The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-07
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
At Failures Climax.
By s. B. HAcKLEY


high. Who wouldn't be proud to be
the sweetheart Of brilliant promise"
He wasn't the valedictorIan. That
coneeited, red. hG;red Walton Durrett
was that, but Maxons' rank was high,
and with his brown mop Of curley
hair his goodly height, and his clear
friendly eyes, was he not good to look
at?
That evening after young Eliot had
gone out with Judge Farra's eldest
daughter, his honor sat long time
in silent thought. For nearly three
years Maxon Elliot had been Jessa-
mines humble worshiper and Durett,
the self confident valedictorian, had
been her devoted admirer.
Durett was one whom one would
naturally expect to do things, and
Eliot was a young man of brilliant
promise. The judges preference in
clined to the latter, but he or any
other man would have to make good
before he'd give his little girl to him.
The judge sighed thankfully. Jes-
samine would always listen to father
A little later when she shyly suggest
ed that afts1 the end Of Max's first
school year in Marion (he'd been
given the principalship in Marion's
academy there would be a wedding,
the Judge shook his head.
"A year is all to short, little girl.
Let him prove himself"
Jessamine smiled certainly. 1.-TWO
years il you think best, papa-but
when Max is a university president
we1l laugh about our precaution,
won't We?"
The Marion School Board, at the
end of the year, very quietly asked
Prof Eliot to resign. 1t was not that
he was not liked-his thoughtful con-
stderation, his gentle courteous man
ner, made friends, but somehow he
had failed as schools principal.
That summer through the recon-
mendation of relative, Eliot secured
the edttorship Of the local paper in
the large city Of Hampden. For a
year he wrote brilliant editorials and
struggled vsliently to build up the
circulation Of the paper, but at the
end OF the year the owner asked an
other man to take the editorship.
Then when Jessamine, with her
sister and parents, sailed for three
years Of foreign travel, Max under
stood that he was free.
When the three years were at an
end and he heard the Farras were
coming home, he managed somehow
to scrape together enough for ticket
to New York.
His was the first face that Jessa.
mine recognized on the pier. For an
instant her heart bounded in spite of
the old world wisdom she had gained,
she had to fight foolish impulse to
lay her head on the shabby decency
Of his serge coat and tell him among
other things, that failure in business
didn't matter.
But Fulton Newboldt, who for six
months had followed in her wake,
was looking on and presently Eliot
was forced to step aside to make way
for their other friends.
Strange that Maxon Eliot should
have happened to be IN New York the
very day that we landed" the Judge
remarked.
Jessamine said nothing. She knew
it hadn't "just happened" Max had
Travelled those 800 miles Just for a
sight OF her! Well, he'd had it, and
She. The day after they reached
her home Newboldt, who was their
guest, asked her to marry him.
Instead of saying Eyes Please" as
she had contemplated, and as sho
knew would delight her father and
mother. she found herself saying very
earnestly, mo Thank YOU"
It was four years before she saw
Max again, and it was at the county
fair.
eve been out west" he told her,
sort Of knocking about, but I'm doing
some bookkeeping work for my cousin
now, at the mills. His regular man
had to stop awhile because Of i'll
health"
He spoke cheerfully, but his mouth
wore q subdued, conquered expression
that was pathetic.
"Rob keeps me very busy, but
begged off today to run down here on
the chance Of seeing some of my old
college friends" he remarked; but
Jessamine looked into his wistful eyes
and translated his words: ION the
chance of seeing you. dear, on the
CHARGE Of seeing you!"
Just then the red-haired veledictor.
Z ian, now successful lawyer and pol
itician. stopped to speak to JcEsamine
3 PITY about Eliot's being disap-
potntment," he remarked when Maxon
had taken himself off. "All vision
and no practicability. The wonder is
he hasn't married and dragged some
woman down too! His kind generally
do"
Jessamine'S heart grew hot with
sunreasoning anger, but laughed. And
Iyeu, Sir Knight"
Durrett bowed low. I'm waiting
until ! have a position to offer wom-
tan."
There's a gubernatorial election
next year" she advanced tentatively.
X he smiled in return. And the hei-
polli win, who knows, Fair Lady,"
Tho next year Maxon Eliot at the
fair told Jessanine he'd got the place
~ postmaster at Harper several
months before. 80" he added, may
be can spare the money to run over
ana see Durrett inaugurated Governor
- December. His elections q sure
thing, WIN you be there?" he ended.