The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Last Shall Be Best.
BY A. W. PEACH.

- - w. 6CO
Copyright 1913 by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)
n IoRMAN MILROY on entering the
IN room found his friend seated be-
= fore the crate OF the fireplace In
TO which he was slowly feeding bits OF
torn paper. His whole attitude was
. that OF man performing solemn
rite. and doing It sadly, albeit with
som0 degree Of distance.
'Hello. Carey, why the air Of grief?"
was Mdlroy's greeting.
Carey looked up with his quick
glance, and Milroyis curiosity was fur
Their increased by the mingled light OF
regret and anger In his friends eyes.
Carey continued to shuttle the torn
bits OF paper into the fire which licked
UP the fragments. Another glance told
Milroy that Carey was burning letters
letters written In small, feminine
handwriting, and one that he himself
recognized with a start as the girl
whom they both had met that sum-
mer. She had seemed to favor Carey,
and Milroy had retired as gracefully as
he could after he discovered that her
dark eyes had for him no light that is
the most wonderful Of all on earth.
Shocked into seriousness by what he
had discovered, he said hesitatingly
But those bits look like the remnants
Of letters. Something wrong?"
Carey. said nothing for moment
then muttered sharply. That's whai
they are-letters. I'm making bon
fire of the letters Mildred wrote me.
and that's Just what they are good
for"
MAroy's heart jumped. II some
thing had come between the friend and
the girl he loved, there might be a
chance for him. for next to Carey, Mil
roy knew she had seemed very friend
ly to him.
What is the trouble. old chap,
something that can be Strengthened
out?" Milroy said 10 him.
Carey shook his head with a growl.
Knowing the ways of his good-hearted
but quick tempered friend, Milroy said
nothing but waited.
A moment later the crouching figure
handed up small letter, and M.lroy
took 1t. He recognized the fine hand
writing, the girlishly formed letters,
the memory of them as he had seen
them in brief notes to him came back
with rush with memories of her.
He went to the. window and opened
the letters. The chill of the first line
struck him first Instead of the loving
term which loved one might be ex-
pected TO use. there was the gaunt,
cold, formaI-"My dear Mr.. Myron. ;"
From that cool greeting hardly one
that O girl would send to her lover,
Nlilroy's eyes ran on to the body of
the letter. It began: 81 feel that it is
time that you, and came to an under
standIng." and It went on to state in
cold terms her idea Of his behavior.
Undoubtedly 1t was letter that sever
ed the relations between them.
Rising from before the CRATE. Carey
looked at him with mournful eyes.
There's the end OF a summers dream
and why It should be I don't know.
My COMPOUNDED hot temper made me
write things a while ago that did not
mean. She failed to keep an engage
ment with me-went off with an old
beau and left me in the lurch. wrote
a bit holly about 1t. I'm done-and
suppose it's your chance. ! know she
regards you"
Mdlroy stopped his reading. "If you
have lost interest IN her"
Lost interest in herr" Carey said
sharply. Man love her more than
ever did, but 40 man with any sense
OF honor can belittle himself by get
ting down on his knees after getting a
note OF that kind"
Milroy started to say, "If man low
es a girl enough, he will get on his
knees-or even do more than that"
bat knowing his friend he said moth
ing.
Throwing the letter into the fire
with the rest OF 'em-that's where 1t
belongs" said Carey shortly. "Tll be
sorry for the whole affair before it is
over but that's the way feel now"
Milr0y started to hand the fatetul
letter to Carey, who took It in his hand
and then paused.
Il have always thought you were the
chap for her. know you have been
out Of touch with her since our engage
ndent. You might as well start in
where I left off. Take the letter along,
her new address is on it, and you can
write her. am done. am going to
get out for months hunting trip in
Maine, and when come back. you can
let me give you a dinner. I'm done
with all this busIness-a man in love
u Ike an animal off his feed. And l
have been offeay feed and off my troll
ley ever since last June"
MIlroy tucked the letter into his
coat, at the same time making an at
tempt to cheer up his gloomy friend
yet knowing that the golden opportu-
nifty lay before him.
From the apartment he hurried out,
scter va1nly trying to let little sun
shine into his friends mood. The
email envelope in his pocket with the
previous address seemed to be warm
and comforting with hope.
He could not resist the temptation
to draw It out and as he walked he
turned to It again. Again the cold,
formal greeting came into view; and
once more he read on. reading the cold
lines that had led Carey to make a
sacrifice Of his cherished love letters
and to decide to hurry his Maine camp
long before the best season was at
hand.
Then Milroy stopped short as he
f3trnGA naOa - ,.,Ia..