The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-01
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
MLet's Elone.o
40 a. RAV BAKTR

Ne NM .A9tNlN IT.
CpyFight 1918, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
NO persons and two hundred
miIeg came between Ethelyn
Ramsdell and Charles Halstead.
The persons were his father and her
hef. The miles were those that IN
Vened between Harbor Springs q
rEiern Michigan town ana Grsno
abfds, the furniture manufacturing
1ter Of the same state.
charles had voted for the first time
lis life ana Ethelyn had just passed
ehfeen. when he decided he had
single long enough. She agdeed
help him out Of his state OF unweu,
ia unhappinesS, when ne Droacheu
IA subject to her, and they stayed up
IN midniEYlt to discuss plans-and
bev would have continued the dis
esion needless OF the fact that there
sfe such things as clocks, ana per,
ds such as fathers and mothers haa
hey not heard Mr. Ramsdell ste9 out
bed on the floor above and clear
throat. This brought Charles out
6iIis semi trance and he suddenly re-
area that the air outside was wonder
INV invigoFating and that his lungs
reed some Of It.
ne rext morning Mr.. Ramsdell call :
Ills daughter into his study and TOOK
LIE negative and winning side OF me
bata: "Resolved That a young lady,
st past eighteen, ought to leap into
afrimony with the only young man
6e has ever known, especially when
IS has NJ financial prospects WhateV-
EtheIyn argued in vain that she new
could care for any young man but
hafies. and she pleaded teartuliy and
ome length but her father SAD 10
w8s looking out only for her %eltars
en ne forbade her going about with
CHARLES any longer.
About the same time Mrs. Halstead
W having a similar interview win
6eF eon in the house next door; for
i,s HaIsteads and Ramsdells wer9
nstehbors. When Ethelyn was a child
ernothor had died, and Mr.. Halstead
ad departed from this earth before
ia SON haI mastered a vocabulary OF
slleen words. Ethelyn and Charles
hsd zone Il, school together when they
usfa In the lower grades as we'll as in
hleh schuOl. And he had been gradu-
atad only one year ahead OF her.
CHARLES had not made confid9rS Il
his mother in the matter Of HE love
3ffasds but she had kept an eye on
ais and intuition coupled With his long
absenca from home on that important
MINT toid her that the climax had
been reached. =.
what can you know about love-.
She Demanded. you're too Young. ]
know y1n are OF age aud ouch: to ne
canable Of Judging for yourself. hut
IN he same I'm going to Interfere
Ia vfi1r 0Nr sake"
The Young people kne% very ven
f,as tiIer could not give each other
DO Especially since their affection
seaned to increase 100 per cent after
lhev were forbidden each others soc'e-
tv. So thew met surreptitiously when
opporunsty offered and when these op
oorlunities did net come sufficiently
freouent Of their own accord they
we're manufactured.
But Charles was wasting his time,
md he realized 1t. We he'd no profess
Sion. no business. and If he wished to
marry he must find a way to carve q
career or al least obtain job that
wouid provide for two. Furthermore,
ho felt ashamed that his mother should
continne supporting him out OF the
comfortable but not inexhaustible sum
as father had left her.
Al last he decided to leave his home
town and seek his fortune in larger
city. TO his surprise his mother con-
sented, even encouraged him in the
iaea
~ dislike having you leave home,
son. she said, ''but ! realize 1t is for
the best My sister will come and live
9th me. Yes, IL is for the best"
The young people had not abandon
"a their plans for the future. After
Dnce br'ngfng up the subject of mat
rlnonv EtheIyn never mentioned her
lnleutions to her father, for Mr., Rams
dell's refusal to consent to "any such
mons ense" had been firmness itself.
CHARLIE had met like failure in his at
.enpt 10 persuade his mother that Eth
elyn Was the girl for him; 80 they
soutinued their ciandestine meetings
~ rejoicing IN the risk and mys-
s attached to them,
When Charles left home, he wrote
,seui aFiy three times week to Ethe-
n. aud at first he received letter for
elier irreply.
least they don't care II we write
ao sald That's some qualification"
But her answers became less fire.
1uent He continued his three letters
weelS but the replies diminished to
,nc week and finally one every fort
aieht SO he cut his correspondence
IA Proportion but cared none the less
Tor Ehelyn. His affection. on the con-
fary. Was Increased during their sep
1rtcn.
Witiiin a year Charles made good"
in real estate office in Grand Rap
las ana decided the time was come
when Re could provide for a wife. He
VAS ar9fehensiye, however, that his
|wee hearts, apparent neglect indicat-
81 '8pse In her love.
Shed forgotten he told himself
and reletred again to her last letter,
which seemed rather cold"
But Charles Was desperate. BY an
effort ha suppressed the timidity that
eTipped him and wrote letter which,
though consisted only Of few lines,
sonlainc volumes. It read;
Lela eiope, Eth. I'm we'll flved
1or. the only way to do 1t, Come
% Grand Rapids on the 5:45 train ON
Thursday and wen do the deed. Let
No |.,Iot by telegram II yO9i'li cOnde "