The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-21

neighbors to pay for your books and
incidentals. ] am sure you can get
scholarship for your tuition" And be-
fore giving the poor student time To-
accept or reject this offer Mrs. Naples
was dragging the rugs through the
long French windows that opened be.
tween the Vsranda and the drawing
room of her old fashioned houses.
So Dustin LorTey went TO board
with the Mapeses and 90 the romance
that was Inevitable began between
Dustin and Ida. Ida was Just the
sort of blue-eyed, golden'hGired las
sic that might have been college.
town belle, between the ages Of sew.
enteen and tWsnty.three or SO, had It
not been for Dustin. But before q
year had passed she was never Geen
at q college dance or game with any
other student than Dustin. However,
even Mrs. Mapes never, heard Of an
engagement between them, and when
Dustin became a senior with the
flight OF four years and other students
were embroidered to announce their
engagements to this pretty town girl
or the other, Dustin and Ida had no
announcement to make.
Then after commencement Dustin
went away, and then passed those two
years in which Mrs. MapeS had moth
ing to show for her interest in the
poor student but the two Bokharas
and the Royal Baluchistan. Ida new.
er went to college events after that,
but If she ever heard from Dustin,
who had obviously won her heart, It
was not by way Of the mail that
came to her mothers front door. Per.
haps there were other ways Of re-
ceiaing messages from the man, who
had, apparently to jamestown gos'
sips, deserted her. But il there were
no one know Of it in Jamestown but
Ida.
Strangely enough, on that other day
in another August, Ida and her
mother were again stringing beans for
dinner. Only Ida this time was
twenty-three and Mrs. Mapes had
grown so used to owning oriental rugs
that she had a certain sort. Of pity
for those Of her neighbors who pos
sessed none OF their own. 1t was this
feeling, rather than any actual JOY in
her own possession, that seemed to
recompense her for her kindness to
the thankless student whom she had
taken in.
Mrs. Mapes had Just gone in the
house with the beans and Ida sat
listlessly looking out through the pop.
larlined driveway. Perhaps she
was thinking that It was Just such a
day when she had first seen Dustin;
perhaps she was actually expecting
what soon happened, The man who
presently came up the driveway was
the same Dustin Lorrey, but he GER
tainly had none Of the Stoop that he
had on the other occasion. He was
as straight as an arrow and walked
with the sure, quick step that filed
Lidas heart with the assurance that
the two years Of waiting had all been
worth while.
She greeted him with outstretched
hands and they spoke in low monosyl'
tables.
ITS all right then, at last" she
whispered.
Eyes, it is better than had hoped.
I've got the job-S4,OOO year to start
with and have $500 in the bank.
wouldn't come till / had every cent
of that. Where's your mother? l
want to tell her right away"
And just then Mrs. Mapes returned
with a complaint on her lips.
"Lida, why on earth don't you come
in and help"
Then the words dropped on her lips
and she stared back as she saw Dus-
tin before her.
Well Dustin Lorrey! It's about
time you come back" she said.
Eyes, Just time" he agreed. "A
week sooner would have been too
soon. But I'm ready now, and I'm
going to make a confession Ida
knows it. You'll have to forgive US
for having kept our secret"
Then before continuing Dustin in.
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