The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-13
+. THE.DAILY T
IsHOR|'.I, tsTORYl
! DennotedlUn.
BY VIRGINIA LYNCH Maxwell,

K BY VIRGINIA LYNCH MAXWELL.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
q oMEHoW Janets mother could
not quite forget the stigma which
she accused her daughter OF put.
ting on the family name when she
married Gerald Cummings, their neigh.
boris chauffeur.
Janet, my child, do you realize
what you have done?" she remember.
% her mother saying with an awe
stricken face when they both came
back from the short honeymoon trip,
/, and Janet's family had since had time
10 digest the telegraphed news.
And Janet, then girl OF twenty, had
laced her mother resolutely.
"of course l know what I've done,
mother. Tive married the best man
IN the world"
What's the use?" Mrs, Hemingway
complained that same evening when
Janet's father looked in at the young
people seated In the drawing room,
and smiled knowingly.
Janet is too young to know that she
has committed grave social error In
marrying beneath her class" Mrs.
Hemingway continued. "And as for
the man she chose, well-he will never
be anything but a chauffeur"
Mr.. Hemingway waved his hand in
: disgust. LET them be. Sara" he adj
monished his wife. "Netty loves the
hoy, and by all appearances he is in
love with our little NettS, SO why all
the fuss?"
But the idea ranked In Mrs. Hem.
lngway's mind for long while after.
Janet took firm stand! They furnish.
I'D a comfortable, though plain little
HAT and began to live the "happy ever
after period of their lives.
True, the furnishings of the modest
flat did not compare with the cheapest
IN the Hemingway household, but a.
Janet reminded her mother, wasn't 1t
The love behind household that made
Il home, and not the mere material
.hings?"
And after that Mrs. Hemingway de-
.ded to let the matter rest.
Two years later found Janet and
Gerald more comfortably established
than ever. Gerald had got better
position in an automobile firm and the
work gave him more regular hours.
But there was lot Of study entailed.
Gerald within short time became an
expert mechanician and got another
raise.
It was not money, however. that
finally bred the sore spot in Janets
heart that had been forming uncon-
sciously for months. 1t was her moth
er's silent influence. She never said
anything about the affair ever since
the day of Janet's last outburst, but
= the silent influence was there just
the same.
Once when she had invited a nun.
Der OF girl friends to tea Janet's moth.
Or very untactfully displayed tho fact
that her daughter had no telephone,
and pressed for reason by her in
quisitive friends. Janet had lied calm
ly that it was source of annoyance,
The truth OF the matter was they could
not quite afford 1t.
Janet was on the verge of utter dis
couragement, although there was no
real cause for 1t except this subtle in
fluence preening for the sake of q
false pride. The foundation OF their
little home was at stake! The bomb
came few evenings later
well, sweetie," Gerald said coming
In enthusiastically, 'Im goiug-the
big day has come Netty girl. when our
country is calling all its red bloods,
and enlist-tomorrow,"
"You-whatF' Janet could scarcely
believe his words. GERRY boy, tell me
you are fooling. You are-%hy-" she
laughed frivolously and turned away
as though to belittle tho idea as a
mere passing fancy.
The next moment she turned toward
her husband again. But the express
sion on his chiseled features made her
realize there was no joking to 1t.
I'm going Netty, surely you're glad.
Don't stand there and gaze as though
were mad. Don't you realize what 1t
means. Going over to protect you.
other women, over there and over
here. Cad girl"
But Janet had stopped him with her
gesture. "You are mad. Stark mad"
she burst out angrily, "how can YOU go
when you have me to take care Of? You
know married men don't have to go.
What are you thinking OF and we just
being able to see horizon financially
And so they argued into the late
hours of that evening. = Twice Gerald
Cummings walked to the front window
and peered down ct the throng OF men
who were besieging the enlistment
offices on the corner.
He pointed them OUT tok Janet. Ebut
Ihe was impassive. { Mad amen, Sshe
remarked and shrugged her.shoulders.
And the final issue Games aboutsthe
next morning. Gerald was firm!
"war is a, duty betweens manAa
his God" heesaids hotlys snotsa IMAM
Rndshis wife, .ssk-'s2 !
Janet hlazed5 her brownS eyesaup onthim
and replied, WELL; Joyous oa Gerald
born. and care ormee so iittley it's best
q -. Irnniur ik h1nur Ynm HngGerald. and