The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-04-10

I to join the general Struggling
toward the exits, there vas light /
touch on his arm and he turned to ,
look into the wide, frank eyes OF the !,
girl who had sat next TO him through |
out the performance.
I'm afarid it's an unconven-
tional thing to ask" she SAID, ocs |
would you be kind enough to see me |
= Most certainly" said Kirkland. !
''Eery glad to be OF service.
H@ aye her number to the door /
nan. they stood there while wait !
lug ios ser car. discussing the play u !
4 friends: fashion as il they had been ;
Rcouajnted for years instead OF sec
ondS. at length he assisted her INTO |
the car at the curb. when suooenS
there was panic in her eyes as sne
looked out Of the car over his Shout
der md into the crowd that edged !
about under the entrance awning
Z, With a swift understanding he
caught tho expression. She had seen
someone whom she feared
s-ShaIl I get in?" he asked euztly.
Please" she nodded.
And so without backward glance
he entered and sat beside her as the
EAR moved of slowly With the crawl
Ing lines Of the after-theatre trahhtc.
IT is good of you. che began;
ssnGot at aIl,'' be assured her. land
SHAH not trouble you with question.
You nav set me down anywhere you
like. or I shall ride with you to your
home II you desire
For a moment she was silent. he
could see her profile against the win.
dow as she watched the crowded
street. and he wondered who she was
and why she needed the protection OF
IN escort, when she turned to him
yaddenly.
mol" He inspected her STaTely
But she only sighed little and
GnuGgIed down into her furs in the
far corner. For twenty minutes they
rode thus. and he realized that she
vas crying softly. He hated to IN
trade on her thoughts and privacy,
bit It seemed so heartless to sit there
and let the girl weep her heart out
without making SO. le effort to help
her II twas in bis power.
Please tell me about It. he peg
Eed. "sPerhaps I can help you So
often our troubles are but fancled
ones. Won know. and friend or some
one we can trust can dissipate the
whole thing with little encourage
IF you'n come IN few moments.
she said when the car stopped before
4 plain stone house IN an aristocranc
nslgh5orhood, perhaps III get up
eaouEh courage to tell you about IT.
There we're no servants about. ana
she led the way into the library
where kirkland tossed his coat in
formally across a chair and stood
Iookins Into the open fire OF the
With a little restless gesture she
Aung her coat from her and moved
"oh. the ignomfny Of 1t! she be-
gan. "The years and years OF tyran-
ny aud oppression: Kind: superior
suppression, until my spirit is gone
and Tn nothing but splneless cFG 81
ture without chsracter-without ~
dividuaIIty. Ny father with his stern.
relentless efficient direction OF my
education. my opinions my present
and my future! Ny aunt, VINO IoR
years has chosen by friends. FeSu4aC-
Cd my diet, myclothes, my allowance
my department, and now, between
them. they've chosen man TOT my
husband: And the weak thlns
that am-have given IN TO mem
and promised. You've no idea the
6orrar Of Il. saw him tonight as
was getting into the car the man
whom I've inst;nctIy disl!Eed- al"ays
and nv very flesh cr&Hps at tue
.houy.1t OF it-5ut I have no courage
60 resist them. There IS no one 70
whom can 80 for nj oral SUPPORT OF
Rdv!ce or courage. and cannot deIF
them a!one-I cam tt cannot 10
night. COR a !it:.e while. was strong
enough to rebel and go 20 Tie tneaSFS
alone. but my courage had SesS!eeo
me until turned ard saw sEe t'Snt
on your face. You looked so clean
hearted, and u2right. anG-and reso,
lutte. It gave ne courage just to feel
that you were uext to me tfere-aoa
when I spoke to you your eyes we're
20 oDNn and friendly, II seemed as II
perhaps I'd found a way out.
Size -vas almost hEs:erical. ano
E;ckis:I stood before her sT2ve4y
thct.@!:' Then Eo1 have t21oTsat
NJ :, aa-..;F.le way out?" he question
o.. don. know. I'm desperate!
lf--il you could, or would, stand pc
hind ne. show me constant attention,
sven make love to me, or pretend TO:
IN the face OF their opposition aud
raps their insults. If YOU couie
help ME to defy them, sive me
strength IN the face of everythtnS'
believe could recover enough cnaT-
acter to overcome them But alone
can do nothing. cther girls maze
gone into such nlaryifSeS. Alice var
nav is one. She has r'ouey-and
a.verythIng-but. Oh sou should see
i1er eyes. A sort Of subdued haunted
DESPAIR lies deep in those eyes OF
hers. To look into them breaks my
heart. Are my eyes doomed to carry
that look?'' She sank into chair
and gazed at Kirkland almost IN ter
your plan might work" said
Kirkland. but for the fact that l am
ss4lIns FOR my post in South America
tomorrow afternoon at three
'.oh," she breatied with little
gesture of despair. '-ft's gone: The
only hope I had"
$40" he said gravely. there's an
other chance. but it's a desperate one