The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-02
The Orchard Inn,

The Orchard Inn,
Forest Valley, n. J., the It'll.
My dearest Joan:
have your letter and most rever-
emily thank God for giving me an I'M
derstanding friend. To reassure you,
dear, for believing have not done q
foolish thing, let me tell you how
sanely It has worked out
OF course Ca t Wallis met ne a.
the station. The instant laid eyes
on him I felt at ease. His quiet man
ner was at its quietest. There was an
air Of satisfaction about him as he
greeted me. cordially but not effusive-
ly. gratefully but not as though han
performed a miracle Of sacrifice
In coming.
81 knew / could count on you" he
said, "as soon as you realized how
terribly up-against-it ] really was.
Gosh, how helpless man is nova
days without the expert hand Of the
secretary! Might as well try to go
to fire on a hobby-h horse as dictate
10000 words to yourself on the type.
writer Here's the Fierce-Arrow!|
He led the way with a comic flour
ish toward battered tin lizzie which
Is part OF the furnishings OF his Dor
rowed camp.
What a heavenly place!" was all
could find to remark as ! climbed
into the gathering car. had rather
braced myself for-I don't know what
some sign OF embarrassment on his
part perhaps, or a trace Of topper
sonal appreciation.
ut sure is" he answered heartily,
finally getting the machine started
with much rasping OF levers and bark
ing OF throttle. "old Max Porter did
all his best writing out here. When
he went to the Coast on special mis-,
sion for his magazine he turned the
shack over to me. It has saved my
life-it and you together-for l could
no more have got out this order in a
summer hotel or city apartment than
rabbit"
We were on straightaway bit OF
wood road, and he turned from the
wheel a moment to look at me. It is
this restrained, observing manner of
his, Joanie, that gives me those sud-
den inward throes-like when Caruso
lets out one OF those soft, tense, long,
drawn velvet notes of his. Remember
how we used to lose our breath and
get. gooseflesh over his photograph
records in Mrs. Darby's parlor years
ago? Well, Capt. Wallis may just have
been looking 10 see whether there was
smut on my nose from the long train
ride. Or wondering whether I was ex-
pert enough for his purposes: Or
oh, anything, One never knows what
he thinks. One moment you'd swear
he was going to make the most violent
love TO you. The next, he is back ia
his shell again leaving you all at sea,
wondering-half disappointed.
He turned back to his driving.
"We-the shack and Twill do our
best to help" said. feeling must be
businesslike and casual, and not being
able to think of more brilliant re-
mark.
There's rather decent little room
for you at the Inn.' he went on. We'll
drive straight there"
And after lunch" said !, your sec
rotary will appear upon your door mat,
refreshed and ready for work"
He turned again and looked earnest
ly at me.
What a wonderful girl you are!"
Are businesslike secretaries so
scarce them" smiled.
"of your sort, yes" he answered
gravely. ITO have a face like that;
and intelligence, and kindness and
character and"
He stopped abruptly, and looked
"-and-?" 1 found myself asking,
with an odd, tight sensation in the
throat.
Gail it CHARM" he answered brisk
ly, adding in the same brisk tone:
Were almost there. Inns Just round
the turn"
We finished the drive in silence. At
the quaint little hostel built Of cement
and rough logs an elderly colored
woman came out to welcome me, and
boy took my bag.
"I'll stop for you, then, Miss varick,
at two O'clock" said Capt. Wallis, and
with friendly, though half-formal
wave Of the hand, he chugged of In
his rattly old machine.
1 will write the rest of the first