The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-12
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Ministerial Beau.
BY 8. 3. t4AcKLEY
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
NeWsDaper Syndicate.)

fkT NEVER dreamed you would call
any ono such maliciously dis
agreeable names!"
Eve Mckay, the cTumpled figure on
the library davenport, sobbed plain
lively. Across the room Chase Ken
dan sat up very straight, his red head
held high.
Il merely remarked" he proffered,
Chat thought any old unmarried
woman who would exact a promise
from her niece never to leave her,
thereby preventing her marriage to
70 q proper fellow who wants to take
her with him when Uacle Sam sends
him engineering in South America,
vas selfish c-I mean selfish crea'
ture!'
'But Aunt Effie didn't exact any
promise from me. told her voluntaf-
lily I'd never leave her. She hasn't
anybody but me, and she'd be afraid
to stay by herself. She'd be misera-
bic II she knew you wanted me to 90
20 South America with you"
Kendall crossed the room hastily.
Listen, kitten. II that old poke,
Humphrey Wilburn, we're to marry
Miss Euphemia and take her to his
house and money, she'd have some
body to stay with herr"
Eve dimpled. "Oh, Chase, IL he only
would! They were sWeethearts long
ago. ] don't know why they didn't
marry, bHt / believe he'd want her
again il he thought somebody else did!
AS 1t is, he'll just keep on making his
tWice-a-year calls, and sending his dry
Christmas and birthday remembrances
10 the end Of time! Aunt Elfle's going
Gown TO Georgia next week to the
church convention. wish"
Don't you weep another weep. EVE
darling" Chase broke out; "I've got al
idea boiling and boiling strong!"
Shortly after little Miss Euphemia
Mckay returned from Georgia, DR..
Humphrey Wilburn, returning to his
car from q professional call on old
Miss Della Lavender Zone Of his occa.
BiOnal patients), picked up an unfolded
sheet of note paper Just beside his car,
According to his habit, he looked at It
carefully.
Lakeland, Fla.," 1t read--"My dear
Miss Mckay am delighted to have
your note, granting me permission to
stop by. shall be very happy to call
Thursday afternoon, and will be
charmed to stay over day, as you sug-
gest, but shall have to leave on the
late evenings train. You will permit
me to say again that never since have
been a minister have / met lady
whose graces Of mind and face so ap.
pealed to me. 1t will be joy to my
lonely heart to talk with you again.
Faithfully yours,
"HUGH BLAIR COMPTON,"
The doctor put it with slow care in
his pocket His meditative blue eyes
we're troubled.
II wonder" he said to himself, 81 do
6onder!"
Thursday afternoon he took pains to
drive out GranaaHd avenue way short.
~ after the train canN in, nd was re-
warded with the sight Of tall, fine.
looking man with silvery gray curling
hair and short beard of Vandyke cut.
3auntily ascending the Mckay steps.
The town was busy one. The ell.
derry man who called at the Mckay
house might have been an agent OF
come kind for aught anybody but DR.
Wilburn cared. 1t was misting April
day, cold and damp, bus that gentle
man drove to the river and sat fishing
on the moist bank until the sun went
down, unmindful of the fact that the
fish were biting!
And at the Mckay house Miss Eu.
phemia, playing hymns in the parlor,
smiled in sympathy with the merry
laughter from Ewes little sitting room
Upstairs
'Mavis Kendall must be with Eve,
and perhaps her brother" she said to
herself.
Miss Euphemia was popular with the
townfolk, and on her birthday, the
following Monday, she received mum.
her OF pretty remembrances. The
handsomest gift Of all, a beautiful
brooch Of gold with a single diamond
in the center of the bar, came through
the mail. There was an unsigned card
with it, bearing Miss Euphemia's
name, and the words, IA happy birth.
day.,
Heres DR.. wilburn coming with
his present, auntie," Eve announced as
Miss Euphemia, her delicate cheeks
softly pink above the dainty lavender
crepe de chine frock Eve had made
her put on, was unwrapping the
brooch. u wonder what's got into the
dear man? He usually mails his pres.
pnts."
When DR.. Wilburn's modest gift, a
Japanese tatting basket, had been adj
mired, Eve called his attention to the
brooch at her aunt's throat. "And to
{ think she doesn't know who sent it,"
she exclaimed, holding up the card.
Dr. Wilburn looked at the super.
scription. He. had seen the same bold
writing ms letter signed Hugh Blair
Compton,"
His healthy, rudy face grew a
shade less ruddy.
Maybe she can guess" he hazard.
ed, his voice a bit husky.
II am so sorry DR.. Wilburn wouldn't
stay to lunch, Eve" sighed Miss Eu.
phenaia, little later. "Caroline's ice
cream is the best she ever made, and
ne he used to be SO fond Of banana
lee creamI" IA IA
gE1e seemed little grouchy, some:
how" remarked Eve.
When MaYis and Chase Kendall
came in that evening Chase gazed ad-
niringly at the birthday brooch. "Fit.
iy bucks, Eve!" he whispered in sham
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