glad brightness that
shone through the tears in her eyes.
As for Mrs. Martyr the pride she
felt in the literary achievements OF
her niece and nephew.inlaw was re:
sponsible for the authorship Of the
book becoming an open secret in a
very short time after 1t was confided
to her.