The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Founded on Fact.
By PETER HOPE
Copyright 1919 by Mcclure Newypa.
per Syndicate.)

.aEU-NO LlB IUEEySQ0u SAA4lOASh Va ~
descent ago Miss Graham, fresh
man english teacher in room 124
% the Peabody High School, was the
embodiment OF Wisdom. To their uni
told minds, looking TO the nearest PIN
nRcle for q desirable goal, Miss Ora
b6mss knowledge, ranging from an
eaSy familiarity with Chaucer TO un-
conscious freedom With dactyitc verse,
was indeed the very highest rung on
The ladder Of education.
But q vas fortunate for the estim'
able lady that these youthful mental
tiles did not demand that so superior
3 being dress In fashions Of the minute
nor that even passing good looks were
~ accompanying requisite. For 1t
must be admitted that while Miss
Graham was q most excellent teacher
q English, she was an abominable
dresser, and her straight hair combcd
straight back sent Mr.. Strenly, sole
male instructor at the school, scurty-
ing many q morning to his gymnasium
where he worked his classes extra
hard IN an effort TO eradicate the I'M
pleasant impression.
"For tomorrow's assignment" Miss
Graham was saying in her usual d!Y,
high pitched soprano on this baluIy
Tune afternoon toward the close Ct the
summer semester, each pupil will
bring 10 class an original composition
on fact. It need only be an incident,
but It must be true for any successful
writer will tell you realism is the foun-
dation Of fiction. shall impose a pen
atty OF forty lines Of scans!on up1l
those who fail to produce this EVEN
ing's home work at tomorrow's class
AS was her habit after a long speech
Miss Graham crossing her long, tIHn
arms akimbO over her scant eXpanst
u bosom and taking il the entire room
With q single glance as IL 10 detec:
some hidden culprit, sharply asked:
is there any point not clearely under
stood?"
AS rule the bulk Of her instruction
s1uched Ia boOkish form, sailed above
he heads Of her pupils who fO:bore
ayailing themselves Of her offer 10
further explain, as they had learned
but It Is safe to surmise in that day
repetition Of instructions. But contrary
% the usual habit, miss Of fourteen
With twentieth century written on her
lace N Ramistakable signs Of powder
Shouting defiance TO the uwaSi.ed neck
kelYw iost timidly from her scat.
mrs Graham" came IN the self
conscious voice Of child hearing il.
self IN q room where whispering vas
I penal offense, may the incident e
tell be al Ut lover"
Miss eraham's arms sank Imply TO
aer side. 1t is not on record that
any one hao ever tried to determine
lust how long ago she was fourteen,
.heri questions resulted only in a rep
owe wss not included in the school
surTiculum. There was difficulty in
answering this precocious pupil, and,
81 course, ignorance even Of such =
!ubject must net be admitted.
ut Is only Necessary for me to re-
peat, was the response in the metal.
ic tone Of years habit that the in
ident upon which your story is found
"a be true"
And fearing unless she be unable to
tnswer further questioning as safely,
Miss Graham rtIng the gong for dis.
aissal. As the children filed from
She room in an orderly line she defect
edly sat Iawp, elbows on the desk,
With chin cupped in the hollow OF her
palms FAD pressed her eye-lids with
ke tips Of her long, lean fingers.
May the incident we tell be about
6ye?" sounded in her ears. and eyes
ightly shut, again saw this growing
snild Just entering girlhood asking
,ermission TO write about that which
sad somehow passed her by.
Passed me by" repeated Miss Ora
lam mentally, mo not while memory
lists"
Loud voices OF the moment as the
scys wrangIed over their 'mibs" and
he less ineligible jimble of jingles
which time immemorial has associated
with rope jumping, came in through
ae open windows on the summer
eeze. The setting sun, bathing the
"a walls Of the schoolhouse in Wild
e tone Of blatant blood.red aroused
1er from her yereries and sent her
lurrytng boarding house ward.
The rext, afternoon, like every
sehooI afternoon preceding 1t, found
respective places, all eyes intent upon
The forty.odd pupils seated in their
teacher' and ears equally divided be-
Tween pupil reading homework" and
Ehatever else there was Of immediate
Interest. The range OF subjects, from
~ Trip on q Houseboat" to my
First Party Dress found Miss Ora
am professionally attentive. with an
lbnormal memory with respect to gra-
liatical errors. But 1t was the roman
70 birl with her paper entitled my
ncie's Love Story" which brought
he model instructor to rigid attention
What was 1t this child was saying?
The voice, not yet decided whether
would be soprano or alto, rose and
s en- IA dramatic cadences. "And my
mole loved this pretty lady very much
nd the lady loved my uncle. But one
az they had an awful quarrel and
he pretty lady sent my uncle away
mad"
Surely this was not the Miss Graham
p INT moment before? was this
om1n, standing back OF her
.lelr ttlted periously forward, the
iame composed automaton Of years.
Tho child continued In words uncon.
scloualv plaSarized. "And pride kept
hcm aparT. Although my uncle cared
great deal for hts sweetheart, he
guie not admit he was wrong, nor
would the lady. And as the years
gessed " they lost tract Of one an