The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-09
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Her 4 fberty-Loaned.
~ 9ARls q! .WELLEs;
s:S-E2.sper syndicate-l

A q
snaper syndicate-l
sTbS6e w7g more than one reason
49, fsfS avS consented To act on the
committee Of the local LIB
- I6au board. She tired conScten-
900 % make her duty toward her
en1IiStFy the drSt. and compelling rea-
soffs deep IN her heart she realized,
TowsFsr. that there was 3 rival mo-
;ffVe And that motive was, by name,
4lSTfd Stapleton. chairman OF the COM
nifttee oE mem
GiSdy6 Moore was girl well along
~ f,IentfeS. She was quiet and
1T5ssfty. Nth one Of those sweet per-
I'm that attracted old ladies'
ma Vlsrg young men. She had never
eone5 out fnnchsin the village after she
al retdfned home from boarding,
/ ge60oi Ie seemed as Il she had out
l.roigf what few OF her old compau-
iou remained IN the home town.
ma that was quite natural. Four
yefes sway from home in that tmpoT-
fant fine Of Development IN gtFfs
fIe6 mako q. wonderful change in her
tastes and habits and choice OF friends.
IfmoGE the only. place she had gone
j,[SSf1Ss the efoIif years that she had
I,GeH n. homo Had been to Red Cross
1aeetiHgs. IN this organization she had
TEoffed untfIfngfy and now. when the
yzaY vas calling forth to the limit OF
4seY eapacfty every woman in the VII
TO. eindys ,was one Of the most de-
9endab+e.
Then came the can for a woman's
f.fherty Loan committee to supplement
the work OF the. men
ssRut-T've never done anything OF
the KIND Gladys demurred. when they
SSked her to serve.
aEeither have we,' said the COM
nfittse IN unison.
And diayds. having previously no
ffced the name OF David Stapleton. the
cashier OF she village bank, on the hst
OF men. accepted
David StapIeton was widower- He
hSd known Gladys as girl in her
tSens and had always liked her. Since
she had returned home he had seldom
Eeen her. His. activities lay elong
Isnes that did not include women he
hardly ever saw q woman outside OF
! his household. where there were a
eur+ber Of aunts and nearaunts.
This Is my first experience in this
line" Gladys said 70 him when they
esYne face TO face the first morning
that she appeared at headquarters to
bosi1 work on the big drive. :.
'"This,tS our drst war. you know
David ISaEhed. as he let her pass
@saa our s isst1I hope Gladys re.
r@rked.
skt least give II one b1e ribbon. "
Ma found himself saying as Gladys
ss1-'ed herself arranging tables and
eHzirs as part of her work on the
committee on headquarters deeora-
rfsoz giving me the pleasure Of see
inzyou aGasn. i
Giadys. pretty white skin warmed
SeTcepSibly, and David, unaccustomed
Is he was to observing feminine
leAar14S. thought he had never seen
ans. hing so lovely as her cheeks.
SEveFy day the two had work to do
tosetder. and OCCASIONALLY IN the even
INK Gladys found herself being es-
eorted "a or from Z Liberty Loan meet
ing hyDaSld Stapleton.
RI'Te a1ed my questionable" he said
TO her one night on the way home.
sivour QUESTIONABLE? she asked.
.eYes-rna In the draft. you know"
Gladys breathed. -"
You thought I was too old-now
&opReSS It!
Gladys said nothing.
s9eFhsps hadn't thought a* AL
about he draft she added.
tire you thinking now?" David
asked pointe6Iy.
Gladys nodded.
TheS drove on In silence Both were
tdfakiiig IN = new vein
-Ea - tho
coxr HttTGs fIf14pout before her own
So6r Is seemed to feel ia at ease.
eSSe could 81 lain her more or less
Sliyness with this man whom she had
knouns always aud yet with whom now
Shes seemed 10 30 SO. strange.
z'SD6a'E you want to steal an hour
away nom Your, desk at headquarters
Ia NOV and have lunch with me
II 4 tea-house on the outskirts OF the
aTlt5indn NEoods?'s David asked. detain-
ing GlSdyS by . very gentle touch on
Gsdys caught her breath-and was
almost affafd he could hear her catch
& what vas the matter With her. she
wondered Why did the touch Of Davia
StaptetonsnaakS her heart leap so Wild
b 3sId why aid HIS voice sound 50 Low
md tender?
s2ttsE she reached the house she Re
nsmbersd having promised to 30 With
I'm ou the following day She could
iisFe shaken herself for having acted
It'll OF sixteen Instead of Ike a
ron1an nearly thirty at the mere invi-
at3on Of having . bit Of lunch with
dl1 Rhom she had Known an her life.
on her desk the following morning
hio sfound a.Hote. Il told her that the
Resilient OF tho bank had had an ac-