The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-14
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Enlightenment.
BY EDNA SAWYER.
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
NnWEna nnr SNndIrntn


n ARBARA WHARTON knew from
n the first that there was not the
slightest excuse for it. The sec
ond time she had met him she had
known OF his marriage. yet 10 the
strangely reserved. cautious little girl
there was something dangerously at.
tractive in Jerome IOwmc's keen eyes
and grazing temples. She yielded to
his requests for her time whenever he
could make an opportunity 10 visit the
town, and treasured the notes, penned
In tiny. almost feminine hand, that
reached her frequently. carefully
guarding this. her iirst affair" from
parents ana neighbOrs.
Time and again she pondered upon
the emotion that would follow discoy-
cry OF the intimacy. As one wholly
unconcerned she pictured the resent.
full anger OF the town. She. the pride
OF all the ne!ghborh0Od. had stopped to
silly filtration with man old enough
to be her father she, whose family
flourichcd upon years OF self-satisded
esteem. She heard daddyS sceptical
snort and mothers indignant denial
when news OF the friendship should
Because her mother was a mother
there was no need TO tell her. She
knew OF several moonlight strolls in
which the city man had Joined her
pretty daughter. She recalled the
dancing eyes and rapidly crimsoning
cheeks when. feigning need of infor-
nation as to his rose bushes, Mr..
Towne had on several occasions sought
their home. Barbara had at first been
hearty in her ayOwed admiration of
the striking. wcll-groomed man. With
secret annoyance her mother had not
ed the gradual diScontinuance OF the
frank comments. And, because she
had been girl herself in days not far
off, she knew the dangerous attraction
OF Jerome Towne's subtle flattcry and
his well-trained. even voice, and her
heart misgave ner as days went on
and Barbara grew lax in her discour.
agement of the mans loyer-like atten.
lions.
A note, written the day before. fal.
len from its envelope, caught Mrs.
Whartons eye as she rummaged in
her sewing table, and she picked It
up, disclosing the city mans hand.
writing. She read the delicate lines
twice through.
Dearest OF Girls - I'm sorry;
can't see you today. But Tony will
bring you this, and tomorrow | shall
meet you at the station and take you
up to the city with me for the day.
Well see a matinee and have dinner
at Colmcr's. Can you, will you man.
age ii? Remember shall be waiting
Hopefully, j. T."
Mrs. Wharton dropped her sewing.
crumpled the little note in her fingers
and stared out. down the winding road
Somehow. Barbara seemed very old,
very capable. all at once-was there
nothing to be done? One couldn't or
der a twcnty-twOyCar.old daughter to
stay at home. The wcll-rcgulated lit
tie household offered 10 plausible OK.
cuse for needing the girls presence.
And then Mr. Wharton's tall. square
frame came into view as he moved
about his rose Bushes, and mother
caught her breath with a little gasp.
She formed a plan. After all. Bar
bara's father wouldn't mind-it was
for Barbara! And attcrwarti-
you don't mind if go up to tho
city on the noon train. mother"
Barbara was wipinG glasses after
breakfast the next morning and she
didn't look up rs she made the query.
I'D like TO match the rihDon for my
dress and-anG-l want to 20. moth.
err"
"If you think best. dear" Mrs. Whar-
ton tried 10 catch BarbHras eyes, and