The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-14
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Jerry Truesdale's
Valentine.
BY BARBARA KERR.
tcopyright 1919, BY the Mcclure.

What are you doing, mother? Let
me get Il" begged her daughter Con-
stance, coming into the room you'll
hurt your lame knee"
Never mind, Connie, you Just wait
minute and give me a hand when l
GO ;tp get up. The least romantic
thing in the world is this rheumatic
X tWtng6 that gets my knee. There,
I've found It" And she slipped some.
thing hastily into the folds OF a news
PAPER and closed the trunk.
Il was good old trunk, covered
with horse hide, the hairy side out,
and studded with brass nails. She pat
ted Il affectionately in memory Of the
children who had ridden it astride to
market so many times.
Connie smiled. Its a good old 60
boy yet, isn't it, mother?" And she
loaned a hand to help her mother to
her feet.
2 Eyes, but leave it where 1t Is. Faith.
or hasn't seen go-boy for a long time"
And Connie knew that her mother was
setting the stage for something or 9th.
or for her fathers benefit.
Why there's go.boy! thought tho
old trunk had gone to the ashcart
years ago. What a clatter the kids
made riding 1t to the races" mused
Judge Truesdale later in the day as
he gazed reminiscentIy at it. 1T
shows the mark of Busters heels,
doesn't it? But what is the idea,
mother; going on journey?'
Eyes, just travelling bit back into
yesteryear," smiled his wife. And
she put the object Of her quest into his
hands.
"Well, well! And you've kerSAthat
all these years! You know that old
valentine set me back some weeks
wages when l bought it-let's see
thtrty.five years ago"
at was the prettiest and most ex.
pensive that Job Wright had in his
store" beamed Mrs. Truesdale proud.
eyes, thought It Just the thing to
send you my heart on this blue satin
pillow-looks a bit frayed, doesn't It?
But then you haven't frayed my heart
very much-so out with 1t. What are
you going to strike your husband for,
this time?"
tits annoying to have one's deepest.
dyed spots read like an open book.
''Now, Gus, you never let me spring
the jack-in.the-box at you, you give
one look at the outside and demand
that he come forth. Well, it's about
Buster"
"Buster is some boy-but why
doesn't he come? What does he
want?"
mo, not SO fast, dear; he doesn't
know about this. WANTED to tell you
9 little story and then. draw moral
for you" And she propped the blue
pillow up by her desk calendar and
p1sher her husband into her easy
chair. Last week, when you were
gone and those cases were called in
the Supreme court, and had to be
handled by your son, one Of the jus.
tees in speaking Of his success paid
him a mighty fine compliment
Yes, know" interrupted the Judge
proudly che said that Jerry Truesdale
had not had his genius hopelessly
cramped by being in with his father,
and that he was going to be a better
lawyer even than the old Judge"
Her husband laughed indulgently.
esNow you go ahead and point the
moral that should adorn that pretty
tale"
Mrs. Truesdale tried to make wry
face at him, but 1t would overflow with
maternal pride in spite of herself.
"Well, you know that you have often
remarked that it is pity that young
men have to be oyershadowed by their
fathers, and that If father is not
mighty careful he can blight the sons
prospects"
You don't think, do you, mother,
that Jerome feels blighted? Do you?"
asked the judge solicitously.
Well, no." hesitated his wife; che
has never said word. He has always
given you all credit for the help
you've been and for starting him
ahead in his profession. Just the 9TH
er day he was comparing his business
with that Of one of the other boys who
had had no one to boost him"
Then what's the trouble?r urged |
the Judge, impatiently.
No trouble, father, at ALL But you
see Buster is now past the place
where he needs boosting. What he
needsis free rein and the entire re-
sponsibility Of the Office"
sOh, going to ask your husband to
retire, Ell? Think I'm getting too
Old"
No, no! Never! No retirement for
you; just change Of occupation-a
little rest" She whirled the calen. |
dar around SO he could see the date
February IA. give Buster a yalen.
tine; make over to him the active prac.
tice and You get out Of doors and lbok |
after Your Investments Put him on
his mettle. Why, he'll want to be get.
tipE married some of these days.
needing grandchildren right |
o's we1l not be so silly over the
Please, Gust will add ten
60 your life! You need little |
sell. You've earned it."
iell, now" argued the Judge in
best Judicial manner, "if the court
Grants PLAINTIFFS plea there will have
"a be some considerations will have
o be agreed upon, to wit: Will the i'm.
ploring, pleading plaintiff agree to get |
"a Of her rheuatism and take care OF (
herself, so that she will be able to
,lay with me? If add those ten
ears TO my life must stipulate that
hey be the best yet"
Connie, who couldn't resist listening
the conversation, heard a gurgle
nd her fathers voice pleading for
lnrnY-.H YnnlYA hrnhan I'm q hnlInr,u |