The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-18
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Louise's Ledger.
(By izoLA FORESTER

her handkerchief pressed closely
AGAINST her lips, her blue eyes filled
with anxious yeafning.
1 Il did seeln as II they might have
permitted her to 60 to the hospital, at
least, with her mother. IL only to see
that she vas comfortable aNer her ar.
Rival. The whole thing had come down
upon them 80 suddenly she could hard
" realize she was alone.
Only two days OF illness, then the
Z Doctors verdict OF pneumonia and that
Z She must be sent where she coYd be
giyen the best treatment possible,
II she had been conscious, Louise
knew now her mother would have re-
belled against leaving her, but some.
how she did not have the courage to
tell this strange city doctor their per-
bonal story. City people seemed DIFF
terent from those up homes at Glen
Falls.
Not even in the apartment house
where they had lived for nearly four
months had any Of their neighbors
said g much as good.msSning to
them. There really was only the new
ledger 10 whom she could speak now,
excepting the janitor's two kiddies on
the basement steps.
The lodger was another problem.
He had been SO welcome the previous
week, when he called in answer to
their advertisement. They had moved
into the college section on University
Heights in New York, hoping to secure
so1de Of the students, and the rooms
we're furnished in three tiny suits Of
two rooms each, study and bedroom,
leaving two rooms for them.
1t had been such fun fixing up their
rooms, camouflaging them by day.
light so as to make them do in turn
for living room and sleeping room,
kitchen and dining room.
!. Louise concealed row of hangers
behind the portieres, and by standing
the piano colnerwise there was a hid
den recess for shirtwaist boxes and
shoe trees.
The kitchen cabinet was curtained
closely ii sheer crussbar vuile, the
same as the windows and tall mis-
sion screen Hid the sink from curious
eyes.
Mission shelves swung on chains
from the holding with Mrs Condell's
wedding china on them, and Louise
had found some tall wall candle hold.
ers Of mission wood that matched the
shelves.
With all the rooms rented they
could easily live until some OF the en-.
gagements came true. Choir or con-
cert singing, that was all, but at a
reputable agency they had assured
Louise, after hearing her clear, Vi.
bfant young soprano voice, that she
could accept d few professional dates,
too, II she wished to-.
Az she turned away from the win
dow . iatchkey sounded in the outer
lock and Nj. Bancroft came in. She
thought he would 50 down the hall to
his rooms, but instead he came to the
threshold Ct the living room. his face
serious with sympathetic concern.
"Exeuse me. Miss Condell, but ]
happened to be in the drug store Just
new when the ambulance came. ! had
no IDEA your mother was 80 i'll. Can l
help you any?" N
Louise thought quickly. 1t was no
tine to stand on ceremony.
indeed you can" she told him
eagerly. "Don't you know somebody
who would rent the other rooms? You
don't know how 1t would help me just
now and keep me from being lone
some, too.s
He came into the room and sat
down BY tlie piano. She had not notic-
ed before kpw boyish he was.
You need girls or women" he said
sasely. "sofle one to keep you COM
paiy, i know two mighty nice girls
3 tom my state who are studing here.
They might come, and I'll talk to q lot
4. of the fellow, too, and I've got an aunt
iii town who's been living at a hotel
ana she can't bear it. Maybe she'd
cpane."
From that day the star boarder be-
came alfngst partner in the estab.
lishment. The first result Of his eff
fOfts was his aunt's occupancy OF the
shAhy suite sShe was not at all the
tyre Louise bad expected and rather
dreaded, hut d keen-eyed young wo-
s man 81 business who thoroughly ap-
proved of RaIton's choice Of home.
Before tive weeks were past all Of
Inc suites we're occupied, and Miss
Baner6ft had pleaded to have her
breakfast also with Burton to make
third 'at the tiny round table in
the tamcbflaged kitchen.
81 don't Npow what would ever
Rave done without you," Louise ex.
eikimed gratefully as the day came
hen she vas to felinqlish her place
Is her mother. sIt has really helped
mother ret we'll faster, too, know,
that aid the beautiful flowers you
RSi{ave sent lp every day"
They had walked through the uni.
Stfsity to the library and paused I'M
dr. the sentinel rows Of lombardy
DopaiAfB. Burton was on hit way to
i66k ap some dates, but he forgot pol
Itioai economy gazing down Into the
{ Blue eyes 0f his landlady.
he wished he could have tod her
okthS fignt he had been putting up
fiib tkst two weeks. how he had wit
t6hs q His father that he might be en-.
fifSd any day, Just o. soon as, he
66did rain her consent, and the Az.
MI hAd come back ordering him hohe
kA dared think Of such b thing b..
0tSsht completed his college course.
Z a - = Y. IA