The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-02
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
rhe Name Of Roberts.
~ LINCOLN RoTHBLUM.
En0HrfIfk 1913. hy-fha McClura

smooth witness OF her forehead. ..Just
listen TO this letter from Ralph, moth.
g, and tell me IL It isn't the most ex-
asperaffnE thing you ever heard" And
with an abused manner. she read
loud:
Dear sisI know you WIN be rs
6sappoipted az am to learn that
Lieut.. Roberts viii not approve my
sfnrloueh. He IS commanding officer
while the captain Is In the hospital,
and says that if were to go home now
: 4twouId leave the company without a
mechAnic, as there is no one else In
tie company qualified TO do such work.
50 We win have to pocket our disap-
spuinfment and wait for more favor
able Opportunity. Love from youl
brother. RALPH
Ralph is right" Mrs. sommers an.
GWared soothingly as she industriously
y eontirred to knit the wool which was
GRADUALLY and surprising assuming the
1orm OF sweater. "and II he Is need
"a there It would be unpatriot1c to
have him with u.s."
.But, mothr, can't you understand
that { wanted him home for the mill.
tary ban. It won't seem Ike q real
dance unless Ralph is with US. On. l
5ust hate Lieut.. Roberts. It's an ugly
1old name, anyway.
sHush. child. you don't realize what
you are saying. But how VIII 1t be II
speak OF father and see il he won't
lei Won visit Ralph in camp? You
could make the trip alone
The happy suggestion brought Q
on.dk smile to the charming face
Ihicb seldom failed to reflect cheer
fnlness. you're dear, dear motneF,
md ff You can convince daddy 70 e.
ma 70. I'll give you exactly thirty
nine Kisses" And as II making an
.dance deposit on the proposed pay
meat. Mrs Sommers received gen
erous portion OF the amount due.
And because daddy" was never
sonab!c request which would contsa-
Known to refuse his daughter any rea-
butte to her happiness. it was but a
short week before Overland Limited
swiftly bore thu excited gil to the
great cantonmert, very proud OF the
responsibility OF travelling uneha2eron-
cd: and her cup OF happiness was
quite filed to cverGo~iag as Mechanic
Sommers,- with chest inflated. placed
on exhibition my Sister" before the
.sfelIers,' standing with gaping mouths
II the unusual vision OF iovliness
among their monotonous uniforms OF
khaki
And Madeline loved to make the
daily tip from town to camp. despite
the t.resome, hard ride upon the rick
CIV. anbling. one-line car-the only
means Of access to tie CAMP at ene
.sYo there was always crowd OF Gag
e.. manly boys waiting about the PA.
, no for the magic music she coulo
rake with her fingers and voice. ana
other magic with her eyes. This night
was the buglers warning cali OF tat
foo which sent her scurrying lot the
e4reet cars last trip back to town
eh1v escorted to the car line by an ev-
"a dozen khaki-clad figures on eacn
side.
Madeline turned to wave pleasant
good night from the platform, ana as
4Ee conductor tangled the cord the ca.
S,oved numbering OF. Fare. please,
sme 4, the mechanical tone OF habit.
Her pursei It was gone! NO. SEE
= -emsmi,ered leaving It on top OF me
rSano a. the YM.C.A. How would sne
NV 1er fare? Would the conducto5
mt her of? It was far to town an1
the night was dark
ap,rdon me madam. but may as
LA 80, q, vour difficulty And as
1r,asIioa look up she found the owner
ee7ty,s duleet tones handing the con
dnctor the necessary com ano seA1s
~ her with military precision.
Z az Arxt lieutenant and decidedls
.,,od joodnx." she thought as ner eyes
4cst "a collar insignia and me 1sa-
fnras above. Aloud. ''Thank you sAt
Im very grateful
NJ. officer bowed and moved up 10
~.,6 4l1e front OF the car. Wnen ne
SSated himself he FOUND the 5ouns
1Ady beside him.
blush Of faint pink sutfused her
cheeks. 'T would like to repay you
Il
Don.t he interrupted. holding up
his hand: 81 am glad to have been
otass5stance. Would you care to sit
0eft 70 the Window"
Madeline accepted the courtesy, and
Because she did not know whether or
not 6he should speak and Il she should
!, what to say. she ran her fingers up
md down the iron bars Of the opened
window. humminE the little tune Of q
poDalAr dir. She felt she really ought
10 make some arrangements TO return
tho Fare advanced.
r should Ike to repay you. t.
30 you really want to repa]7''
u aea1n interrupted. very oxclted1y.
rs Sc against his better 5udEemens.
4 Aad without giving her an opportunity
Ito 9nGW0T. I've an imitation 10 q
snce tonight, and don't know q 1e-
f1nale soul % ask. VIII you come with
Na6eline looked around tia car.