The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-28
he DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Magnet.
~ 4 Az BAKER

VI
OR three years Leah Wellington
Is and Grover Gary were true to each
other which might be consid
y remafilble record.
BY this is not meant that the pres
ent generation Of men and women Is
i 20 ruled by nckleness that three years
81 being true is out OF the ordinary,
Although you viii find soured-on the
world cynics who will assert that such
= the case.
One OF the extraordinary things
shout the fealty Of Leah and Grover
was that during the three-year period
n question they were in different
cities and yet did not exchange letter
DrSa postcard. But the feature that
really tustifies the use Of the word
Remarkable" is the fact that the
young lady and the young man con-
cerned never had formed an acQuaint-
anccship did not, in fact, know each
others names.
Ieal, was clerk in the magazine,
cigar, popcorn, candy, postcard coun-
ter ct the Union Station in q city o.
some 100, 600 souls in Illinois. Grover
was one Of those hustling young men
4 who can convince you that not to take
out insurance on your life Is RANK
treason against the human race.
Grover arrived at the station one
evening, weary from Q slow, humping
ride On q local train that appeared to-
scorn the rails and insist on trayers-
Ing the ties between them. He had q
crouch which he directed against the
railroad, the insurance business and
the world in general until he spied
Leah.
Leah waslnot in q joyful mood She
was obliged to work overtime because
the night clerk at the stand was SICK
AMI, she had to miss theatre party
with four girl friends. She scowled
as she sold fat man 9 package o.
9un1. hut when she locked up from the
cash register and saw Grover wreaths
o9 smiles adorned her countenance.
'aThere he is ct last, breathed Leah
stthe handsome man I've dreamed ab.
ont so eften. always knew I'd meet
him someday!"
"By George! That's tie girl I've
been waiting all these years for"
Grover told himself. isn't she the
pretty thing!'
AS . natter OF fact, neither Of them
was beautiful or handsome. although
each possessed the normal amount OF
attractiyeness.
Grover at once approached the stana
She smiled welcome at him, somewhat
timidly, for her experience with men
had been limited as his had with girls;
Hea was far from being at ease, ana
somehow he could not decide what 70
purchase from her. Naturally, when
q stranger approaches a place where
things are sold and stares at the clerk
the clerk expects to sell something ne
argues. and still he could not think OF
anything he needed.
He looked over the magazines, fin-
ally. selecting one, but when he thrust
n hand into his pocket he found that
his purse had vanished. She was roll.
ing sup the magazine.
NO i don't want that after all" he
faltered. Ihaye read 1t. come to think
ofsit."
She laid it back. He ransacked his
brain for the name Of some magazine
that he did not see on the stand. It
was useless. The supply laid before
him apparently covered every publi-
cation in the world.
She was waiting and he was being
tossed on the stormy sea Of distress.
He figited and iperspired. at last des-
perately he blurted out:
.sThe magazine want is The Mag
net Have you the last issue?"
The smile left her face and dissap-
pointment crept into her eyes. She
wanted to please this stranger, to fur
nish him with the article he wanted.
She had failed.
s..No Sir" she answered, I'VE don't
keep that magazine. In fact, I never
heard Of It and I thought / was an
authority on periodicals. q
BE thanked her and trudged home-
ward In q curtain Of gloom setteled
over him. He had made mess Of Il,
} hs RACED and he went to sleep to
Dream that he had met the girl that
Was meant for him, and that, lust as
he was about to lead her to the altar
@ make her his bride, q witch de-
scended from the clouds and trans
4; termed him into donkey. n
However. on thinking It over Grover
4 saM that his laundering had opened
Tie gate OF opportunity for further
conyefsations with tho miss that fate
had selected to become his partner
on the highway Of life so at least three
times q week he appeared at the sta
tipn and asked Il the Magnet maya
zine had appeared yet. Every. time
Eeah was obliged to confess that she
tlaas been unable to get track Of It. II
had been possible she would OF OBJ
tained It Tor him, for she had made q
arch that Included all the agencies
81 town. Il
e Grover had used the same tactics
love that he used in selling insur.
aMce II would have been comparatively
easy to win his hearts desire. Leah
~ ready and waiting for him for she
w ! firm believer in the doctrine
e44s every woman born into the world
Intended TO wed Q certain, particular
preselected man. IA \ 3
.eAh had been told, and she beliey-
81 that Il Q woman failed to marry
tAee man that fate had selected TOP
lles nnhapplDess would be certain to