The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-01
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Jack-in-the-Pulpit.
BY izoLA FORESTER.
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newananar SrndinataO

IL -
him AZ the foot OF the winding
path that led upward through
the pines. II would be useless for him
70 deny that he had sought the meet.
ing ever since his return 70 Versailles,
ana now he should have the full bene-
fit OF t.
He had been gone four years. at his
college. and each summer when he
came home for vacation he had never
failed to tell Desiree that she was
frivolous and light-minded, this when
no knew she worked from to s in
mother and all the little Sigourneys.
Was It any OF his business II she
chose to 20 TO the Saturday night
yet, the open.air ones at the beach
Pavilion? Where was the harm in
that? She was with her own people
and was happy. Was 1t wrong for her
to be seen with some OF the mill boys
at the little motion picture house on
Main street Just because they were
having their prayer meeting across the
street? oh, but she hated him for It
all. and now at last here was her
chance TO tell him to his face she
would not have it.
Who was he, after all, she thought
stormily, as he came toward her, hat.
less as usual. his lean tanned face
eager as hunters, his eyes bright at
sight of her. He had worked in the
mill too in his boyhood, and had found
there at their noon meetings his git:
for preaching. Then he had been tax
en- up by the ministers family and edu-
Gated, while she still tended the twirl-
ing spools down in the winding room.
Did you wait for me, Desiree?" he
asked. II have wanted to speak to
you ever since came back"
u know you have" she retorted
slowly, with the tinge of scorn he
could not mistake in her tone. 81
have something to say to you, too.
You will let me alone, you under
stand? II is nothing at all to me that
you have come back here to be min.
lister. That does not mean that you
can say whatever you please about
me because am fond of dancing
sometimes and like to be happy"
Il have never said a word to any
one about you"
But you have to me, myself, and
then you look at me so, as II you
would scold at me forever" The
tears filled her eyes, tears of anger
and rebellion. THE girls told me you
said that Desiree Slgourney was an ex.
ample to any of them"
IAN example OF dutifulness, L
meant Your love to your mother and
the children is beautiful, Desiree"
All, but you can turn the words
around until they have two faces" she
said bitterly.
why do you ridicule me before
eyerybody?" he demanded suddenly.
did you want me to stay in the mill
all my life? 1t was your own father
who first encouraged me to study and
80 ahead, and you have always laugh.
ed at me-"
she lifted aggravating shoulders,
and smiled over one at him.
"Jack-in-the-pulpit!!" she said. rs
It so wonderful then to come back
here to little Versailles and save US
all down in the mill? Keep to your
pulpit, and let US dance when our work
Is done"
She went down the path jauntily,
leaving him standing there. Surely Il
had been sweet to make him under.
stand how she scorned him.
The birch woods opened into a view
Of the little clustering village, the
winding river and spreading white
lace dounee Of its waterfall, the white
mill houses that dotted the hillsides,
and above all, the great low mill build.
inge with their airshafts lifting tall
pipe openings like the upreared heads
Of sea serpents.
There were four Sigourneys working
IN there now, the two boys, Pierre and
Louie, and the girls younger than De.
siree, Melanie and Etoile.
She had been sent that morning on
N GRAND over to Nine Raniers, the
wife OF the superintendent. 1t had
been profitable walk, thought De-
siree. conscious of the figure that walk
ed behind her down the path.
And then suddenly on the still early
spring air came the shrek of the fac
tory whistle, blowing its alarm at this
nntlmely hour. She caught her
breath, listening to 1t. 1t could mean
put one thing, the great horror of the
mills, fire!
And even while the thought burst on
her, there came the slow, expanding
mass OF gray smoke from the west
buildings and the breaking out of i
OBJ WhVertng yellow tongues OF
Tame from the basement windows. Be.
lore she realized It, he was beside her,
her hand clutching his arm, as they
both stared down at the smoke.
All, the chldrenl" she cried brok. |
snly. There are many In the winding
room. Melanie and Etoile-aIl the
children are there"
Re was gone before she could speak |
again, his hat and coat lay on the grass |
beside her, where she had sunk to her
knees, sobbtng.
When she looked again each house
was giving forth its quota Of mothers
and wives, hurrying to the scene OF
the fire from the little white houses.
She dried her tears and went forward
70 Join them, where there would be
work waiting for the rescuers.
After It was all over, the supreme
gratitude OF the little town was lafd
IN heeptng measure, at the feet Of |
Stephen sevrter, the young minister of |
the steepled church that faced the
green.
he had led the work from the begin.
ming, organizing the town brigade.
and the fire drill In the mill. He had
seemed 70 be everywhere. lika soroe