The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-10-10
!: A PAGE FOR WOMEN AND THE HOME =
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Co-Ed Courtship.
BY SYLVIA TURNER.
Hight, 1917, by the Mcclure

Newspaper Syndicate)
THE principal reason why the
family decided that Hilda should
= go to Sycamore College was be.
cause Il was coed. Aunt Jean held
that In a strictly female seminary a
girls mind was apt to be so filed with
her studies and feminine pursuits,
that she was untitled for her life role
OF wifehood. The Doctor took an en-.
tirely different view OF the situatio
as he told Hilda the night before she
left.
Dear girl, you've lead a lonely,
mOnotonoJs sort OF life at this old
place with Just sean and myself
You need companionshlp OF boys and
girls your own age.v Long ago your
mother, bless her, was student at
Sycamore. You are to have the same
room she had, and her seat in the
dining hall. Hove good time and
don't have too many love affairs. By
the way" he stopped marking stars
on the blue desk blotter and met her
glance with buoyant CLEAN OF reck-
lesspess in his own eyes. you may
find step.mother here when you
come back, one whom | know you
will love"
1t seemed at that instant as though
the whole world turned black to Hill
da. She looked at the oil paintings
on the wall, the portrait OF her own
dear mother who had died nine years
before.
you mean Mrs. Everdon, dad"
she asked, little break in her tone
in spite of herself.
II mean Paula Everdon," he re-
sponded, quietly
you know l wouldn't mind" she
flashed back quickly, IF she hadn't
known mother when they were
girls"
You'll feel differently as time
passes by, Hilda, hope that you will
be very happy in your own new lifo.
We won't be married before next
June in any event"
When she had been at Sycamore
lust two weeks, far too busy to dwell
upon her own personal troubles, she
was one day on tall mountain spur
overlooking the Hudson for miles
The profile of Storm King showed far
to the South and to the East rose
the undulating Highlands. She liked
70 take long walks by herself explor.
ing strange roads and clambering ov.
er the rocks toward the river. AL
storm had been brewing and she had
been trying to make the college
grounds before 1t broke. But In her
hurry, she stumbled on the rocks |
lost her footing, and fell. The pain
IN the shoulder and foot was excruc.
iatipg. She tried to rise but could
not, and suddenly there came A
branching downpour OF rain, with
crash of thunder: = lift euuinocial
-. re lo- over the land.
She wore short military cape, and |
threw this around her like poncho
trying to shelter herself from the
downpour. She had never been out
in a heavy thunderstorm before and
"a panic swept over her as though she
had been on her first battle field All
lat once she felt herself bodily in |
strong arms and carried on a run to
the shortly Of an old deserted shack |
used by workmen who had been
blasting.
1t was dark inside the hut, so dark |
that she could hardly discern the !
face of her rescue. The terrific noise
I yersation, but he had removed her |
cape and was busy trying to light a
fire on the old stone hearth. When !
the blaze flared up, she caught a !
glimpse OF his face. 1t was strong, |
young one, dark and scholarly. The
chin was sharp and decisive, the lips |
firmly set. He turned and smiled at |
her, feeling her scrutiny.
Were apt to be here for some
time. You'd better make yourself
comfortable. I hope you're not far
from your home?"
Just Sycamore" replied Hilda,
holding out her hands to the fire.
'T'm afraid I can't help myself very
much. My shoulder and ankle both
seemed to catch 1t when l fell Per.
Nshaps when you go, you might leave
)word at the college so they'd send
for me. I'd be awfully obliged"
Il think ] can manage to get you
! over, myself" he said; Eat least as
far as the gates; then can run
Sdown after you in the Deans car.
1t did not seem that they were to.
gether long before the storm cleared.
yet three hours had passed when Hi
I da finally reached her own room. lie
had carried her in his arms against
ali her protests up the. lodge.keepers
hsuse, and then gone after tne car.
isn't he perfect darling" said
Anne Rathburn, her roommate, when
IHilda was snug on the big couch.
drinking tea, II haven't seen him at
amy of the classes. He must be
lsenior." -
II surely gave her prestige among
tie other freshmen, this being cared
for in cavalier fashion by a senior.
She wrote home and told her father
of 1t, during the week her spralne1
\ankle confined her to her room. And
he laughingly warned her in his re.
IDLY of the real dangers of coed
tcurtship.
Remember, my dear, that love is
after all natures trap for the un.
vary. You are Just at the age when
'ou will fall in love with love Itself,
Nlot personality. Keep your head, re.
member that one love does not make
life time, nor one swallow a sum.
ner"
His name was Ralph, she found out
rom some of the other boys. Ralph
Sinpe1alra APtar 81.