The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-04
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
For the Runnage Sale
nv Hope NlNsLIE.

Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.l
.oneYof:those wooden f%ascfnators that
women used to wear over their hair
when they went out in the evening, 2
set OF bone dishes of the same date
Of usefulness, a number Of d~ilapidated
umbrellas, band-boxes full of old mats
and pieces of hats, saucers without any
cups and cups without any 4
a motley collection OF out-ot-date mems
and women's clothing-such was the
array Of articles that Molly Bergen
found in the living room one cool
morning in November when n re-
turned from her usual trip to The vi
lage.
"Whatever on earth"-she began,
pulling of her gloves and slipping out
Of her sporttcoat.
Her mother anticipated her ques'
ton. "Those are for the rummage sale
for the benefit Of the old peoples
home" Mrs. Bergen was sitting at
her desk laboriously rubbing the
names off from Christmas and Easter
and other seasonal cards. I'm get,
ting these cards ready, too. I've saved
them ever since before you we're born;
There are many hundreds OF them n
most of. them I can use. We can sell
them for five for a cent. Some n
will want to buy them"
Molly drew her chair to the open
fireplace and stretched out her hands
to the blaze. "FIave you heard the
news, mother?" she asked by way OF
announcing that there was :lews TO
tell. "The Stanleys' home ts opened
again. Yes, 1t is Tom Stanley, ! think
though I know you don't agree with
me when I say that he Is quite the
best looking man that V e saw. l
know what you are going to say.
YOU'RE going to say that it isn't be-
coming for a young. eligible girl TO
make complimentary remarks ike
that about men-you weren't going to
say it Just that way, but that would
have been the gist OF 1t. But really
you mustn't mind. All girls are quite
frank about those things nowadays.
81 wasn't going to say that at all"
assured the mother. "Im sure Mr..
Stanley is very handsome, but don't
Imagine for a minute that the heir to
that large fortune is going to- be one
little bit interested in a little country
mouse like YOU"
"I'm not a country mouse at all.
Haven't I been away to boarding
school? Anyway I've met that Stan
LEY MAJ and he's fine. His cousin,
was at boarding school-not that he
cared at all for her. She was engaged
at, the time. He dropped around to
see her once or twice. / met him. But
what were you going to, say?
Simply tDlat your remark gave me
an idea that I might telephone there
Efor a. bundle OF rummage, I am sure
they have plenty of old things that
they don't want that would sell very
easily"
man that drives his car. Old man hates
the country. Son adores 1t, He's maxi
ling the old house a headquarters for
q hunting trip. Just gets in the village
on the e1even-seven and starts out
hunting again this afternoon. That's
what the village gossip say"
Before Molly had finished Mrs. Ber-
gen had picked up her desk phone to
get into Communication with the Stan
ley house. Her voice was sweetness
Epersonified whengshe spoke.
MI. Stanley. excuse melfor phoning
1.-THE minute y%ouInrriyed, but we, are CIV:
slhg5airummagegs sale beginning this at.
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