The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-04
TIE DAILY
story.
{ The Wedding Knives.
~ IS q. MAckLEY.

were very beautiful-those
delicate trfde8 OF the ancient
= toilet OF the seventeenth Cen
kury hrdde-the wedding knives OF
Mistress Anne Hogarth-
MarEery ByerB took them Teverent-
II from their faded green brocade
T11eafhs, and. running her fingers over
fhe eaabexately chased blades. and
tie quaint pearl Get handles. handed
SSem to Stephen Palmer. The young
9hysickan turned them over curious
$50 these pretty trtnkets were nee
essay 20 the bridal toilet away back
"a the days OF your grandmother an
cestress, AGargie!" he remarked
don't remember OF ever reading OF
.sWhy. don't you remember. Steve%
EfrdIe when she was In the Frtar's
cel1. and she had them on when she
was about to take the sleeping po-
what did they symbolize:" asked
They had something to do with
severing the knot Of love. believe,
answered Margery vaguely. any
way. whatever they meant, they were
beautiful things to wear.
..And you, Margie. suppose you'll
wear these when you're married.
Palmer hesitated little over his
words.
When a girl has well-defined. rel
atiYeimplanted idea Of engaging her
seIi when she gets to the seashore
sumner resort to rich man she
doosn,t care for. but who is going to
ask her to marry him-to see unex-
pected love in the eyes OF the man
she'd like to marry. even though dis
approved Of by the relatives, is dis
concerning. Margary turned away
and replaced the trinkets in their
places before she answered bit trem-
nlously:
s.My-my wedding day Is long
time on, most likely. Steve. I'm not
quite twenty, You know"
.N1isten, Margie." Stephen tr:eo
to keep his voice steady; Il want TO
tell you something"
.-Hrrry, Margie.'' an impatient voice
called from the next room ARE you
forgetting We have an engagement
this EVENING"?
swered. Come down to the station
tomorrow. Steve" she said IA hasty
eoodby. "early. I'll so down a half
hour before mother does. and We've
can talk before the train leaves.
But man In a factory got himself
cut up badly the next day an hour be-
fore Margery's train Was to leave. and
Palmer was called to hold life in him
There was not even time for telephon-
Ing Margery. and the letter OF explain
alton he sent her was returned to him
unopened.
When three weeks later Margery's
0nRaEement to Elmer TroxeN was an
nounced Stephen worked so many ex-
ira hours at the hospital that the head
surgeon protested.
IN September the Byers family re-
turned. and Palmer could not escape
the accounts OF the wedding that was
to be one OF the city.s social events
a few days before the wedding. I'M
able to deny himself the uncertain I'M
happiness OF trying to catch glimpse
OF the bride-to-be, ne found himself
passing the Byers house. AS he went
BY. driving at a snan'3 pace. he heard
fr1ehtened screams from within He
leaped fro nhis car. AS he ran up
fhe walk Z terrified maid thrust open
the door.
.oh. De. Palmer!" she cried, recog-
MIXING him. come In, Quick!"
Another one OF the maids lad tai
Ian Carrying tray OF glasses. and had
cut her wrist. She was shrieking in
fear and clinging to Margery. who
With Z pencil and handkerchief was
twisting tourntquet about the wound
ed arm, while the blood spattered her
lovely white dress.
.Come away. Margery." frowned a
heavy browed man in a white serge
costume, standing at a safe distance
from the maid, as Palmer came Tor.
ward. .and let the man attend to ner.
It's his business-besides you're get
ting your frock spoiled. and We were
ready for our drive"
alareery shook OF his hand. 60
away E1mer!"-Palmer detected a
note oe dislike In her tone-''you are
n Dr.. Pa1mer's way. Never mind the
Dive. shall stay with Sophie.
6oot touched somthing lying on the
rux. something that tlnk1ed, as with a
murmur Of disgust he showed It aside.
The next morning when Palmer re-
turned to the house to attend the In
iured maid he found her crying.
sim not scared for myself, its Miss
Margi0 I'm worried about" she told
him. .He-that man amt fit for her
nor anybody else. Miss MarEie told
him yesterday she was going to wear
her neat gr4ndmother's wedding
Mfves maybe she's showed them to
you) &C her wedding. and he got ave-;
my mad-asked her how she would
IooE. standing up there In her bridal
robes, before an his friends with those
absurd things dangling at her belt.
IKE I housekeeper,s keySi' And he
threw them On the floor, and when
c9mo n with the tray stumbled over
them and fen and cut my arm"
Palmer paled as he listened. and
though he made no comment he had
70 set hiB teeth TO keep the words
that came fn~hiS mind.
Two days 1ater Palmer read the FOL
lowing paragraph IN the evening pa
.TroxSI Nselects to Get License"
ran fhe headline. AFTER being sup