The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-06-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Realms Of the Commonplace

what's on your mnd?"
You know, Uncle Dad" she said
gFavely. I believe til get married.
Whereat Mr.. Braley's sense Of hu.
nor oyereams the gravity Of the sit.
nation 10 such ah extent that be lay
back IN his chan and roared With
0uthter.
Have you decided on the victim?'
10 asked finally.
swell. no." said thoughtfully a
Saven't"
Then Why worry about Il until the
sight chap comes.along?' he said pTac-
dcally. you're young vet
"I'm twenty.four," she reminded
Nlm. "aud I'm lonesome With all the
lice young meR in the world why
ihould ! be lonesome
NO reason - all, Wrinkle. Blt
,ou've had plenty OF chances grin
aed Mr.. Bradley, "and II you're so
keen on ma;rimony why didn't you
axe ore OF thom?'
100 commonplace" she comment
"a. yaulting on her feet
my dear" he laughed 'matGimonys
he most commonplace thing in the
TOrld. II is the one thing that Is done
consistently. persistently. and over
md over again until death does its
part"
Cynical old, thing she said, ma
king a dive II him and mussing his
AaIr as she skipped toward the door
BET you can't pull II on in a week,
le shouted at her as the door shut
she came back laughing. How
nuch?" she bargained.
He studied her with a grin Be
'ou q dowery OF twenty thousand del
.ars against your staying single for
sve more years. you can't get mar
lie in a week
make It a month" she said, after
= moment OF deep thought, and I'll
AXE you"
Understand" he conditioned, "its
% be q bona fide marriage. No frame
ub proposition. You've got to live
with 'the chap as his wife for at leas,
Iix months"
IAN right" she agreed, write it
sut."
Nov, you better get busy he
gflnned, after he had written out the
agreement and she had tucked il
a0En into her blouse. But she ONLY
made a little face at him as she van.
shed through the door.
AZ she descended in the elevator,
however, her mird was busily run
ming over the eligibles OF her &C.
Quaintance Some OF those who had
loved and lost the charming Nell had
married elsewhere; others Of them
were engaged CT trying to be--also
elsewhere anyway, they all belong
a 70 the commonplace. The man who
owes and loEes always becomes COM
nonplace to the one he's lost.
However, II you asked anyone in
bellington who was the most COM
nonplace young man in the otherwise
sligiblA class. the almost universal
answer would have been, Marcus
paTnes." But strangely enough the
image Of Marcus Barnes had already
AIKEN shape in the back OF Neil Brad.
ley's hitherto particular mind. Never
once had he called on her or even
expressed the desire to do so. Never
had he happened to be her dinner
partner. nor had she even danced with
him more than once or twice. And
che suddenly remembered that he
danced rahter well, too, although 80
had never thought OF it before. and
bhe had known him for years!
n the meantime, Marcus Barnes,
The most commonplace young man in
Hellington, left the bank wherein he
earned his daily bread and stepped
across the street and down a little
alley way into a court where his road.
steF was parked. Two minutes later
be turned down Spring street, and as
be swung around the corner at Ninth.
hon1eWaTd bound, he noticed Neil
Bradley standing at the corner wait
ing for . car.
Hello, Nell" he grinned, as he slid
up to the curb. Hop in and I'll take
you home"
she hoped obediently, with q lit
tie laugh. "You running a jitney bus,
Matk! shg asked.
"No,1 he chuckied, as he reached
across her lap to draw the door smut.
An d then as they started with a
Jerk: This Is q kissney bus-pay as
you leave-kindly have exact fare
ready"
why. how funny" she thought. as
che laughed into his eyes. Il never
knew he was like that" And she no.
tieed how tastefully he was dressed,
almost faStidiously in a conservative
sort Of way. But after q few mo.
ments Of chatter on her part and a
nest surprising silence on his, they
drew up in front OF her home.
"Pay as you leave" he reminded
Ger. IS she stepped from the car.
SILLY" she said, turning away TO-
ward the house.
"Piker." slid the commonplace
Marcus Barnes.
"I'm not" she returned hotly.
We'll, ] told you what the fare was
when you got in" he said firmly.
"YOu don't expect me 70 be kissing
you out here before all the neighbors,
90 you?" she demanded.
"Makes no difference to me where
% happens" he said, shutting on his
engine and Vaultlng out over the door.
u was the most uncommonplaee
moment OF the most uncommonpllce
tOuf that the commonplace Marcus
Barnes had ever known. as he march.
q the somewhat surprised Miss Brad.
iey ~ the steps and into the hall.