The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-07
THE DAILY
STORY
THE NOMAD.
By JASc OSBORN.
Copyright. 1918, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate


.Ou the Cordova genealogy that prov.
4 that they had originally come from
pain. some three hundred years be
ore, had gone 10 France and then En-.
land. Arrived in New England they
itoFmaTfied with Puritan stock and
we're content 10 settle down for gen
8TatiOn or 50, but the nonad stock
inally beat it's way TO the fore. Some
pushed west and some went to sea.
They were never content 70 settle
down. II q CordoVa did content him.
Ielf Will sitting beside his own fire.
side then that was because he tooS
lftof the other side OF the family. !.
b was q true Cordava he was q nc.
mad. Alico's sisters had not been rea.
COfdoVaG, because they had marTic3
stay.at-home men and had liked moth
ing in the world better than scqirlng
little home plot. furniture and per.
,nnial garden. Nor was Alice's broth
% q nomad. for he had insisted on re
naming in the old Cordova HOMESTEAD
md Alice. as the only unmarried sister
had found It her duty 10 remain with
aim TO keep house.
So, while Alice's brother ordered
hardy rose bushes from the florist
Alice never would consent 10 anything
of longer duration than geraniums,
9anSieS and other ANNALS. Whenever
he question Of having the house repl-
pered came up, Alice always looked
)eTpleXed. 1T is all right for a stay
6 home" she would say. but I'm no.
Interested in the old house"
As q matter OF fact, Alice had never
travelled more than fifty miles away
rom home. And now at twenty-seven
be was as much a fixture in the old
Ome town IS she had been at twenty,
Fhon she first came home from board.
ng school to keep house for her
,TOtheF.
Alexander Burton had proposed
very six months since that time
ways when the first crisp days OF au.
umn came and when spring brought
round q renewal OF hope with the bud
ing Of leaves and flowers. Allce's an.
YER was always the same.
Il really do like you enough to sar.
you" Alice would begin, and at
lexander's entreaty she would admit
be really loved him.
IT weren't real CoFdova I'd mar.
II you, but that would mean being tied
pWn, and a nomad can't be tied down.
must be free to CO."
Alexander stopped trying to argue
lice out Of her notion early in his
purtship. Instead he always brought
er books Of travel and time tables
I'D the various highly colored folders
lt out by steamship companies and
urist agencies. As a matter OF fact,
lexander in the course OF his bust.
pss had Travelled many thousand
lies more than Alice, but he never
pasted OF this fact. He seemed to
Re a due pride in the old Burton
mestead, and planted perennials
hen he was home like the other ma.
res.
''But you might az we'll marry me as
stay here all your life" he suggested
ice; and then Alice explained that
9 only thing that stood in the way
her ambition was the fact that ner
other had not married. Sometime
would marry and then she would
art to 90 nomading
Alice's wardrobe from year to year
ways showed a complete travelling
TIT, and while other women in the
ighborhood wore filmy silks and
Wered hats TO church and to go
opping. Alice was always dressed in
N tailOr.made clothes with shoes
hats that would have been worthy
an experienced globe .trotter. II was
aispered about that she had a won.
rful collection OF luggage, a perfect.
equipped travelling toilet case, fold
umbrellas and all the contraptions
vented to tempt the habitual travel.
But people did not make fun Of
Ice, nor even smile at her fad. They
gured each other, as she assured
IN. that she was 4 real Cordova and
nee naturally looked forward to
lvel. The pity was that Alice's bro.
pr didn't marry and release her
rtainly there were enough nice girls
town without any husbands. Il was
my how hard some men were 10
i.
Of course, when &c did select one OF
incest OF these girls every one said
" were surprised - nice enough
u to be sure, but they hadn't
ought he would be so easily
ted. The day OF the wedding was
tiled, and Alice, with fast beating
aTt and trembling hands. spent long
mrs each day trying 10 decide
ether her first trip would be to the
gentine, 20 Japan or 10 Egypt.
She asked Alexander Burton's ad.
e. and as she did so she hoped that
did not notice that her lips were
and that her heart was beating
ociOusly. She tried 50 hard 70 show
Q COrdovG enthusiasm ever the
sDeets Of her long planned trip.
lt doesn't much matter where you
IN" Burton told her. Il suppose |
might spend six months in each |
&c the first time. ! suppose you |
n't aim 70 get back for over a year. |
pr brother can handle your affairs |
ffctly. an sure. and banking ar.
gements can easily be made for
at various ports"
oh, hadn't you expected me back |
over q year," Alice asked growing
pc at the thought and then wishing |
hadn't said what she had.
here wouldn't be any object, would |
re-" asked Burton. quite calmly,
pu can keep in touch with US by let.
;"
Yes. indeed" commented Alice. She
I'd 10 keep Burton from leaving
ly that evening. She wanted hin.
say something that he did not II
autamn-the crisp. Indian sum.
days had come and we're almost