The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-12
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Case Of Jane Lawrence
BY ELLIS DICKSON.
Copyright. 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)

"1f / had known about Jane Law.
renee never would have become pres.
ident Of the board of managers OF St.
Prica's home. But then how was l
to know. And really, Tom, some OF
the Very best people are on the board
the new Mrs. V~anderwelden Is
treasurer. though of course she leaves
all the work to her secretary. But II
had known ofFthe case Of JanesLaw.
renee | really couldn't have. done It.
l have actually stayed awake nights
over It.. And this afternoon, when l
ought to be spending all my time at
the tatlor's and dressmaker's | have
to have a board meeting here Just to
discuss the matter"
MRS. Stoddington. arrayed in the be-
frilled and beruffled splendor OF her
ravorite rose.colored house gown, had
been sitting, for rully ten minutes be.
fore she began her complaint, at the
little spindle.legged desk in her study.
With her well.manicured, bejeweled
fingers she had been handling a few
papers relating to the affairs of st.
Prisca's home. occasionally checking
them of with her gold and pearl foun.
tain pen.
Tom Blaine, younger by ten years..
was sitting impatiently waiting at her
side. Besides being the wealthy wild
ow's only brother, he was her attor.
ney.
II have called the board meeting for
four. and It is nov a quarter to. \
wanted OF see you first to get your
advice. I was going to ask the new
curate. He is really quite a saint, and
SO good looking, ! thought OF asking
him first, but then it occurred to mo
that perhaps you knew more Of human
nature, and to deal with the case of
Jane Lawrence l am afraid needs more
knowledge of human nature than any
thing else"
Clearly Tom was impatient and not
in the least interested. Quite per.
functorily he said: "And what may
be Jane Lawrence's claims on your at
tention? I take 1t she is an inmate
Of this institution Of yours"
1.-THE trouble with Jane, Tom, is
simply this: She is very pretty. Not
just rather pretty, but dangerously,
absurdly pretty, and a girl in an instI.
tuition Of that sort really has no right
to be pretty. OF course, It isn't exact.
ly her fault, but 1t makes It so trouble.
some. Something dreadful Is quite
sure to happen to her. All the hus.
bands Of the ladies on the board and
the brothers and eyen that angelic
new curate make quite a fuss over the
girl. An artist even came to me and
asked to be allowed to do her por.
trait.
What ever are We going to do? She
Is only eighteen now and she has. not
left the home. but In a month ahe
must begin to 90 out to earn her living.
She has been taught fine n%eedlework
and that Q that she must get a
position in some dressmaking estab.
lishment. And she will be bound to
be noticed"
"Itdon't see what advice I can give"
said Tom, %suppressipg a yawn.
who else could help me better?
For several years we have realized
that Jane was different from the other
children In the home. We have been
afraid that she was going to be pref.
ty, but our gravest fears have been
exceed. She is really a beauty. The
matron has been wonderful. too. She
has done all she could to keep the
girl from realizing. When the other
girls have had pretty hair ribbons
Jane has had none, and she has been
made to brush her hair as plainly
as possible. When the other girls have
gone on excursions Jane has been
kept at home. In her. little room the
matron even took down the mirror so
she would not&be tempted to be vain.
Still the girl seems to crave pleastife.
still she seems TO BE- at heart quite
o %coquette. Even when she Is talking
to US women you can't help but notice
the archness in her smile. II we could
only get her married OF to some hon!
est handwriting person; who would
give her2a ZONE with plenty of work
aH..-- HMtN -H 49," -11"T 81 Nl.f.NH.