The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-05
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Fisher Caught.
BY LINCOLN RoTHRLuM.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.l

uOf0 QebIIdDle Since ne e11llOlI6Q no
inclination to be caught. Divers we're
the schemes mothers Of daughters
ready to consider career" invented
70 entice the wary fish into the matri.
monial net.
For indeed Victor Lawton was a
most desirable specimen OF prospec
tive husband. He was tail, but not TOT
tall TO seem towering when with a
short companion.
He was stocky, but by no means
deshy. He was OF good family, but
came from neither blue blood nor vel
low. He was lawyer OF sound repu-
tation and good business acment, while
the definiteness of his income from a
few select clients compensated for
their lack of number.
And that ne had personality is at
tested when the fellows dubbed him
n bully chap" and the girls-wen. the
girls thought him too handsome for
anything"
sand So" Mrs. Van Dusen, leader
Of the towns upper set, complimented
herself. 81 have done well TO squeezt
from his ~good.looking lips a promise
10 be present at your debut tonight.
The rest, my darling daughter, is up
to you" And she extended her hand
toward pretty and sophisticated thing
Of twenty In an i've done my share"
manner.
my name isn't Cecile Van Dusen,'.
came the reply with rolling of big,
haZel-colored eyes in the prescribed
fashion commonly known as "vamp
ing" "for nothing" She tripped across
the soft rug on tiptoe and impaired q
slight smack on her mothers cheek,
making a pretty sputter as her tongue
tasted the too liberal application of
powder.
81 hope So" answered the elder
woman in tone that did not reflect
her daughters confident assertion.
But We must keep Madge out of the
way as much as we can"
Your fault again." chided Cecile,
who, modern-like, never lost an op-
portunity to censure her mother.
When We thought she was going to
get married month ago, you shouldn't
have refused-though we didn't know
who 1t was"
Hush, Cecile," chided Mrs. Van
Dusen gazing quickly at the door to
see II they had been overheard. 81
promised your father when he died to
care for the child of his first wife.
And shall do my duty"
However painful 1t may be-" finish
ed Cecile, only as relieved by the ap.
preparation of her inheritance"
Mrs. Van Dusen cast an appeal for
silence as Cecile laughed out loud.
BAD thing to have conscience, moth.
err" she stated, wagging her head en-
Fva1a tt,I,h fnI, 7
ton on my line" she added, materializ.
ing the hope by the execution of a dir
~ pirouette, "I'll-why, I'll let you
come and visit US sometimes"
Mrs. Van Dusen took the seat before
a low dressing table and gazed at her.
self from the triple-reflecting mirror.
A. new wrinkle near her lips brought
another to her forehead.
I'm afraid we may have to take
Iawton into our confidence. AS he was
a warm friend OF Mr.. Van Dusen he
might be willing to quietly straighten
out our financial tangle. have not
managed as well as"
And further condolences were
drowned in the buzz of preparation.
Such hustle and hurry as the Van
Dusen household saw! Such a sour
rying around and multiplicity of or
ders! The telephone never ceased
with instructions to caterer, florist and
musicians. The doorbell sounded one
continual alarm as delivery after de-
livery was made of mysterious bags
and boxes of endless size and shape,
whfsked away to various rooms as rap.
idly as they came
The great grandfather clock in the
hall had scarcely chimed 9 as Mrs. Van
Dusen, resplendent in an evening gown
Of black satin, .brocaded with giant
figures OF black yet, descended the
stairway to take her stand near the
entrance. Cecile followed, her daring
costume of garnet tinted voile, hoped
with bands Of similar toned velvet,
setting of strihngly white shoulders,
exquisite as chiseled marble.
The stream OF guests commenced to
flow and kept in steady influx until
the huge house threatened to become
Inundated with the flood OF people.
Mrs. Van Dusen had already begun
to feel a pain in her right arm similar
to writer's cramp, but, undaunted, she
held her post until she heard the but
lers stentorian voice:
"Mr. Lawton."
All the social training Mrs. Van Du-
sens mother had instilled in her and
all that she had in turn transmitted
10 her daughter was brought into play,
and 1t would have required far more
worldly wise young man than Victor
Lawton 70 have penetrated the
thoughts behind the hostess's engag.
ing smile.
To Cecile he offered his arm, and
they passed into the drawing room. the
center OF which had been, cleared for
dancing, and to the strains of a soft,
mystic melody emanating from a
stringed orchestra cleverly concealed
behind some palms they circled the
smooth floor.
With her own purpose and her moth.
er's entangling ;financiering in mind,
Gectle shortly complained OF the close
atmosphere and led the way into a tiny
alcoye which had formerly done ser.
Vice as desk space for her father until
one night thieves had broken in and
stolen valnables locked in the escri-
toire. their presence Undecided owing
to the seclusion OF the corner. Cecils
had chosen the location wisely.
And as you make your entrance
into society" ventured Lawton by way
OF conversation, Il had hardly antici-
pnted how charming a dehutante vnu