The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-24
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Road to Somewhere.
BY keith KENYON,
Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate.)

paper Sy~nllcate.J
Dexter Conrad approached the for
midable iron gates that were the en-
tance to FroEmore, the handsome es'
tate OF the Culiens, at East Orange.
Miss Cullen was within the gates
feeding a handful Of grain TO a pair OF
peacocks that ware spreading their tail
feathers for her admiration. Miss Gull
len was not less lovely than the pea
cocks and quite as vain.
II wonder" Conrad said, raising his
hat respectfully. "if there Is a vacancy
OF any sort on the estate. am anx'
ious to get a position in the country
for a few months"
The girl within the gates cut him
short with a naughty stare.
1--WE are not in the habit OF employ
ing tramps. Only people we'll recon-
mcnded need apply for work. She
turned away as If the interview was
over.
The arrogance of. her tone and the
i%nsinuatson her speech conveyed
brought a deep flush of resentment to
Conrad's face.
II beg your pardon" he said. over
politely, but ! thuoght was address
ing Miss Cullen" x
"To whom do you suppose you arc
speakfng?" she inquired loftily.
"Certainly not to Miss Cullen.
have been told that she Is 4 typical
lady" Conrad would have gone on
save that u quick intake of the girls
breath arrested him.
Drawing herself to her full height,
her slim figure was a picture oil TiVid
wrath. Her cheeks flushed angrily.
You prevaricate TO Justify Your in
suit! Every one in the village knows
me by sight"
Conrad flashed a quick glance at
her. NOT without humor i'll it, certainly
amaZenient.
"But l do not happen TO be a VII.
lager. j am a stranger looking for thai
light employment, having lost my en-
ergy In the city and desiring TO
find 1t again. am sorry to have trou'
bled you He again turned to 60
This time her voice recalled him. Her
tone was somewhat modified.
There is q lot OF work on the place
extra work-on account of spring
planting-transplanting from the con-
serYatorles-roses and shrubbery. Are
you familiar with such work?"
81 have done nothing beyond anna.
.teur flower cultivation, but. being q
lover Of such work, | have had great
success at It,"
Miss Cullen's eyes were appraising
him from head to foot, disparagement
in her glance.
Conrad added quickly: But, 1 sup
nose, I have sufficient intelligence TO
look after your roses. and II you hap
pen to have an orchid house
"Orchids!'' she exclaimed and a new
light came into her eyes. 81 have some
rare ones that the head gardener
knows nothing whatever about. It's
breaking my heart-to see them fad
ing day by day."
Conrad smiled family. There was,
after all, something human in Miss
Barbara Cullen.
Not doing well. Ell" he asked. u
spent q year down In South America,
where they abound"
"Oh-then perhaps you will know
how to treat my collection. Come and
have q look at them anyway" She
led the way forthwith through the
lovely paths and velvet lawns 10 whore
the delicate creatures of tho plant
world were housed.
1t turned out that Conrad's famil'
iarity with orchids gained him a posi-
ton on the estate. He was delighted
when he found that he might occupy q
small cottage adjoining the plant
houses. Had he been permitted to
select a tiny place Wherein he could
sit up and burn the midnight oil In
the pursuit OF a lon~g.cherished ambi-
tion he would have gone straight to
the cottage adjoining the Cullen con-
servatories. Conrad wanted to write
a best seller. Short stories and journ.
alistic work had caused his energy to
peter out and had given him only a
scant existence. His doctors Informed
him, after the usual way Of the pro.
fession, that nothing short of a few
months in the country would restore
his ebbing vitality. And since Conrad