The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-09
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
SeventY-Five and Board

= library. Myriad dust particles
floated along the slanting sun paths
that slid abruptly into shallow at the
tables edge. The assistant professor
Of biology sol bumped over book
that lay upon the table before him, but
he was not concentrating, at least not
upon the text. With a thump Of his
ftst that set the book Jumping he rails
cd his head and looked about the big,
quiet room.
The assistant professor pulled off
his glasses and rubbed his eyes ana
stretched. Then he showed his HANDS
into his pockets, tilted back his chair
and surveyed the shelves OF dog-eared
volumes opposite hin. It gave hin an
immense satisfaction, this bare, low
yaulted room with its brown walls and
solid, brown tables and Its rows ana
rows Of books
The assistant professor pulled out a
crumpled bit Of paper from his pocket
and smoothed It out upon the book,
after which he continued TO regard 1t
with an expression Of irontcal amuse-
ment. 1t was a check made out to MIN
for the amount Of twelve dollars ana
fifty cents; sum he had received IN
payment of scientific article which 1t
had taken two months to write. 1t was
a good article too, but according 10
more than one editor mot sufficiently
popular in tone" 81.
He had been trying to make decis-
ion. The last contemplation OF the
scrap Of paper in his hands had served
10 topple the scales. He closed tne
hook with a bang, uncrossed MS iGns
legs from under the table and amoled
down the aisle to the door: Outside ne
stood for an instant blinking in the
strong light. When he closed his eyes
thew still registered printed book pag-
es With something Of the feeling OF a
stranger he turned and scuffed along
the leaf-strewn path to the lake. Nov
that there was no longer any DOUBT
about his departure the intimate land
scape seemed all at once unfamiliar
and different. He felt already detacneu
from it-and sorry.
The moment the tip of her canoe
yeered round d bend in the shore line
he recognized 1t and whistled. The as.
sIstant professor of English whtstled
her answer and waved an und1gnlheNa
paddle in greeting as her small cratt
''i Want ito to Gomez" she called invit-
ingly.
"Sure!"
Tbe canoe nosed landward and
slushHd into tho sand. With lunge
which shot the boat into deeper water
and himself, m!raculonsly inoo thes
boat the new passenger embarked
and took charge of the paddle.
where tor he asked. ~, "a
ooh, anywhere" she replied and
she He selected the most distant spot
m +he lake. laid the paddle across the
Canoe and rested his elbows on It.
"Takes longer this way" he eXplain-
g She laughed and leaned sideways to-
watch swirl Of red and yellow leaves
that went scuddlng along the surface
NJ the water like a fleet a tiny san
boats The red Of her tam o shanter,
however, held moro fascination toT
Him At length the leaves whirleu
nnt oP sight and she settled back IN
Ssr seat to feast her eyes upon lake.
trees and sky. ..,,,. Who 1.-Two
I'm sorry for all the fol@s WHO it'e
In cities" she said.
she NE? looked up inquiringlyy. at at. the he
question. EIe had snapped It OUT So So
abruptly It puzzled her little; he
had begun padding too, turlously'
%Why?" inse repeated. why, be,
cause thew miss all this" She waved
a Known arm toward the rustling wood
that Swallowed them. wouldn't you
hate to miss TT" she queried. Ine
hlades On his hand cut a long SWAIN
before he answered.
"I-I expect to miss it-after next
Sunday" he said. -4,o,
"You-you mean? Her question
hung unfinished. H.
"Yes. I'm going away to the cry
he, said dryly with pucker OF ms
month as If even the taste OF the
words was bitter to him.
@0h." She bit her lips and tried to
% m sneaking naturally, but her
Sra3n anpeared to be turning sSme-
TsanIt-and no words came.
Eyes" he went on DULY, I'm gong
away. Decker has fellow here VINO
can take my place. They've given me
tSoee last two days till college opens
t. decide Well, I've made up my
mind. I'm going to the city to i've VEN IN
q hall bedroom and work in an office
and sell rubber. I'll loathe selling
rubber, but I've got to stick to It till
j can make a decent enough living
to ask a decent girl to marry me. Ia
rather stay here and go on with my
work than anything else on earth
hnt ri he damned II I'll ask my wife
IN wear second hand clothes all her
lie mr. wear 'em myself. This digging
along forever on seventy-hve dollars
4 month and board is getting my goat.
Today this canXa. 1t was the last
straw" He drew the offending check
from his pocket and flipped it into
ber Ian. She read It and met his eyes
when she had finished. 81 don't know
that | blame YOU much" she said.
They skinned along for time,
each waiting for the other to speak
When she made up her mind that heI
never expected to open his mouth
again she gave in. "And how does
tie girl feel about it?" she inquired.
6That would make some-difference
of course" Hours passed for her
q