The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-10-09
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Honnesick..
BY .HiLnA MORRIS.

BY .HlLpA MORRIS.
(caDysight. 1917, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndlcate.)
~ HRIsTINE had come to stillville
from the city to be a substitute
~ teacher in the township high
school. She had been there only
month, but already the country air
had begun to work wonders with her
pale cheek and hollow eyes.
III only It weren't so lonesome!"
she thought, as she walked a country
one hEIERt, windy Saturday afternoon.
II Was her holiday, and she was en-.
deoyeting to make the most Of 1t, but
lonely walks are not exciting. Chris.
tine! kicked stone in her path a lit.
tie viciously, as though 1t were re-
sponstble for her boredom. But just
then she heard someone calling.
Iii there!" mans voice shouted.
Hi there, Miss Gray"
Il was Richard Harding, greeting
her In the local fashion. Christine
stood and waited as he come striding
towards her, n fine, strapping young
man clad in farmers overalls and
flannel shirt.
Are you taking walk" he asked
had the easy modulations of an edu.
Gated man. He was a graduate OF
an Eastern college.
Eyes, I'm going through your GENE.
terry. It's so quaint! I'm only used
to crowded city cemeteries that reach
for blocks and blocks Tell me, are
all the people In this town related?"
Richard laughed.
Very nearly. The Bullits are re.
lated to the Emmets and the EN-.
NETS to the Hardings and the Hard
ings to the Bullits again. We're all
kin somehow"
"All but me-" said the girl, laugh.
Ing a little wisttully. ut must seem
queer 10 have so many relations"
Richard did not appear to have
heard her remark. He was looking
ahead at the big square red brick
farm house where he lived with his
mother and sister. His mother, q
sunbonnet on her head, was cutting
tulips fro mthe rows that bordered
the garden walk. She Strengthened
up as they approached, and came to
the gate.
"Howdy!" she said cordially. TITS
right cool for an April day, isn't It?
Have you been walking, Miss Gray?
Well, do come in and have cup OF
teo. made some cinnamon cakes
this morning that must be eaten"
Christine hesitated.
ut isn't five o'clock yet" said Mrs
Harding, royalty sweeping aside the
girls unspoken objections. Richard
was holding the gate open, so almost
before she knew it Christine found
herself in the big square sitting.room
OF the Harding homestead.
She had not been in private home
Of this size for years and years, not
since her childhood days and before
long arid years of furnished rooms.
The house gave her rather an awe
some impression of vastness and ele.
gance. 1t had been solidly built for
posterity by forebear from New
England It's furniture was mid-Vic.
|. torian. A massive black walnut book
case against one wall held rows OF
I volumes in mellow old bindings. The
CARPET lowered into strange blossoms
of tropical proportions. A crate fire
fiickered pleasantly, Illuminating IA.
ded print of a sleek.haired maiden in
decoilete reading the Bible, Every
thing seemed unbelievable generous
in its proportions.
Have you always lived III the
city," Miss Lottie Harding asked in
her timid voice. Miss Lottie was an
"old maid" who spent her years in
making endless yards of tatting.
since l was two" said Christine.
Are your parents liying?' pushed
Miss Lottie, to whom family was
ones most interesting attribute.
NO" answered Christine.
This put a sombre period on the