The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-11-28
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
His Good ANGEL.

Copyright 1919, BY the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.
II RiRCELLA went slowly down the
Wtle garden walk. although she
wanted to dance; Her feet seem
I'd made for dancing they were %
mall and Light stepping. Notwith-
standing, she was tall and straight
md slighssas a lily stalk. Her clingina
white Gown made her seem indeed e
liylns lily, near akin to that white
blossoined ranks sWaylpg lightly II
the surget breeze. She was all read!
foi tltg Elbfidge party-in a little
Willie the Anderson's would call To-
her was like a fairy tale-this go
Ing 81 STATE when she had no more
than hoped to creep in modestly By
the side door.
Indeed, atlfirst she had not dared u
ttiiEik % going at all Aunt Bah, whC
had brought her up, had scruples
against dancing, and parties in gener'
81. Then there had been the matter
be a frocx. Marcella had nothing Il
wear save a skinny blue rag worn TO
50 long the whole village knew It,
Then all unaccountably far-oh
city cousin had sent Aunt Bah a checl
with o rote that ran:
.'spend this for Tony's little girl
on top Of that the Anderson's hat
opened their summer home q month
earlier. Marcella had been kind t.
tlieir little lad the year before anc
they did not forget 1t. So she was
going under Mrs. Anderson's wing II
the EIbridge's grand entertainment.
The town had been agog over Il
since before the cards were out. h
marked the me-comtng of Elbrtdg'
Cray. heir ana grandson. The would
be wise said 1t would also signalize
the announcement Of his betrothal t.
Sidney Cleye.
Marcella had not gainsaid these
! wise ones, albeit very certain that
4 she and her heart knew differently
Back in tie days when Aunt Bah had
kept a school for the very small chill
dren Of Lithgow first families Ell
bridge Cray had been among hel
worst and cleverest pupils. UnmanagI
able unless allowed to sit beside Mar
celia and study her lessons instead
OF his own.
He had been Jealous Of her as any
shall Turk, even after he had out.
grown Miss Weir's school. Indeed
i until he came to the age OF jackets
and shyness he had not hesitated Il
claim her anywhere and everywhere
to flown sulEily If she smiled at an
other lad, even to take her to task TO
6referring girl friends. Then had com,
the Cbrlstmas pantomime, in whici
he had been fairy bridegroom, sht
fairy bride. NAfter the wedding on tn,
( stage everybody had laughed and tea,
I'D themso he turned on her as thougI
ii were let fault and rudely cast hel
Of. =
That had lasted for a year then hi
had secretly made friends with her
''Ycu know you belong to me Just thu
(. game, LIT folks mustn't know" he hal
cautioned "The idiots laugh so-ani
look 80 sly and hateful. ot course
I'll marry you whfen we arc grow
tiL-but don't you tell, no matte
what anybody says"
She had nor told. She would neve
] tell. Elbridge had not written al
p through his five years absence, BIZ
neither had he forgotten he had sen
her telicate remembrances. at Christ
mas, st. Valentines, Easter and OF
her birthday.
and when Grandmother Elbridg
paid her yearly call at the cottage stl
never forgot to say: "EFbfidge askat
!, me to make you two his compliment
when / Saw you"
After that she usually Launched int
eloquent accounts of her grandson
( how he was an honor man, or chosel
to the most exclusive secret societies
how. his classmates all but fought fe
the privilege Of entertaining him II
their fine homes-after while Wha
q figure he cut in the promenade
and al conmencements. Then he ha
gont. abroad and it was the same Il
London. London had welcomed him
Paris made him free Of its best.
That was nothing remarkable, shp
cave Won to understand. OF course, ri
bridge himself did not tell all thes
things II was his friends, and tn,
familys who took pains TO let he
know De was getting the due of hi
name and blood, to say nothing Q
his looks and talents.
GRANDMOTHER had let Ldthgow folk
know Of Sidney Cleye. 'T was .
school with her grandmother at Mis-
Hale's. Elbridge met her in Paris
and they are the greatest Of friends
AnIhelress?
eDf course. You must have heard q
the great. Cleve iron works. A beau
~ too. hear the artists almost hgh
fof the chance Of painting her. Yo'
VIII see her, maybe, 3 little later
this with q significant smile. 20
course she Is greatly run after, bu
from al / can hear She does not lacl
respect for age and family, and al
Marcella had listened with beatin
heart, yet somehow her faith had no
slown weak. Judge then what cam
to buy Of truth and blackness, when a
she found herself facing Elbridg
18th Miss Cleve upon his arm, an
heard him says Sidney, / want you t
know my good angel. But for Marcel
Ia should have grown up savage
II N.Y. ickedness had permitted m
to grow up At all.p Somehow sh,
had held herself upright, somehow an
sWared properly all she was con
Eoi0us % afterWaFd was the GElse flut
nofe in Sidney CoYe'B voice..