The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-18
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Wartime Speed.
BY CATHERINE PARSONS.
(CODyfight 1915, by the Mcclure

euvied him. for she was truly lovely.
On this particular day Amy left the
stadio somewhat later than usual Tor
tie picture was Just at an interesting
Etage and Gardner could not bear 70
stop work til the last bit o; daylight
had vanished. Sirs. Roland. who al
ways came With her daughter. had left
esrly TO keep an appointment. and
Amy had promised 10 meet her at five
Gardner had kept her till the last
possible moment and she vas hurrying
toward the FROM door. when she ran
directly into J young man who was
coming In the opposite direction.
Il beg your pordon." exclaimed Amy.
- she bounced bac!. IN surprise.
Why" Billie Lane" she added. as she
recognized him. Where in the world
did you come from: havn't laid eyes
On You for over two years"
"JuSt got here. Amy. I've been ont
IN Nebraska working hard But even
an obscure faIEer f:s a r!gh; 10 z
vacation now and then. so TT: taking
two weeks this time. Maybe I; isn't
good TO see ycu again-you hayn't
changed much except to grow NJ more.
! supposed you ! forgotten all abou;
ne, though"
Amy blushed slightly, but II was too
dark to see.
II hadn't really. but OF course two
years n . long time. In another one
might forget whether your hair was
red or brown. It's hard 10 remember
much when you're kept pretty bJsy."
Billy laughed ruefully.
Il suppose I'll see you at the Duvals'
tomorrow night" continued Amy. ITS
Coing to be 3 great party with every.
one you ever anew there. They'll be
tickled TO death to see You back, too
I'm not much Of q social light. you
know. Amy. and ] guess ] wouldn't be
much Of IN addition to the occasion.
Besides, I'm really here on business
and won't have very much time to
30 to parties.
We'll I'm glad Gardner Is not such
In old clam-I'm going with him. I'll
have to run now I'm late. as II is.
It's good to see you back again, Billy,
even II you are unsociable."
Amy held out her hand with frank
and engaging smile. In another mo-
ment she was gone.
For Heavens rake" cried Gardner,
spying his brother from the floor
above. when did you get herel Well
maybe Il Isn't good to see you again.
too! Is this 4 pleasure trip
Not exactly. The truth Of the mat
ter 70. I'm enlisting in about two weeks
and I wanted to see the old town be.
fore I went over
"Creat Scoot. you don't say so! !
would myself but I'm beyond the draft
age and hate TO leave my work-rm
really needed here. Could they spare
you all right?"
well. you see. I'm my own boss, so
! just sold out and came along
couldn't stay ont OF 1t any longer and
&c nothing to hold me back. either
I'm single. too. but I may not be
long-that's one reason why I don't
want to enlist"
who Is it--Louise?"
Gardner laughed. ~ should say rot!
I've had q dozen since Louise. IFS
Amy this time. ! havn't tod her yet,
but I'm going to marry her. Wait ill
you see the portrait OF her I'm doing
Its the best thing I've done yet
She's pretty and she's got sense and
Bhe'll really I'LL the position better
than any girl I know"
II should think she might" agreed
Billy, rather shortly. "l'il have to 60
down town now ard see Thorley about
some Of this army stuff-I'm to meet
him at slx. Don't say anything about
my plans 10 anyone yet. Gardner. ID
vRther you'd tell them when I've gone. .
You always were queer. Bill. but OF
course Ill do what you want. In din.
ing out myself so III have 70 skip
' along and change. Amy hates 10 be
kept waiting, too. See you later. Old
man. SO Icng."
Amy did not enjoy the Duvals' artic.
s9aled bell cs much as she expected 10
Gardener bored her more than he had
ever done before. He seemed SO cure
pf himself and OF everyone else that
she felt herself becoming urrcasonch.y
~peevish with him.
Two days later she went for another
sitting for her portrait ana again che
found Billy IL the hall on her Wy
shcmcs
Hello. Mr. Hermit" she scoffed.
You're not wasting time on your old
friends this trip. are you?"
Most Of theE; seem &c h. pretty
busy themselves"
well I'm not 10. one and to prove
u II invite you TO 90 for a walk with
me now. I'll send Susan home in the
car alone and she can tell mother that
Der dear little Amy Is IN good hands
Hurry up before Gardner sees us or he
may want TO 60. too"
-Or III be turned out into the cold.
cold world for kidnapping his best and
most beautiful model Come on"
Laughing together. they ran out into
the late autumn afternoon. Dusk was
gathering and most people had gone
indoors, for the streets were deserted
Isn't Il lovely out today" cried
Amy Enthusiastically.
yes. but you'd never call this beau.
tiful II you could see II out where I
live. Mountains and hills and valleys
everywhere you look. And the sunsets
YOU'D love those sunsets. Amy. They
just make the whole world a blaze OF
glory and put peace into your soul. |
fpnt explain now II 10 out there its
100 big for that. But can tell you It
InpTesses you. Maybe I'm dafiy on the
nnbiact. hut iia simnlY life ont there