The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-30
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Story Lady.
az, CLAUDE HoLpEN.l


opyrigh., 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
ftEVsyHERE did we leave off last
w time; oh, yes; well. Vicente
Vicente saw the old witch
ennai1g and hid in the trunk OF the
slHnt oak. I" "A buzz sounded and Lor.
re had to break in on her story to
I'VE soma one q connection, but she
eEarted n again almost Immediately.
y was an odd thing to be telling
tQrles 20 little boy she had never
zen and whose real name she did not
sven know. but Loretta did not let
hat interfere with her telling powers
She was switchboard operator in the
Roberts Big Stores. About five Sat-
stday nights before she had heard 4
title voice over the wire say:
lease tell me q story, Miss Tele.
phone Gil. There Is nobody to tell
Sonny Boy stories on Saturday nights
hen daddy isn't here.'
Twas the appeal in the little voice
that got around Loretta's heart strings.
~ she started in telling him the stor-
1ess she had told her own brother when
ne was that small the brother that
was now overseas fighting for his
country. Interruptions were many, but
Sonny Boy did not seem to mind them.
Please tell me more" he would say
when she finished one story, so soon
Loretta had to resort to her imagin-
alton 20 frid stories to tell him. It was
BY accident that he got her connection
the first night. but she arranged with
the central operator to put him on her
line when he asked for the Story Lady.
That was the name she told him to
call her.
Once when her voice had grown
tired Loretta asked Sunny Boy some
thing about himself.
II live with my daddy" ne said. ~
haven't any mama now. Daddy tells
me stories every night but Saturdays,
and then he's away, but I like your
stories, too.
His naS,e's Just Daddy" he answer
ed to her request for his fathers name.
'We're lonely. daddy and me. wish
you we're at our place, Story Lady.
Daddy wishes 80, too"
"But your daddy doesn't know any.
thing about me- Loretta had said in.
panic.
.oh yes, he does: I've told him
abopt your stories. He knows the story
Of the Princes and the Roses, the
bestest story. He tells 1t to me some
times, too. He's going to find you and
bring You to be my mamma. Where
do you live, Story Lady, and why can't
you talk to me- other nights but Sat
urday?"
II am only here Saturday nights"
she had answered.
.'That,s the night daddy,s. away; he'll.
never find you" There had been a
little pihful note in the child's tone
when he said this that touched Lor-
eta. II dwell. with her and she thought
OF 1t often. She wondered If Sonny
Boys father would ever find her. OF
course. she could find out who he was
through the central operator, but she
preferred to have him remain my
stery. Somehow she felt like the
princess who would not seek prince,
but knew lave would bring the right
one to her some day who would carry
her off to the Land Of Roses. She
had waited so long for Just such q
prince herself, 1t seemed he would
never come
During the week Loretta planned
new stories for Sonny Boys Satur-
day night. She was too conscientious
70 neglect her work, but Forbes, the
head floorwaiker, took special note OF
the farawny lcok on her face, and re-
membered that he had daughter at
home who could do switchboard work
With the result that one pay day q
note was enclosed IN L.oretta's envef-
I, ope Informing her that her service
were dispersed with. She rea tied
tiat Forbes was to blame for It, but
was too proud to ask for an explain
alton.
10 lose her position Just at that sea
zen. when everything was duh, was
particularly trying, but Loretta had q
sew dollars laid aside and tried o lock
snpon the cheerful side Of It. It meant
that her stories to Sonny Boy would
have to cease and the dream Of dis
big broad shouldered father and the
home that needed, a loving hand would
have to fade forever. The though OF
tkat: was hardest Of all to bea:.
Positions we're few and far between,
she found. hut at last ono came her
way ard a reromendation was asked
4 tor. She ietested the id4a OF asking
the superint at Robert's for one.
but remembered Mr.. Roberis Just in
time. She had never spoken 10 him
1 rersona ly. bu. he had always been
{ very nice over tho wire. Ills voice :s d
told her thu. ha was kind man AID
would treat her fairly. He had mad
enough experience with her in a
business way 10 ue abs to rccom-
mend her for this other position, too.
Il was Saturday night-he woull be
81 his office.
loretta dcdg9d past Forbes as she
vent through the store and up the
lairs that led to the office. Mr.. Forbes
wasAin his private Office The waiting
(, rom was Brilliantly lighted Coming
ujlt ot q dark corridor into 1t blinded
4 Loretta for the time being. A stifled
& lob brought back her sight. There was
14lANSs E...., Atx,. SfA.a