The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-25
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Picnics and Patriots.
sy CONSTANCE scUDDER.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Nawspaper Sndicate.)


that bore the date Of May %, 1918. he
smoke abruptly: Mother, be sure and
read the Waterman column today;
THAT man hits the nail straight on the
head every time And, Carl, ina.
. shfndiE OF yours for Memorial day Will
have to be called OF. Seems there's
been q notice in the papers that the
committee Of arrangements for the pa
rade wants the loan of cars to carry
the old vets. They need twenty. Mem
orial day is two days on and exacty
four people have volunteered. Any one
who owns car and can get by without
offering 1t after reading that article
belongs in the Stacker column.
Carl waited dutlfully until his father
had finished, but not an instant long
er. 9But ! don't get you, Dad; ! asked
you a month ago for the car on that
day and rye invited Grace Garfield to
20 with me and I'm to take four 9TH
ers, It's too late for me to back out
now"
"Not another word, Carl" his father
Interrupted sternly; you are to drive
that car in the parade Thursday. inc
men in the factory have volunteered 70
work on the holiday to get out that
rush war order and can't do less /
am late now but I'll phone our name
in before leave"
The family kept quiet while Mr..
Fairfield's voice sounded at the phone
and until the front door shut behind
him Then Carl broke forth in that
heart breaking tone which only seven
teen can assume: Mother, simply
wont stand for it. We made all the
arrangements a month ago for that
picnic and father promised then
could have the Car. 1t isn't fair. There
are plenty of other people who can
lend their cars for the parade. And
after was lucky enough to get Grace
Garfield, when four other fellows were
after her!"
Here Jane Fairfield, aged eight, in
terrupted. II know Mary Garfield she
told me her sister was going to the PIC,
mic with my brother, because ne nau
such swell car. She's awful cross.
Always Shoes Mary out OF the room
when she hasa fellow"
ooh, plug up. will you, Jane? You
make me tired, anyway. Mother, can't
you make father see reason, somenow'
ia look dud, now, wouldn't l, telling
her couldn't take her when the otner
fellows have gotten some one!
Mrs Fairfield looked perplexed.
uYou know your fathers creed, Carl;
ane,., man woman and child must be
Io1 ner cent. patriotic If the war is 70
be ended this year. The Waterman
nTeaches that in his column every
morning, and father swears by l 1lln'
why don't you explain to MISS Gar
held and ask her to go for a ride ait
or the parade?"
That evening, at the Fairfield din.
nor table. Carl ate what was placed
before him in sullen silence, taking no
share in the conversation until Jane
remarked. apropos of nothing: mary
Garfield says her sisters aWtul mau "a a.
YOU, Carl-says you're an old stlck-ll-
the-mud and haven't got any gump-
lion, anyway, or you wouldn't let your
father boss you around So.
Carl turned wrathful eyes upon his
sister muttering: "Just wait till get
YOU alone, smarty."
Mr.. Fairneld paused in his recital OF
how much work his men had turned
out that day, to reprimand his smah
daughter, but there was twinkle IN
his eye as he addressed nus son:
HHard luck, Carl; your mother tells me
ron had captured the pretxest girl In
The school for the picnic. Well, | had
m eye for pretty girl myself wnen \
Vas Young" with an appreclattVe
glance at his wife, who at forty was
still a handsome woman. plan PIC
mic of your own some day soon ana
you can have the car"
"Thank you, sir answered the boy,
but with the thought Of his treatment
At the hands Of the fair Grace stllS
ranking in his mind.
On Memorial day, promptly at half
mast six, We find the Fairfield family
seated around the dinner table as
nsual at that hour. Carl looks very
sheerful as he answers his father
unestions about the parade and tells
no names Of the veterans whom he
\ carried.
Jane, "he wouldn't take me; said there
wasn't room for any one but veterans.
what war was that girl in that you had
With you, Carl?"
II was going to tell about that when
W rot to it. you butter-in replied Carl
n what he meant for casual tone.
( THAT was Natalie Burrows, old Mr..
Burrows granddaughter. She came
Sut Of the house with him when l
.alled there and seemed rather con-
5erned about his going. The old chap
wasn't feeling very well. So ! asked
Aer to go along as there was room Tor
y Sne more"
aIIow does she rate second prettt-
sst in school?" leased his father.
Mrs. Fairfield came to Carts assist
lnce: "Why, you know her, father;
lhe's that pretty little girl in Meads
Bookstore"
Il should say 1 do" exclaimed Mr.,
Fairfield; the one with the red gold
hair! Go to it, son; IL you father was
i few years younger he'd cut you out"
eshe likes you" said Carl, his voiso
trife patronizing; "she told me 80
You said could have the car some
iay to make up for missing the pic
aic;;, so | asked her to go for a ride
Saturday afternoon that's the only
lime she has Of"
Here, Jane, who thought she had
been left out of the conversation quite