The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-22
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
a DIALOGUE.
ev DORA NOLAN.


paper Syndicate. \.
A IAN MACDONALD unceremoni-
~ ously opened the Burrows kitch-
\ en- door and walked In, one arm
piled high with assorted groceries.
Barbara Burrows, washing dishes at
he sink, looked up You may put
hem on the table" she said, and went
On with her task.
s Alan did as he'was told then walk
ed half way across the room toward
Barbara. AS that young lady seemed
absorbed in her toll he queried some
what diffidently, Have a good time at
the dance last night, Barabara?" and
received a chilly polite Eyes, thank
you" in reply.
81 met Adrian Appleby down by the
big oak tree; he was on his way
home" The boy shifted from one
foot to the other, uneasily did your
the girl returned without apparent in
terest, washing the same dish the
second time.
Eyes. Seen him this morning"
NO" answered Barbara, with just a
suspicion Of tremble in her voice.
81 say Bab"-Alan came step near
er-"why not be honest about 1t? You
had a rotten time at that dance and
you know 1t. / was outside looking
in" Barbara took her hands from the
dishwater and turned to- him with
flaming cheeks.
What right have you. Alan Mac
donald, to be spying on me? It's none
of your affair, anyway, whether had
good time or mott" and the exceed
iLgly indignant girl again picked up
the platter she had already washed
twice.
ooh, / know I'm not wanted around
here any more But you'll never see
your sweet friend again. That's what
/ stopped to tell you" Alan grinned
tr1umphantly. "And he boosted OF be-
ing an athlete too-him!"
Barbara did not see the grin, but
some thing in the contemptuous voice
made her turn again. What do you
mean Alan?"
At saw him off on the first train
this moning-bade him kind fare
we'll. He's going to spend the rest
Of his vacation somewhere else. But
he won't sport around in that partic-
ularly nifty, wasp-waist checked suit
any more. Oh, he's sweet looking
thing now-he Isl"
"If you've anything you want to
tell me l wish you'd get it out-I'm
busy Barbara was striving hard to
appear not at all interested, and scrap
Ing more industriously than was nee
sssary at the bottom Of a kettle.
II wasn't spying on you. When you
threw NE down and accepted the in
yitation OF that cad, If I'd had any
sense at all I'd never have wanted 60
eco you again" Alan paused gloom
lily. .Then he continued: But I'm
not the only man who has made fool
Of himself over woman that didn't
appreciate him. l haven't got such
good clothes as Appleby, and haven't
been to college either, but If they
teach you there to take girl to a
dance and then let her sit out most Of
the time while you dance with some
ther girl because she's dressed more
s.slish-why, I'm glad I didn't go,
that's all. It's a wonder he had the
decency to see you home"
TITS a wonder you wouldn't have
Ehe decency to quit trying to rub 1t in-
to mel" Barbara flung back. your
room would be more acceptable than
your company in this kitchen just at
present, any way"
Alan deliberately took his time. "oh,
/ Just met him down by the big oak
tree after he left you last night, and
took the occasion to tell him exactly
what thought of him-thats all"
Barbara waited but as no more de-
tailed explanation was forthcoming
she was forced to lower her dignity a
notch to ask, But why has he left
town.
This time the girl saw the slow
grin which spread over Alan's coun-
tenance. Adrian Appleby may think
he's some swell, and that he can walk
into this town and take any fellows
girl he wants away from him-and
then treat her like tramp and make
sighting remarks about her-but he's
got another think coming to him when
he thought he could play that trick on
me-and you!" Again Alan paused
and smiled exultantly, and Barbara,
too interested now to pretend further
Indifference urged: What did he say?
What did you do to him, Alan"
He called you country Jane
that's what he did. And didn't do
anything much to him but mop up the
ground with him, spoil that kippy suit
and give him a black eye. told him
IL he didn't leave town this morning
I'd lick him again. He went, all right"
-contemptuously-"his kind never
pnts up fight"
Barbara took her hands from the
dish water and began to dry them on
the towel, Alan watching the opera
ton closely. Then raising her eyes to
Alan's face and dropping them again
quickly, she perceived for the first
dine that one Of the boys hands was
wrapped in a bandage. Alan hadn't
exactly concealed his honorable scars
but Barbara had not really looked at
him until now.
Hastily the overworked towel was
icast away and the girl was at the
side Of her defender, solicitously ex-
iamining the injured hand. "oh, Alan!
Did Appleby do It? Is 1t hurt badly?"
"No. The cur just dug his teeth into
1t a ways-it's his idea Of fair fight
ing" The boy tried to look very I'M
concerned over the fus being made
ever his scars Of battle"