The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-13
| THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
! Summer Heat.
~ LINCOLN RoTHeLuM.
fCopyright. 1913. by the Mcclure


The romance OF youth was Just so
much vital food to her existance and
evidently she throye upon the diet,
~ large roofs OF needless fat hung
Nm her spacious sides. while the
eo10ing double chin cavor;ed cheek
I'D with the ample bosom below.
~ ~ 70 the saw. chunky Mrs. Pot.
W.s good-natured and. strange as
y msy lseem, thoroughly understood
yoIns len and women. especially a.
.yss ne when 81 Il said their fancy
"y urns 10 thoughts OF love.
Clara, Mrs. Potter's pret:y
49,. ysho crowned that lady's repu
3 Cupid's assistant. Even Miss
~ Splinter, who had some years
. given up all matrimonial inten.
% Twas obliged 10 admit that in
1's engagement 10 Hal Doran,
Mrs. Potter had outdone herself Miss
SErinter. Il must be understood, bore
the conductor OF this diplomatic mar
rage bureau little good will. since the
occasion on which she had been re
fused assistance in securing. as Mr..
Potter afterwards bluntly put It. IAN
thing in . pair OF trousers" UnfoT
tunateiy. Hiss Splinter did not know
at the time that Mrs. Potter based her
operations on the principle that TO
accomplish anything one must have
fail material TO work with" And the
spinster herself knew she was far from
being fair material"
well. my dear niece" Mrs. Potter
was saying this perfect May afternoon
~ she rocked her hundred and NINETY
pounds 70 the rockers accompanying
complaint. at certainly Is gratifying T.
read the announcement OF your engage
mont 10 Hal IN this mornings paper.
You'll make the prettiest June couple
this tcvn has ever seen"
that's Just what displeases me-"
responded the young girl as she trirl-
Cd her paresol on the rue to her auat's
vexation, go che seems TO question
whether Hal ami ! ere suited 10 one
aLother--they all say he's a mighty
handsome follow and I'm not a bal
looking I'll and we've both cot money
-it'sl Iiehty fine match for beth o.
u.s. ID Clara Topped herself down
on = : rug, knees cooked W. w.th dire
resu.t5 TO the flim-y summer dress o.
white voiie with its tier upon tier 0.
lacy ruffics.
Tut tut. girl. dent like 10 hear
you talk that way. Hal Doran IS
pretty fine nan. and comes from =
good family. You'll sft along w.
enough and-I car inst picture how g)r-
gecus you'll Loo; stepping to the tune
Of Mendelasohn.'
, Their conversation was interrupted
By the entrance OF sixioot.two o: won.
derful marhccd. cheeks and eyes glow.
ing with health, topped by waves Of iet
black hair.
"Hclio. Hal" was the simultaneous
greeting Of the two women. much more
cCriially expressed By Mrs. Potter
~ ssI4 s.llrsVl9oAs Ieq poAlso0I vIv!1
silence and left TIE room.
What's the matter with Princess
Pretty?" he asked in his mellow voice;
"out Of humor?"
"Not at all" Mrs. Potter nervously
replied. anxious for the successful dc
ncu5cemcnt OF ner vaccinations. its
Just the summer heat"
Summer heat was one OF Mrs Pot.
ter's favorite reasons for any indispo.
sitions. With the first peep OF blade
Of grass above the ground still hard
from the winters snow, she began TO
imhibo great quantities of iced lemon.
ade.
"Just the summer heat" she re
peated mechanically. "and I suppose
she added by way Of introducing the
subject uppermost In her mind. little
neyEpp.6i 'oye- sIE.soproaching wed.
q ~ yOd'if maA( a handsome
The man sat down and stretched his
long legs to their full length "Yes,"
he drawled. 'that's Just what most
folks are saying. Because Clara Is
little beauty, and I'm not physical
wreck, people take It for granted we're
suited"
Mrs. Potter tanned herself vigorous.
y ~ the familiar words smote her ear.
She felt the same answer would sui
flee.
Tut, tut, Hal. don't talk like that
Clara's . mighty fine girl. even II I
say 20 who should not. And you'll get
along well enough. Find her and take
Q walk"
And, indeed. It would be a most crit.
zeal Judge who could not but praise
Mrs. Potter's ingenuity In bringing this
man and maid together Perhaps It
was because they were both conscious
% the many glances directed at them
that they could never afterwards tell
Just how and when the automobile
knocked them down, and before either
fogAined consciousness, they were
Whisked into an ambulance, driven TO
the nearest hospital. and awoke TO
find themselves nightgowned and pa
jama-ed respectively. Halls broken
arms put him to bed with irksome
oDlintorS, while Clara lay white and
weak with displaced rib.
Il was well along the tenth day be
fore either became sufficiently con.
Bcious that something else than pain
existed IN their Spotless rooms. For
Halls attention was diverted from an
effort 70 stretch his legs beyond the
confines Of the bed 10 Nurse Stewart
just entering the room. He made a
lightning quick inventory.
Pug nose. freckled. bluegreen eyes.
short Iashes. brick.red hair. no figure.
Ensemble-not much"
Better, ! see," said this white.
gowned creature.
Hal Topped his head over. So won.
derful . voice did not belong TO such
features. And he had not dreamed
hands could be SO gentle as his spin.
tiers we're adjusted without pain and