The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-21
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The New Dining Room.
BY FANNY GRAY.

Newspaper syndicate.)
When Mary Clark married wilfred
Ayers, she realized in the depths Of
her heart that they were miles apart
I'm some ways. But life was lonely for
her, and the strength Of the big. hulk
ing man had its appeal, TO say nothing
Of the fact that she had only a bit
OF money laid BY, while he had not on
1y q good farm and farm lands. but
o tidy sum in the bank. left him by his
father.
Mary had lived in a little house on
m outofthe.way street OF the village.
going out TO sew or taking work home
as best suited her customers. More
refined and sensitive than most Of her
neighbors. she longed for the good
things of life which were denied her.
and, In her simple way, had given her
humble home an air OF gentility not
common to G%reenvIlle.
When wIltred first showed a pre-
ference for her, she had been inclineo
TO scout the idea OF marrying him.
But q better acquaintance had proved
his sterling qualities. and the nearest
thing TO love she had eve known for
any man had grown up In her heart.
Also, she reasoned that his money
would allowher TO crafty some Of her
repressed ambitions. and she expected
to remodel his views to meet her
ideas.
But there are two sides to every
question. When the two were married
and settled down IN their farmhouse,
Mary found that the habits Of middle
ege are not 70 easy to change. You
cannot teach an old dog new tricks.
at least without a struggle. Wiifred
had been brought up by 8 good and
conscientious, but perfectly common
place mother. who had No ideas Of her
own. and believed that what had been
good enough for her parents was good
enough for her.
wilfred had breathed the atmos-
phere. He also believed in letting we'll.
enough alone. Anything out of the
usual. or different from what he was
accustomed to was putting on irills,
and this he could not stand for.
So Mary had TO feel her way. But
she was q determined little person.
and step By step she brought about
changes SO skillfully that Wilfred
scarcely realized what was happen.
ing until the thing was accomplished,
and hen It was hardly worth while
making a fuss.
After some weeks Of effort on
Marys part, the farmhouse took on
a new aspect The best room was op-
en- all day and every day. with new
screens at the windows. and the sun
shut out during the heat OF the day
with awning blinds. A small gas
range had been installed in the kitch-
en- beside the big coal tov Old car
pets had been taken away. and cool
mating rugs had taken their places
In the bedrooms. And. wonder Of won.
ders, there was q brand new bath.
room!
How Mary had brought about these
changes she scarcely knew herself:
but, by the use OF persuasion and in
finite tact they had been accomplished.
She had shed some tears IN the pro
cess which Wiltred knew nothing, and
It is quite possible he may have used
some words not in general use in
polite society when out CT reach Of
the house. But the results stood. and
II truth were told. Wiifred secretly
enjoyed the new regime.
However, there was one point on
which he stood firm as q rock, Mary
had approached It from every angle,
but he would not bulge. She could
not make him give up eating IN the
kitchen! There was al extra room
between the kitchen and the sitting