The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-06
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
A STATE OF MIND.
BY INES MACDONALD.

succeed, until eight years Afterwards
tO awoke one morning TO find hilnsel'
tbIrty.two year. old. \
MY birthday" he unused aloud Ano
ne flcxea the rusclSs Of his arms ana
shoulders, rather proud 10 be so ~.
That night IN celebration ne dlheu
alone at q well knows cafe, where ne
VAS struck by something that had not
beIoye occurred 10 him In bis busy new
life. All the world seemed 10 be pair.
Cd of! Couple after couple two ana
two. men ana girls-everywhere! They
were Stpollipg in the streets entering
theatOTs, stepping out o. and mo te1
ieabs, waiting for ears-but he was
alone!
Ne was bordering the same thing
the next morning while be was wait
ing for his stenographeT. =,
miss Dean is ~ today a wel!'5re1
voice brake in on his revery.
He turned t. see Alice Shane. note
heck IN hand. standing just inside the
oDen door OF his private office.
Nothing serious, ] hope, he said
"Oh, no! think not!'
"Then Il donsnt matter" he said. as
sheseated herself oppOEite him At his
ilat-topped desk
While he dictated he observed her
closely. She had been in his employ
for two years anphe had never given
her particular notice before. He had
observed that her work vas uniformly
good-and that she was reliable. She
had been a silent. efficient girl who
had assumed one little duty after an
other. until her responsibility had be
come considerable. Twice he had
raised her salary, but until this partle'
ular morning he couldn't have told the
color Of her eyes 20 save his life But
he could now, and her hair pleased
him, too, and the clear smOOthness OF
her skin.
During the fourth letter he noticed
her wrists. Slim they we're, only hal
90 vide IS his own. He marvsled
that, and then her voice. he liked the'
very much. indeed. Suddenly he 60.
curious 10 hear II and also 10 see he
eyes--just 10 make sure he was right
What Is your salary ncw?' he
asked abruptly.
twenty dollars she looked up
swiftly. surprise in her eyes.
You're having a great deal Of re
sponsibility OF late, are you not:'
Not more than I'm capable Of she
said simply.
He made q note Twenty-Five is
none too much for a girl these days
he said half to himself
In the middle OF the sixth letter n
got TO wondering how old she was, and
finally he decided that she was abou;
twenty.three. bat his pause was g.
long that she eventually looked up TO
lind him studying her absently.
whats the ma.ters" size asked her
hand flying ins,inciively to her hair.
Il was Just wondering what you.
mother was like" he answered vaguely
She gave him one curious speclla.
i've glance ana them will give the
natter my attention should the occa.
ZION demand" she repeated primly,
TanScribing the last sentence from her
totes. He took the hint and finished
Die correspondence without further
comment, but during the morning rhe
was constantly in his thoughts, and he
kept wondering how he could get p.5t
the reserve without being offensive
Then in the midst OF his dreaming she
returned with the letters for bis sigma
ture.
~ wonder" he Ventured. a. he
hufi1ed over the letters slmlessly II
sender 70 your mother would ask a
"eEone chap like me out to Dime.
tomorrow" The next day was Sun.
lay.
She was startled, and a tinge Of sus.
plcion eloude1 her eyes.
Il hope. MI Browrly. you're not
going to make II difficult for me to
work for you. | can't accept the five
dollar raise. i there's "a social
string tied to IT,"
There are no strings" he said curt.
ly, and your assumption is unfair.
Please bear in mind that was not
asking you out TO dinner was asking
myself in. That's ALL I think"
SO for the rest OF the morning Alice
Shane was in q brown study. What ii |
she had been uniair-the possibility Of
Il made her flush. and she decided 10 |
talk It over with her mother.
But Brownly was not 10 be discour. !
aged, and late Sunday morning he |
started adventuring in his roadster. |
Finally be drew up in front OF q mod. /
est apartment house, went "A and 1
pushed the bell-button under the name .
OF Mrs. Clara Share Fortunately /
there was no speaking tube, 90 he l
caught the door knob eagerly, and en-.
tered as soon a. the latch was released /
nom above.
Up three flights, standing in the hall
open door he found Alice Shane. She
vas clad in a pink Bingham morning
slip that left her arms bare. Her hair
vas bit tumbled ana she was a very
mueh surprised young woman. indeed.
"Why-why-I thought It was the
iceeream mani" and a dimple came
dangerously near the corner OF her
mouth
Wrong" laughed Brownly. And
moment later he was shaking hands
with her mother.
You see" he explained TO that
pleasant lady yesterday. I asked 10
be permitted to come to dinner. and I
grieve to report that your dauQhter
was rude 10 me. Very!" he added a.
Verely. frowning ct Alice.
Il wasn't" she denied. Il was inst
surprised" And she was flushing
again delightfully."-.
In few minutes he was standing N
he kitchen IN his shirt sleeves. su,oE.
ING his pipe and watching the mys.
aPlan nR Nhn a. q lirn "a :. - 49, |