The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-25
THE DAILY =
SHORT STORY
What a Nightl
! BY IINC0TN ROTRBLUM.
CCopyr;ght.leis. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicatel

m = ueANy DldHAeN VI Ntstt'' ~ ""'
but nine O'Clock this Saturday night
and the elements. unrestrained. PLAYED
n will in the empty streets. Main
thoroughfare3 were strangely sound
less, for even the street cars which !
browI on their monotonOus ROUNDS |
night IN and night out, had been locked |
IN the barns like children forbidden
70 10 cut and play in untoWard
weather.
Dorchsster. that beautiful suburb
Of the biue.blooded city. seemed 70
have shrunk within itself, and but ior
the mad wind. the all-embracing In
activity cast the hallowness OF death
about the snow.coated homes with
their frozen windows rejecting in
ghasty fashion the lights and shadows
within. Against the panes the wlnd
Whistied wildly. hurting its force with
loud complaints at such resistance.
What q night!
Doris. wrapped NJ In bathrobe oil
carmen-colored corduroy, pushed the
hassoek closer TO the fire and snug
aied m the comfortable warmth OF the
burning logs, which sent up myriads
Of asteTisks and cresents as the flames
ate into their piney hardness. Doris
was an unusually pretty girl. but hers
vas not the vapid prettiness which IS
some girig' asset. for her sparkling
ewes and well.mrned features gave
patent testimony that she possessed
those fundamentals Of character wnicn
appeal to men who count.
"Just a year ago tonight she muir
INJURED dreamily, but II was not SO
cold"
-. "Come SIS" demonstrated 4 comely
IA Of sixteen. who squatted, Indian
fashion, close by her. you mustn't al
1 WAYS figure how long it is since thai
dav. I'm big enough 10 know what
men do. and I'll bet my new rifle stan.
ley Chalmers amt no coward. WhatI
you bet?"
"You mustn't say amt nor use the
double negative" Doris corrected as
II BY rote, "and t''crgh you may be big
enough 10 know what men do, surely
my judgement is not altogether
wrong"
She was silent for . moment and
then exclaimed: ooh. Bobsie. I've
thought about II and thought about u,
until I. seems my brain can never hold
another thought"
The boy extended his cramped legs.
and cooking them up before hnS
clasped his hands about his knees. He
knew The would again hear the entire
account 81 why his sister broke her
engagement with Stanley Chalmers,
and he wanted to be comfortable dur
ing the recital.
at was not so cold as II Is tonight"
Doris began. es II recIting q we'll
learned lesson. when We turned the
corner OF Dorchester and saxton
streets. He had Just been telling me
ne would protect ne from all ills.
when horrible.looking fellow bumpe'
into me and swore out terrible oath.
Irursly expected STANLEY would knock
him down. b.t all he did was grab my
arm ard hustle me off,
she paused as the wind. shrieking in
oanely. tore around the house.
"When we got home" she continued
pulling the bsthrobe closer about her,
''you were in the hail and heard me,
tell him could never marry q COW
ard"
"Yes." interrupted the boy, when
yuu handed MIN your ring. he walked
out the door without saying q word.
Gee. he was sore"
But Il could not have hurt him
more than II did me-
"AW, guess I'll get some more
wood" Bob answered practically. and
q an effort 10 change the subject,
''the fires dying down." The crisp
cracking Of the blaze did not seem
70 warrant replenishing and Doris at.
tributed the boys impatientce to hel
tamily's lack Of sympathetic under.
standing"
In q few moments Bob returned
from the kitchen. his arms laden with
roughly. chopped pine 5oughs. As he
crossed the threshold between the two
rooms and stopped to adjust his bur-
den. from the upper regions Of the
house . terrific crash reverberated.
The wood dropped from his arms and
be dashed across the rooms swiftly to
his sister.
what is ~" his lips formed the
words his voice refused to utter.
Doris Jumped up from the hassock.
The hre. suddenly diverted by the
ehangeable gale. threw out flaming
tongues which seemed to find an az.
finlty Of color IN her scarlet bath.
vOte.
Someone has broken In" Doris re.
opcnded In IS casual a tone as SHE
could muster In her effort TO conceal
her fear. Crossing the room to the
telephone. she raised the receiver. but
Central did not answer. The storm
had broken the wires.
I'VE must see who II is." she whis.
DeIe6.. thoroughly frightened, AMI
grasrcd the rod used TO stir up :he
omic.s.
TIE boy had broom In his quakinE |
arms, and - he followed at -ry |
respectful distance, encouragingh an !
swered. ayes. OF course. we must see.
You 90 sheai. Sis. cent be afraid. In
right behind you"
Doris walked into the hall on tipto,
and a. she assembled the first thre, |
steps, the house again resounded with |
q crash seldom learG this side Of his I
Satanic Maiesty's realm. Terror.
stricken, they cluIg TO one anUthe. /,
for support. For Doris was but girl. !
and Bobsie. 80 lately affirming his
maturity. was but younG boy.
They must get help. With q dash !
through the short hall. they threw op- |
% the porch door. and as they stood |
on the piazza shivering in the nippins