The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-07
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
With Mother Away.
BY LOUISE OLIVER
Copyright. 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)


John Kingsley, fatherly and jovial,
sat at one end OF the long table;
Sophia Kingsley, motherly and COM
petent, at the other. In between were
Mary and the twins on me side and
on the other were Philip, Margery
and Bob. This story Is about Mar.
gerry.
Papa Kingsley carved the steak.
Said he. putting q large helping OF
gravy into Bob's mashed potatoes,
Mamma, how would you like to take
a vacation?"
This unique suggestion produced
varying effects upon the family. There
were even protests.
est?" = A'
Certainly I am. You haven't had
a real n In ten years nor have I.
Grenoline has declared q fifty per cert.
divldend-got my check t6lay- and
1t Just happens I've got things at the
office in pretty good shape to leave
for three or four weeks. What say?''
Can we go?" pipcd the twins.
But, John, we need" began
mother.
"oh. rats!" John was going to say,
but stopped in time to modify It into,
"Oh, cricky! We need n new this
and q new that and q million things,
but II you keep on killing yourself
through hot weather with no rest I'll
need a new wife. What say mamma?"
But" here interposed Margery In
CONSERVATION. chow Gun We get along?
We can't manage without mother!"
Cant? How old are you, Mar.
gery?"
"Then ] Just guess you can manage
without mother. When you get mar.
ried you'll have TO manage without
her."
"But-but that's different" And she
added Indignantly to herself: "And
II mother goes away l never, never
viii get married, for so much de.
ponds now on her being here. II
have to pitch in now and work, David
Winter will never look at me again.
Mamma, you get ready. I'm go.
ing to run off with you day after to.
morrow for four weeks. Margery can
take your place"
And as usual, when father uttered
an ultimatum. the family had to abide
by It. And mother went!
To go back q little, David Winter
was recently from Cambridge, a Har.
ward graduate and already holding a
responsible position with an eastern
firm OF engineering contractors. He
was very different from the native
product OF Harwich and, needless to
say, he had achieved an amazing de.
gree Of popularity
AS for the girls, there had been a
regular bombardment Of invitations
from them to all kinds Of things, and
Harwich had suddenly found itself in
n mad social whirl that had kept
seamtresses and the town caterer de.
pendent on black coffee in lieu Of sleep
: for weeks past
David had been attentive TO Marperv
from the first-also to Priscilla Hart.
who lived Just over the way and was
pretty and agreeable.
Margery looked after the taxicab
that was bearing her parents to the
station with dismay. BE sure to heir
Ellen out with the ironing on Tines.
gay" was ringing in her ears. "Dont
let Ellen bake the cake Saturday.
Sne can't get the icing right" and
'fouH have to make the beds and
get lunch Monday while Ellen is helm.
ing Mrs. Doyle in the laundry" "The
darntng mustn't get behind, dear" and
see that the twins keep their ears
clean and don't get their feet wet"
and so on. VIZ
How was she to look her hest now AZ
any hour Of the day that David might
sake u INTO his head to stop his road.
ster at the curb and run in for a chat
re mad come twice in the morning
and round her both times in cool fresh
lnen, once writing letters in the lib.
rary, another time shipping roses in
tne garden. Afternoon always found
ner, dainty and sweet, ready to serve
MN a cup OF tea on the shady var.
anda or to fling on a motor coat and
go with him for a spin along tho river
road. Evening had found her rested
and eager for any diversion. She had
IN lact lover failed to be at her very
best when David had wanted her
But now! Ironing. baking, cooking
darning! She looked across the street
ut Priscilla Hart embroidering placidlv
on the front yerander and, as luck
would have II, that very minute Da.
va stopped his car on the other side
and went and sat on Pricilla's stens
oh, mother. why did you go?" MAJ.
gerry half sobbed as she stepped back
hastily from view. '"
Then suddenly the house seemed
empty, desolate and barren withont
tne n on whom they all depended
and she realized that she was Ioneiy
and ashamed. "lll do the best / can.