The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Impulsive Connie.
BY GEORGE PHELPS.
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure

er, who insisted upon all gentle
men callers leaving at 10 o'clock
sharp-isn't 1t a wonder Connie man
aged to keep beau? But, then, you
don't know Connie. Without exagger.
alton she was the sweetest little piece
OF femininity IN existence, at any rate.
II wasn't SO much her looks, 1t was
Just her wonderful, impulsiye person.
atty that carried everything before
her.
How Harvard was able to find an
opportunity TO ask her to marry him
lis more than could be told in para
graph. but, anyway, he did gasp 1t out
one time when her mother had gone
TO bed with q sick headache and the
sisters had fallen asleep on guard. It
was hurried consent Connie gave,
but she had to have one eye on thesis.
ters all the while.
When would they get married? That
was the first big question that started
.he first misunderstanding. With
visions OF long courtship that ended
every night at 10 o'clock before him,
Harvard urged speed.
But could never get married until
Priscilla and Lucille are married"
Connie told him. Mother doesn't be-
lieye in the youngest daughter being
married first"
Good heavens!" Harvard was next
thing to being stunned. why they'll
never be married. They are on the
shelf for good"
"They have both been engaged for
fourteen years" Connie said, little
Indignantly. James and Charles call
every Wednesday night. They have
called ever since can remember, and
syery Fourth of July they take the
girls out driving"
And haven't married them yet?
Well neverl"
But they are going to marry them.
The girls have had their things ready
Tor years and years"
Lets elope!"
"oh!" Connie put her hand over her
mouth and half smothered the cry Of
alarm. One of the sisters stirred I'M
easily, but Harvard was not going to
lose any time.
why can't wet" he demanded.
"Oh, because!" Connie was fairly
shaking with excitement. The tan
taliZing answer so often used by wom-
en- had irritated Harvard, SO she has
tened to explain Cant you SEQ? /
goodness wedding, with bridesmaids
and flowers and presents and cake
and things. / want to have trous-
seau and green trunk and things like
the girls have"
Eyes; and II you wait until they are
married you'll have them all and they
will never be used" Harvard was
aroused. so 1t was Just as well one of
CfEfaFC ava
caught sight of him sitting close to
Connie. She might have said some
thing that would have brought an IN.
pleasant answer had not the other sis.
ter wakened and found It was five
g,Iinutes past 10. Her exclamation of
horror was sufficient to send Har-
ward on jump for his hat and coat.
With two chaperones in the vestibule
there was no chance to speak further
OH the subject to Connie.
Harvard had always wondered why
Wednesday night was the night he
was banned from calling on Connie
but he next Wednesday night he pre-
tended he had lost track OF the days
anu arrived TO size up James and
Charles. Two Scotch tightwads. that
was his first deduction, and he knew
at once why Priscilla and Lucille
were still on the shelf. On the way
home he tried TO work out plan.
II some old uncle or somebody
would only leave the twin sisters a
fortune as bait for their long stand
Ing SWANS, he thought; or better still,
I IL some uncle that had not been heard
OF for years would show up and offer
Q thousand dollars bonus to the sister
who was married first, James and
Charles would likely fall over one an.
other TO drag the sisters to the altar
first. Why, they did have an uncle
somewhere-an Uncle Ben that had
not been heard Of for years, he re.
membered. Why couldn't Uncle Ben
show upi
Look QUIT" Harvard was just in
dime to pull the old gentleman in front
Of him out OF the path OF an oncomins
street car. The night was q stormy
one and the old mans eyesight seem.
ed defective.
THANK you so much" the old fel.
low began. Harvard could feel him
shaking under his grasp.
Cant help you home:' he offered.
The streets are slippery and the
lights are poor"
Thank You SO much" the old man
said again, but this time in tone that
gave consent. Harvard helped him
along in silence. They stopped IN front
Of the city's best hotel.
I'm going in here" the old gentle
nan said, as he fumbled in his peck
ts. He drew forth card. Come 70
zee me in the morning" he invited.
Harvard pocketed the card. He had
no intention of calling on the old fel.
low, but when he was undressing that
night and the card dropped to the
floor he picked 1t up and looked at the
name. Benjamin Coles" was neatly
engraved upon It.
Harvard laughed. The old man
seemed to have come as an answer 10
his thoughts, but he had sense enough
70 know that this was not Comics
Uncle Ben. Things like that only hap.
pened In stories. Just the same It set
him thinking.
In the morning he did make the call
on BENJAMIN Coles. He came away
smiling. Now for the race between
Charles and James, he thought as he
sountered on to the office.
Hello" It was Comics voice over
the telephone and Harvard recognized
the excitement IN her tone" i must
see you at once. I'm waiting 1T The
drug store on the corner" abe orted