The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-19
FACTS AND FANCIES FOR WOMAN AND THE HOME CIRCLE /
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
ONE JUNE NIGHT
By LOUISE OLIVER.
- SSS'SS VIlNEhs
(CopyTiGh 1918, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate

Was hlBu iron fence covered with
honeycuckle-the one between the
> HarFingtons and the Neals-and
with every years growth Of the vine
nd % every twlg interlaced 70 thick
~ the density Of the green wall tho
barrier Of hate between the two FAINT
lies had likewise grown in vast proper
lions.
The uncovered fence itself com
memorHted the beginning Of the ieud,
for, IS IS usually the case, II had start
ed with q disagreement about tn
boundary line, the disputed TERRITORY
being matter Of two feet between Oh
lFo properties. The court had spl
The difference, giving each land-ownr
; foot. II vas then the fence had bee
established-an everlasting memorial
70 trouble.
To arbitrate a quarrel is not 10 set.
tie II. Neither side winning. here
% me 10 forgive. 50 the Harrington.
and the Meals nursed their hate into
the second generation, and still il
grew.
Violet Harrington, the last and ONLY
Dne at home now, and always hated
Or. Wilbur Neal bitterly. She hated
lin chiefly because he had alvavs
seemed pOlitel yand Supremacy iudif.
ferent to her. He was almost the only
pan IN town who had not sooner o.
alter lost his heart to her. Violet had
always been the envy OF every girl On
CObuTg. because she was the prettie,.
md most popular. Naturally accus
tOmed TO homage. she resented the
tact that Will Harrington paid 60
much at tention 10 his books. TO the
exclusion almost OF everything else
Now she was twenty-eight and he
was thirty, and neither Of them was
married. knowing that she could have
anybody. she had taken nobody Nov
she was Alone in the great house.
Il was June and q wonderful moon.
light night Violet sat out under the
maple tree IN the yard, near the fence.
IN q soft white dress, stroking Dick.
her Persian Get. and whispering little
secrets IN his ear.
"It's q lovely night, Dickie. Do you
smell the roses? listen! That soft
little murmur Is the voices OF the love
iaiFise. DO you hear? They slide down
en- the niOOnbeams to the roses on June
ppightS, and plan whom they shall en-.
slave next. Then they mix sort Of
'nagic out Of dew and fragrance, and
" with II to the chosen ones and
Anolnt them. After that it's all over,
DicS. That love potion never fails.
Il suppose you're wondering, Dick,
why they never chose me. I've often
wondered, too. wonder why they
never did. There are so many spen.
did. wonderful men, | wonder why !
Fever loved any OF them. I'm getting
avfully old. Dick. Some day III be
walking With a stick. Oh, Dick. wish
! could love somebody. don't want
10 be old and lonely and ugly"
Her head went down on the soft coat
pd a tear dropped.
Suddenly there was a chirping and
fluttering In the vines. and Dick in
Gnediately jumped down to investigate.
\ hedging had dropped out OF its nest
and got tangled In the leaves.
Violet jumped out Of the swing and
hurried after him. But by the tin
she reached the uncovered fence IT,,
cat had worked his sinewy way inc
is weary heart. STOPPING, she reached
into the black shadows for her pet.
But be was gone.
When she tried to straighten she
found she could not. Her hair-a won.
derful copper. the chief charm of her
beauty, vas caught cruelty BY the
thick. twisted branches. She took out
the pins and tried to work it free. but
L was useless. She found she could
sit comfortably enough, but that wa.
40 help 10 matters. She couldn't stay
there all night; too far back from the
street 70 be heard, and no one near but
the hated house Of her neighbor.
Suddenly she heard a voice. 1t was
masculine aud quite near. She peered
through the fence, and in the moon.
light saw q swing much like her own,
and IN II . man smoking a cigarette.
Between puts he was talking to a
white bulldog on the opposite seat.
The man was Wilbur Neale, and he
was In uniform.
She statred. She had not heard he
had joined the army.
rags, it's a bully night. isn't it,"
said DR.. Harrington. VI wonder Hl
they have nights like this in France?
But Of Ooure they have, only ! sup.
pose III be too busy to notice them. |
ITS funny. isn't It. Rags, how we
waste time and waste It, and suddenly
realize what things mean TO US when |
they're about gone? For instance, there
"a q girl l like very much-very much |
indeed. And she hates me, and she
thinks hate her; and because didn't
know how 10 overcome her dislike / |
Just let II 80. And now it's too late |
10 Do anything about II. Too bad, isn't |
~ And Il nothing happens to me in |
this var, and come back, I'll brow
Into . cranky Old man without friends
ISp't Il silly? I've watched her grow
%. and she's q fine, useful woman, as
veil - beautiful. And I've lost her
because haven't any corlage. But
rye courage tonight, believe, Rags.
] wonder what she'd say II ! went over
lhere. It's only next door. Rags"
But Rags had heard something. A
white shadow had flashed out OF the
hedge, then in again. It was too much
tOf canine endurance.
"Come here. Rags! Don't you hurt
that cat It's hers. Rags, come here!"