The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-15
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Which One Would You
Mary?
Rv Lillian Hall Crowley

BDGELU ~ u4uCu LAulC VIVA SANA
u Higgins. He's rattle headed
young fellow aud not at all the steady
Uoing young man that Walter Brewer
"There's nothing wrong With Jim
mother, he hasn't settled down that's
O."
"Well It's high time he did settle
down. My opinion is that he never
viii be serious. When he was lit
Ee boy he played truant from school
Ooing fishing and wandering around
q the woods when he ought to be
studying. Remember the time when
he and the lettering boy almost kill
q Bud Martins cow"
Eyes mother, but don't you under
Stand? The boys were playing that
Wild animal was pursuing them in
Che dense forest and Jim Heant to
shoot over the cows head. It was
Only BIB shot anyway, and although
the COW was terribly frightened she
suffered skinned knee. Bud exaS-
geTated that story"
That's 10 Excuse! You never heard
OF Walter Brewer doing things like
that He always went back and forth
TO school as good as could be- never
fighting or getting into mischief His
mother never had bit Of trouble with
him and he's Just as good man as
he was by"
people oughtn't to keep on remem-
bering a boys pranks." said Jane.
Il wish, dear, you'd take Walter in
stead Of JIM"
Don't worry. Clothd!, I'm not taxi
ing either Of them Just now. l like
them both, but I'm not thinking of
marrying. Anything you want at the
store" Asked Jane putting on her
bat
Nothing dear" The mother sighed
9 her gaze followed her beautiful
daughter as she went out the door.
Mrs. Seymour had lost her husband
TN years before when Jane was ell
sven years old. She had had 10 be
10Th father and mother to her only
child and she felt the weight OF her
responsibility.
What II hHr daughter should marry
tne wrong man? How could she
eatde her so as to RToid heartaches
Tor the present as we'll as the future?
she liked Jim Higgins we'll enough if
he only HoCli not come to see Jane
70 often. He was so lighthearted and
eAfe2ree that Mrs. Seymour feared he
4bs thongh'less and selfish. He was
HSyeI serious.
pane was easily the prettlest and
s"eetest girl in town, and as such had
1eF choice Of Randolpl's elegibles. but
she was in the full enjoyment OF ber
youth, and freedom and had not looked
very far into the future.
As she walked gracefully and vigor.
OUsly down the street many an eye
rested on her with pleasure and ad-
u1iratton.
When she neared the business part
- Main street she noticed group Of
excited men in front OF the office OF
The Weekly Star" She hurried on
70 discover the cause of the excite.
ment. In the window was hung the
efesidents declaration Of war against
Germany.
Jane was thrilled 10 the very soul.
Her country at war! Here was work
for her to do-something better than
Rothering about beaux. "They Will
want nurses for the Red Cross" She
thought. II must find out at once
when caa begn work"
Every one she met was full of the
Gpirit Of the war. The president was
light. Every man and woman must
uphold him by helping in every pos !
Dtble way.
When she arrived home, expecting
her mother to oppose her plan of work
she was overtoyed to find her beloved
parent filled with the same spirit Of
Datrlodsm.
YOU'D Just have to help, Jane dear,
sits In the blood. Both OF your grand
fathers fought in the Civil War and
your father was in the Spanish War.
fAll the women IN our family helped
t0o.'
y Several days went by with Jane
making plans for her work Of nursing.
Ehile her mother was organizing the
iecaf Red Cross work room. Everything
use was subordinGted in every way
70 their wosI. Mrs. Seymour spent
Tie largest part Of the day in the work
room, whilo Jane run errands and
routed out the workers.
Jane had been very busy with her
tplaHS-then one evening Walter |
Brewer called. Mrs. Seymour after
feeting him most graciously left the
tRo yorg people together while she
4 Seat out on an errand.
Jane" said Walter, when they
zero seated In the coy living room,
- 4'Ea been wanting to ask you some.
/. S1ins for a long time but I've he'll
seted until l got promotion from the
arn. I've been with them three |
pears, and this is my third promotion |
and see my way clear now to rapid |
eayaaceemnt. love you, Jane, and
want you to mary me-
but-arn't you going to enlist
laiter7''
no, I'm not, Jane. I shall let the
me eaters enlist il they want to. Yon
zee Would jeopardise my place with
GAe urn. The chances are they would |
eot keep my lob for me-"
Tut our oountry?" sasped Jane,
delre It this way" Walter went |
Q little surprised at James attitude
Ours = q meat packing business.
ena Wen need lot OF timed stuff for
pr army. lean do just as much for |
" country working hard in the Of
.aco - eau by enlisting. There's a
lot % DO done here as we'll as in