The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Turkey Red.
AZ DORA NOLAN.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

the Sinai tU"h VI ~,
After 4 weeks inspection the cor
census Of opinion, even among tne
women. was favorable toward MIS-;
ioring ashe's quite pretty" said
M pettigrew, describing one OF tne
new arrivals to her next door neign,
bor. ashe has wavy black hair ana
sIaek ewes: the type that can wear
red; you know"
The minister's wife gave a luncn-
con, Loretta Loring was very charm"
ine IN q pale yellow gown. her man
nsr was naturally bright and viva
oious. but when the little group haa
filad into the dining room and were
sested around the table, which was
decorated with red carnations, she
beeane quiet and Ill at ease. The
taIk turned on childhood days. The
hostess, with the good intenuon Oh
bringing the stranger into the con-
yersation, asked Were you city or
country bred Mrs. Loring| /,
Against her will the color flooded
Ioretta's cheeks as she replied;
ascarcely either, Mrs. Atherton. My
childhood days were spent in an or
phan asylum" There were murmurs
Of sympathy; then the subject was
CHANGED. and Mrs. Loring's supse'
auent demeanor was attributed by
the hostess and guests to the untor-
tunate question.
No one dreamed that the young
Doctors wife had told a direct lie IN
fhst renlv, or that the color of the
table decorations was the real cause
Of her changed manner.
DR. Loring had noticed this strange
antipathy before. There had been the
time when Loretta had begged him
never to wear red necktie II he
loved her; and the incident Of set
of o. Henry, bound in red morocco.
Therefore, though he was somewhat
astonished on returning home that az
ternoon, to find his wife in tears, the
doctor was not surprised when she
told him the reason. Leaning down
he lifted Loretta in his arms. with
a puzzled froWn he said: That nor.
/. ror Of red is strange thing. Did
Won ever try to overcome it, dear?"
As<there was no reply he continued
"Didoit ever occur to you that II
might be a birthmark?"
Mrs. Loring sat up. why, never
thought of that" she said eagerly
1T sounds plausible. doesn't it? WheI
| can't help showing it people would
believe" she stopped abruptly ane
shot a quick glance at her husband
"Dear," the latter answered, there
are times when / think you know the
real reason for that strange dislike
and are keeping it from me-" Lo-
rita tried to look him straight In the
eve but somehow failed. However
she shook her head. why, of course
not Hal. My past is an open book
to you, Just as yours is to me.
The doctor seemed about to make
some reply, but he closed his lips
Fight for moment, then changed the
subject.
happy in their new home. AS time
went on the doctor built UP a lucra-
tive practice in Carringford. Loretts
made many friends. But ii came tc
be generally understood among then
that the subject Of her past life was
one to be avoided. :.
As the minister's wife expressed 1t
HThe poor girl seems so sensitive OF
HE subject. Probably she led an I'M
hanpy life in that asylum, and the
thought of It upsets her."
But DR.. Loring was worried a6ou,
his wife. He had faith in her love
and tried to believe her repeated as
surances that she was happy. Bu'
there were times when Loretts
thought herself unobserVed. ;,
Then her expression changed; II
became strange, almost desperate
There were nights when she couldn'
sleep. or had horrible dreams.
During the influenza epidemic Mrs
Loring was one Of the numerous vic
Inns. The doctor, coming in ont
evening after an unusually hard day
offered to relieve the nurse for
while. As he sat down by the bed
side Loretta said, with a trace o.
Aysteria IN her voice Hal, I've beer
thinking. Suppose don't get well
Suppose should die. WHY"
tiNonsense!' said her husband; 20,
must put those morbid ideas RICH
out Of your head. You're coming
along all right" The patient looked
Il him strangely. "But IL / do" sh'
persisted; III, should go with Till
awful lie on my conscience mus
tell you"
stroking his wiie's head, DR.. Lor
Ing babe her not to talk then. "Tel
ne some. other time" he said "Here
lear, take this" and he gave he
sedattye tablet and a little water
But Loretta was. not to be Quoted
.hns. u know I will have to give u
your love II ] tell you why ! hate ret
Io.g Her face flushed, her eyes wide
She pushed aside the restraining
hand on her shoulder, HAL" sht
iaid, y lied to you the first time ",
met. never saw the inside of al
orphan asylum-and ] know all abou
ny parents. They drank themselve
q death soon after was sent to tn
reform school for theft. was KEEP
here four years, and once tried +
tScape. They found me and took m
5ack-and put a turkey red dress o.
tne as . badge Of disgrace and mad
nS wear It FOR months. The yer,
light Of the color brings 1t all back
Nm Loring'S voice died away In
weak rob,
She was exhausted and lay Will
aNaaad Hhat Ala mt "a