The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-15
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Dawes Handicap.
BY lZoLA FORESTER.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Newsnaner Syndicatg.)

consciously eavesdropping on DAVID.
She had picked up the receiver to call
number and the very sound OF his
voice had made her hesitate and lis
ten when she found he was talking
to Hardy Goodwin.
"T'll be able to meet it next month,
surely, Hardy, If you can hold it over
until then. No, not the principal, but
can swing the interest"
Then came Hardy's voice, curt and
business-like. He was sorry, but he
had good buyer for the Ashley place.
and the firm would not allow him TO
let the mortgage go for matter or
sentiment Besides, Dave had. given
his word he would meet it the 10Th.
But my mother has been very Ill,
you knew that, didn't you? I've had
to pay for nurses and the hospital bill
besides. could not foresee that,
Hardy"
Connie hung up softly and stood mo-
tionless, staring out of the window
at the row OF naples that served as
windbrake before the house, She had
wondered why Dave had not asked her
to marry him, and now she knew. 1t
was his mother and the burden of debt
on them.
Her hands clenched as she thought
Of Hardy daring to press the mortgage
and put them out Of the old Ashley
place, Hardy, who had gone to school
with both the boys and had been Halls
chum before his death. She crossed
quickly to her desk and picked up
Hardy's letter that had come that
morning asking her to go to the yacht
races across the Sound. He would sail
his own, the Reminder, he told her
Did she remember why he had named
it that?
Connie bit her lip. 1t had been
little boy and girl joke between them.
ever since she had turned him away
for Dave, and was to remind her OF
his being. like Barkis, "willin."
Then she thought of Dave, big, cur
ly haired, blue eyed, with smile that
everybody in town would have ac-
copied as legal tender, Ever since his
fathers death and Halls he had kept
I'D the home for Mrs Ashley. Connie
often stopped her runabout before
the lovely old-fashioned garden to
chat with her, and sometimes take her
for drive.
She had not been strong since the
doctors death, and Connie often
thought she was like one of her own
fragrant day lilies. slender and white
and fragile She shut her eyes tightly
at the thought of her living in one OF
the boarding houses down along River
street after half lifetime in the pic
turesque old Ashley homestead, Then
she stepped across the hall into the
long study that crossed the end OF the
house.
Love me, dad?" she asked, as she
always did before she landed" as the
head of the house expressed it. She
perched on the arm of his chair and
rumpled his hair thoughtfully.
"How much?" frowned Mr. Wade.
Don't try to mollycoddle me, Connie,
when you want something. | know
you"
"All right, then. Strictly business"
Connie sat down in front of him seri-
ously and he laughed 81 mean it
now, dad, truly. Do you like Dave
Ashley?"
II like him, yes, but with limita-
TONS" his gray eyes twinkling. u
don't want him in the family, but l
like him"
Comics eyes never wavered as SHE
looked at him
"How much money did Grandmother
Walton leave me-"
about ten thousand. It's gone over
that now, on compound interest since
you were five. Going to leave home
and father, CONF" He slipped his arm
around her teasingly.
mo, Of course not. wouldn't mar
~ even Dave If you said no, fatty, but
you wouldn't" Connie added confident
ly, mot If really wanted him. Don't
worry dad; he hasn't asked me, and
he won't, not with the handicap he's
under. l want you to go to Goodwin
& Hart and take over the Ashley mort
gage with my money, and not let Dave
know who has it. Hardy's going to
foreclose, with Mrs. Ashley just home
from the hospital"
Mr.. Wade stared back at her, sud
denly alert and aroused The Ash
leys had been neighbors for years
and the doctor a close friend. He
rose and took down his hat from the
old antelope antlers on the wall.
Connie never spoke as he swung out
Of the door like boy and down the
walk to the street.
She saw him turn at the corner
on the way downtown, and then
dropped in the willow chair by the
desk, and laid her head on it, Even
II he did help on the mortgage, she
knew it would not put Dave on his
feet, nor lift the barrier between
them. 1t would only tide him over
until he could get start She sat
in the study until 1t was almost dark
and Mrs. Hopkins came to say sup
per was ready twice. Finally, she
heard steps on the walk, and two
figures came up 10 the door She
tried to fasten up her rumpled hah
when she heard Dawes voice in the
aall.
1--WE brought him back to supper
because we've got to talk over some
business" said Mr.. Wade cheerfully.
Hope you've got something good to
Eat, Con. Better open up some Of
hose strawberry preserves and the
picked apricots. Can't have apricot
brandy any MORE Dave, but they
haven't shut down on pickles yet
SIT down and get YOUR breath. It's