The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-20
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Settling Beatrice.
By s. p. HACKLEY
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure
Newspaper SyndicateD

social equals is enough 10 drive one
Wild"
Mrs. Eileen Campbell. wife OF the
lime manufacturer at Bsrdstown. roll
ed her ehina-blue eyes depTeceatiyely.
''If Il weren't that Frank Is making
mercy hand over fist as he calls II,
here. I simply couldn't endure III
Mrs. Carter. wife Of the road build.
ing contractor. nodded apprcciativcly.
That's what tell Gene. How long
arc you going 10 stay in New York
with the Macons. Eileen?'
"Oh. two weeks. probably Now that
Bee leaves tomorrow with Alethea Nc.
Cue for the house-pariy. ] feel safe
abca; her Alethea has boon begging
me TO let her stay on With them
through the summer. SAMMY" SIZE
lowered her voice, Sammy is going 10
be there!"
How very oppor,une!" commented
Mrs. Carter.
Beatrice, IN involuntary listener.
with her piquant face. her characterize
mouth, and blue eyes. both doloTous
and indignant. hastily left the library.
Her father. q seriouslookins man,
with red hair and characterful mouth
Of the girl. met her In the hall. "Oh.
Daddy. let me stay home with you
while mother is away" she whispered.
Il want to so!"
"Youf mother would have III II you
missed that McCue blowout. sweet.
heart. We can't 20 against her In this.
guess. It's late-youd better run
away 10 your bed But wait Kitten.
here's q cheaue promised Pryor. Ad.
dress II TO him. and drop it in the box,
win you?"
After an interminable time. II seem.
cd to Beatrice. she heard her parents
30 to their sleeping rooms. but sleep
would not come 10 her. She arose
finally and drew on her dressing gown.
Il wish ! could tell Daddy" she
thought. as she went To her writing
desk. 'T'll write 10 Louie-he can't
help me. but i've got to tell somebody
now!"
"Bardstown. NC. August 2. 1916.
"Dr Louis NJ. Aoheson. PendletOn
Oregon" she wrote at the top OF her
page.
Dear. dear Louie.--I promised you
I'd tell you the minute I found the
Prince, but couldn't. though it's been
four months. was too happy for
little while, and since-oh. Louie-i've
got to tell somebody my troubles, or
III burst!
Z guess I've told you in this tiny old
place. shefI q 400 only here it's
ga ,,o.t1w tha Macon fa,,,I.. coioue
The Macon father was an old scoun.
drel Tim quoting Daddyl. but he
owned the big resort hotel here end
nearly everything else. Mrs. Aztec
LETTERS and Mrs. Felix Landrlth. two
Of the daughters. live here. Mrs.
, Landrith married an old. old man,
something like Mahajarah for wealth
The must have been a beast. Judging
By her unhappy facet, and she's got
. regular castle overlooking the town
well. mother considers them. and
her very special Mrs. Doris Carter and
. few others. her social equals. /
wouldn't say II to anybody hut you,
Louie. but you know It already; moth
o. and her friends Just live for dane
ing and entertaining and clothes
nothing else. Daddy told her yester.
day their chief occupation as he sees
q Is the ornamentation Of the chariots
that carry them through this little arc
IN the circle Of being!'
But because the Macon scions are
sort Of patrons Of Arland, the little
Church here, and attend services
once In blue moon, mother does. too.
and rye been attending the Arland
Sunday School, and other services
right along. without q protest from
her. Early this spring. Mr. Lowrie.
the old pastor. died, and the Board
that pays the minister's small salary.
and Just .Churchy.' like Mr.. Louvre.
'oAlsuIoxe i.usI Oh 1o&Id uuslO luss
He wants 10 help everybody and every
thing, and he makes friends with all
the poor and neglected. He's started
. branch Of thc Good Citizens League.
and nov sou can't find a rusty Tin
can or homeless cat In the town. He
doosn't trouble himself so much about
the &C. except that calls on them
ana q Dls3san, % then.
and he's started a Young Folks
clsels :sr Wednesday evenings tina!
doe things ike gsne;ag TO sick folks.
and the jsG ;olas. know he WAS ths
Prince ste nrst time / hsard him
speak. OF course. he didn't Know right
of ] was The Princess, but he cane 10
know. QIcnie, I'm like Daddy love
people. Just because they're reople).
and he liked my way. snow. Tor he
he'd got so his eyes were glad when
they turned % mel And was happy.
Then the first OF July the season
opened ct the hotel. and hey begun
those wednesday and Saturday night
dances. The tirst Wednesday night We
were 70 % after the Circle met TO
sing for old Mrs. Hilbert (she'd been
un her death-bed for a month";, and Id
pBomi0oa her I'd sing an old. old bal.
I'd che loved. None Of the other girls
knDw q. But mother wouldn't listen
q ne. and made me 90 to that hateful
dance. We didn't leave until one
U4ioek, and just as We came out OF the
81 b where they've got a big electric
Y ~ that lights up everything Il was
walking n mont with that horrid rich
Sammy McCue, Mrs. MeCue's brother.
in3aW). We met Mr.. Pryor.
''EIls eyes looked positively reproach.
tul when they met mine. he lifted his
hat sober and unsmiling and passed.
and I felt my heart break under the
weight Of his Misunderstanding. q
BEARD u break. Louie. And next morn.
Ing ] found on, Mrs. Filbert had died
q midnight I couldn't make any ex.
- A.