The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-01
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Borrowed Sunshine.
BY DORA H. NOLAN.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
NeWsuaper Syndicate.)

~ IS 10 q story OF two days In the
Life Of Joan Carruthers-two days
= separated by two weeks. On the
first, Joan stood, her face pressed
against the window pane, engrossed
ln her one and only amusement. For
when one has risen no farther than
salesgirl in a bargain basement In
these times of high prices and must
1--we on the proceeds Of such daily toll,
there 10 but little left over for extras,
and when one spends five evenings
every week at school and sixth and
part Of Sunday in study, there is little
time left over for friyolities, anyway.
Joan was studying stenography as
q means to an end not that she liked
IT. so WE'LL, hut It stood for shorter
hours and more money. Most OF the
girs In the store had beaux. of course,
and went to dances and shows with
them-and married them and led lives
inst like Joan's mothers over again,
and Joan remembered that only too
we'll.
Now, as II arose like a picture, blot
ting out for the moment the entranc-
ing one actually before her eyes, the
oolornose Of that old life was dead.
~ drab. Not ono ray OF sunshine had
penetrated into their dark basement
home. Not single bit Of material or
spiritual brightness had 1t contained.
Joan's mother had been little drab
wisp Of woman, with all the joy of
life knocked out by her drunken mo-
rose husband. Well, she was at rest
now; Joan didn't know where the
father was, and didn't want to. AS she
shuddered at the thought of him, the
picture changed like a fadeaway and
the one really before her eyes gained
added brilliancy by the contrast.
That scene typified everything
Joan's life had lacked and for which
she was struggling. Even the one
thin, watery beam of sunlight that
found its way into her third floor hall
room was reflected from the window
directly across the narrow street. The
apartment back of those windows over
the way, so near in actual distance,
was miles removed from the sphere
of Joan's life. To look into II was, to
her. like peep into fairyland.
There lived a beautiful lady and q
wondrous prince, in country Of gorge
Gus colors-and with one sweep of the
blue and orange curtains over those
windows all that could be shut from
her sight. Joan prayed hard that
they might be forgotten tonight, for
a third person was present in that
room.
This third person, masculine, was by
name Strickland-Dr. Stanton Strick
land-and by nature endowed with n
full share of good looks. OF the first
of these facts Joan was ignorant; the
second she magnified. To her he
= looked Greek god-or movie STAR
Joan didn't know, either, that the
prince was just plain Mr.. Bertram
Smith and the beautiful lady his wife
and sister to Stanton. Neither did she
know the subject under discussion,
but she could see by the glow from
the orange shaded light-for her own
one dim gas Jet was dark-when they
all arose and passed through door
into another room and so out OF sight.
Also, that before going, the visitor
lighted a cigarette and threw the
match on stand close by the window.
But even emptied of its glorified &C.
cupants the room fascinated her. She
would have one like 1t some day, il
working hard would bring It! How
that orange light frightened every
thtng-was reflected everywhere, even
on the curtains; on one in particular
sat! Joan came to, suddenly, from her
dreams, and looked hard at that par
ticular curtain. Suddenly she turned
away, opened her door and fairly
flew down the two long flights Of
stairs.
Into the street she sped, and across
1t. Breathlessly she ran up the stone
steps Of the house opposite, the house
OF the reflected sunshine, and pushed
ana pushed again and again the button
OF the electric doorbell.
II seemed ages before any one came.
and Joan had time to wonder whether
she was doing the right thing. Finally
the door was opened by a stupid-look.
ing maid, who fled screaming at the
only word Joan breathless speech she
seemed to grasp. Again Joan ran, this
time up Two other long flights, into a
nal ana through 1t straight into that
fairyland she had glimpsed afar.
But the bad demon whose entrance
INTO this paradise she had witnessed
was BY this time writhing in long, curl.
ing flames up the beautiful curtains.
With q fierce, militant resentment
against this despoilment of her fairy.
land, and reckless of the danger in her
battle to preserve 1t barehanded, Joan
setzed the flaming curtains, tore them
from their fastenings, threw them to
the noor and cast a heavy rug upon
them 0A
y And so. hurrying in to discover the
cause of the extraordinary commotion.
they found her, just awakening 10 a
realisation OF her surroundings. and
her burned hands.
Dr.. Strickland reached Joan inst as
The pain brought blessed unconscious.
mess. He carried her to a couch. de.
manded various articles and skillfuIIv
dressed the burns, the while thew won.
dered who she might be and whence
she came.
Presently Consciousness returned.
and though with it returned, too. The
agony or her wounds, Joan struggled
to her feet, and with faltering voice
started an apology for her intrusion.
But strong hands gently pushed her
back. and three people voiced graft
tude and questions.
Joan tried to explain. az love SIM.
light and colors sol Not much of eth
er has ever come my way. All that I
get comes from your windows. / was
watching; but I'm going to get nv
own. I'm studying" she began-then
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