The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-05-29
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Twas False.
D VINCENT c. PERRY.
copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
NeWspaper Syndicate


= There was no use trying 10 talk
sense into a man who hadn't any, he
thought at last, as he gave up with
zone more effort.
Il tell you she IL young-just about
tWOnty.One," he said hotly. Because
che q an actress you think she has TO
b old There are some young &C
tFosSes, aren't there?'
MoFVin Renton, his companion, was
) quite willing to admit that there we're
but this one, he claimed was not. You
can't tell me-" he argued This Dora
FFalelgh will never see thirtyfiye
again. Her hair is false, I'm willing
70 wager anything Did you ever see
eurls like hers that were real? Every
thing about her Is false
Arthur knew II he stayed he would
become angry. Meryin was Jealous
that was what was the matter, he felt
Dora had shown her preference for
him. II Mervin didn't care for her
what was he staying there for? The
week before she had come to the hotel,
MorVln had declared the seaside re-
sort was too quiet to hold him, but
now he never spoke Of leaving.
without another word Arthur left
TIE bath.hOuse where the conversation
had been held and made for the beach.
70 was q glorious day and the guests OF
4he hotel we're making the best Of the
bathing weather. He caught sight OF
Dora almost Immediately. Her bathing
suit was unique and attractiye-one
hat could not be mistaken. and be-
GldoS, she was the only one he had
oyoS for Dora didn't seem to be en-
iOying herself as she usually did. Ap-
parently she was searching for some
thing in the water near the beach.
what have you lost?" he asked, as
be waded toward her.
"Oh, nothing she answered a trifle
confused. isn't the water finer
q After completely immersing herself
and swimming aimlessly about for
few seconds, Arthur agreed that it
was. Lets 60 out on the raft he
suggested, but Dora seemed unwilling
% leave the shallow place. This was
surprising, for she had always seemed
anxious to get all the fun possible.
There was something troubling her.
She even seemed unwilling 10 80 on
the beach for a sun bath, but finally
agreed.
= "TheFe!" Arthur exclaimed as he
stretched out on the sand. Il thought
] never would get away from that
shallow part. There we're so many
children there didn't have a chance
% talk to you"
"You usually have lets Of opportuni
ties" Dora smiled
Arthur wished Mervin had been
there to see that smile. Even a man
like MerVin would say that a girl who
could smile like that wasn't very old.
whats thls?" ne asked, as he pick
ed up something his toes had been
rubbing against in the sand. well,
look what's here! A false CURL" Sure
enough It was.
Dora took It from him eagerly. 81
lost it!" she exclaimed, as she jumped
% her feet. II was searching for it
out there. Wait until / 90 and tell
auntie She'll be delighted"
She was of before Arthur could stop
her. He looked after her with an ex-
clamation Of dlsmay on his lips. To
think that those beautiful curls OF hers
were false. No wonder she hadn't
talked much and had been confused.
So Mervin had been right! Were her
teeth false. too? Did she have a glass
eye2 No, her eyes and teeth we're her
own. Science could not make eyes or
teeth like those. II her curls we're
false, though. she must be old. He was
90 disappointed It made him angry.
Perhaps she was as old as his mother,
but when he Feconsidered he decided
that false hair could not make his
mother look as young as Dora. Per.
haps she wasn't old at all There was
= chance that her hair had been de-
elrOyed by accident, but it seemed i'm
probable.
When Dora Joined him again he was
& trying 10 smile. but found he couldn't.
what makes you so auiet?' she ask
Cd, after they had sat in silence for
nearly five minutes
Nothing very much" he replied to
her question. II was thinking that
] was going home tomorrow"
"GOing home" she echoed "Why
you said last week that you would be
here all summer
y have changed my mind he an
sWered, but when he saw the panied
look on DOra's face he wished he had
thought Up an excuse.
The next morning Arthur's resolve
% 90 home had not faltered He
wasn't going to stay there TO be the
laughing stock Of the whole hote! when
they found out about Dora's age He
was only twenty-One and most likely
she was thirty. anyway. Nine years
vas too much difference. II wasn't
an easy thing to give her up. lie had
Just about reached the proposing point
when he had made the discovery that
had shattered his plans. He felt so
uncomfortable over it he went to the
station half an hour before the train
vas due 10 leave. He took a seat in
coach and waited impatiently for II TO
start AZ the minutes dragged out his
mind began TO waysr. II he married
Dora be knew he gould be proud Of
her 10 matter how old she was. Her
personality would cover up her age
and others would be deceived as he
had been. Lots Of young men had mar.
rIed women a number of years their
senior and had been happy. She would
probably marry q young man and