The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-14
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
flelplng Out.
BY LOUISE OLIVER.
Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure

! tCOpyrlRht, 1915, ny the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
Alan Pierpont. bending over bed
Of coreopsis, Strengthened at the sound
of voice.
came, it said. to see II you would
mind II take Nancy for ride
Gretchen Van Doom, light haired and
blue eyed as her Dutch name implied,
smiled the inquiry.
No, fairy goemother, wouldn't
Moreover. | don't suppose It would do
much good for me to object II you and
Nancy have made up your minds to
go. It's who do the begging. Nancy
who consents. Eth, klddie? as lit.
tie girl OF seven ran around the house
from the street.
But-since you call me fairy god.
mother-f'll have to dress her. Her
hair ribbons, for instance, won't do.
You see. you put on one red one and
one blue this morning, and I'd like
to get the mate of either one.
Alan smoothed the hair over his TEN.
pie as he did when perplexed. Well.
does 1t make any difference? Do they
have to match? was thinking when
put them on that they were like my
bed Of oriental peoples and blue lark
spur.
Gretchen laughed. And / am just
Dutch enough to like the combination
myself, red and blue, but, you see, it's
the custom to have them alike. And
II they would say wear turkey feath.
ers in your little girls hair, why, you
have to get the turkey feathers.
see! It's like everything else. We
have to shape our lives to custom.
Well. to tell you the truth. don't
know much about dressing little girls.
Nancy and have great fun over 1t.
but l suppose the result is doubtful.
A quick look OF sympathy came oy.
er Gretchen's face. The artist and his
little girl were at once the despair and
amusement Of Kentboro. for little Nan.
cy came forth In some OF the queerest
rigging that ever adorned a child.
There was division Of sentiment
about them. He ought to get married
again, declared some. They don't need
any one else, said others, for devotion
such as theirs Is rare and third per-
son would spoil 1t. II only he were
not SO proud, one might offer to do
something.
Gretchen. after days of considera.
ton, decided to take the bull by the
horns and tell Naney's father thing
or two. II he gets offended he'll just
have to-thats all.
Do you care. asked Gretchen, not
without misgiying, II / hunt some 9th.
er ribbons for her and another dress?
You see, We are going to motor to
Sharkspoint and have our lunch.
want Nancy to look nice.
Help yourself, he said. Nancy will
show you where things are. Tho
stocks running low, thought, I'm
afraid.
Fairy godmothers can do wonders,
you know. laughed Gretchen, even
Dutch ones.
Come on. pulled Nancy. so the two
disappeared into the house.
I'd like to paint her among the pop
pies and larkspur. he thought. Her
hair is the color Of ripe wheat in the
sun, and her eyes He looked into
the open doorway. She's beautiful
and kind. Poor child, she was afraid
OF hurting my feelings. Nancy's
clothes? His face clouded and his
hand again smoothed his temple. II
one Of the pictures doesn't sell soon
both of us will have to 60 in the garb
OF Olympus, and that, I'm afraid, will
bring the good burghers in earnest.
He dug around the columbines, prop
ped up the snap.dragon and shipped
at the mignonette.
There was sound Of motor stop.
ping at the front OF the house and a
man came around into the gardens.
Walter! cried the man among the
flowers.
How do you do, Alan? greeted the
other cordially enough, coming up
close and holding out hand. Still
like posies. don't you?
Yes. do my own gardening, said
Alan simply. I'm glad to see you.
Won't you come into the house? The
words, commonplace enough, contain.
ed an inquiry which the other caught.
They meant: Why can't you let me
alone? What did you come for after
all these years of peace?
It is pleasant out here. Can't we
sit down on this bench under the tree?
asked the newcomer. can't stay long
anyway and. needless to say, came
on business.
! suppose It's the same old story,
sal Alan YEARLY as they sat down
Pretty much. Alan-see here
you've been acting the tomfool long
enough. The business has grown ana
fathers getting old. There's too much
for me to manage and the big profits
are going to strangsfs. You can't
make decent living daubing. He
looked around with contempt.
Alan did not answer.
II you're thinking Of the other, went
on his brother, that can be arranged.
OF course you can't bring the girl you
married with you, but there's money
enough in the family to take care Of
that as long as there's court In the
land. Come, Alan. it's not too late to
make q big thing Of your Life. Irene
Whitney isn't marsied yet, and father
always wanted her for you. She ls-,
IAn.l