The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-22
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Eleventh Hour Pete.
~ IZoLA FORESTER.
tcopyEtSht 1913. BY the Mcclure

he had ever gone into training
camps, all through his 1eIsurely boy
mood days and later through his teens
when he helped his father at the old
sawmiil on the side Of Rocky Knob.
Randy's purity slow going" old
Halsey would say, watching his over
Grown. lanky son toss slabs out the
SIDE door TO the big pile on the slop.
ing hillside. But he's as steady as
the river. Il goes down and It Amt
good for nothin' half the year, but
when II does start OF, 1t makes up for
lost time"
The other boys at school had nick
named him Eleventh Hour Pete" as
soon as they discovered his propensi.
y for landing right at the last minute.
Just before the bell rang at nine,
Handy's bare feet would get over the
dooratil OF the entry. Just minute
before the teacher was ready to mark
him down failure, he would spell
The word right. and as Elva laughingly
said, Just when girl thought he
didn't have nerve enough to kiss
rag baby, he'd grab you around the
neck and kiss you rougher than any
OF the other boys" And Elya was
somewhat Of Judge when II came TO
methods, even at twelve.
Reckon you'll marry Elviry Wilson
some day. won't you, RANDY" his
mother would ask tentatively, and
Randy'd look setf-conscious and dodge
the direct issye with a smile. But all
the years at home Elva had led his
fancy by a 81 den cord Just the sight
of her dancffI obaad a1onn az na,,n
try road VII enough. Her hair was
RED. not brj mt carroty red, but shiny
sort OF chestnut, and 1t hung in long.
thin, home-tended curls below her
waist. Then her eyes were hazel.
cats eyes, the other girls called them,
and there was a provocative lift to her
upper lip that started even Randy's
slow blood to moving faster.
Yet he enlisted without asking her
to marry him, and went overseas with
everybody at the Knob prophesying
Elya would marry somebody else
while he was gone, and asking why
on ezrth he hadn't taken her, when
she was willing.
"of course I'd marry Randy" she
said fatty and proudly when they
teased her about him. why not?
He's the only fellow on the mountain
with any good looks or nerve"
Didn't have nerve enough to ask
you, just the same" Tuck Phillips
chuckled.
he had nerve enough not to.
didn't he? Randy isn't the sort to
marry girl so as to give her an
l allotment and then run the chance
OF leaving her widow" Elva's big
eyes were bright with anger. And.
say, Tuck, just because you're over
age is no reason why you can't enlist
They're taking them in the marines,
you know, bigger and older than you
are"
Two years later Tuck drove down
to the country seat after a marriage
license. No news had come from
Randy after the first year, and he had
been reported missing after the big
spring drive. When the troops be.
gan coming home, Elva watched every
day for news OF him, but the days
passed and months until Tuck found
her in tired, helpless mood one day.
Her father had had stroke after one
of his usual election fights. Election
on Rocky Knob was something more
than mere form of government, 1t
was the one day in the year when
custom almost commanded all loyal
citizens to uphold their personal prin.
ciples and prejudices against all
corners, and the judge was famous for
his election tits.
But this day they had carried him
back up the mountain a quiet, limp
old figure, and Elva had cared for
him. Tuck came daily. In his way
he was gentle and tactful, and the
Judge liked him. There were three
hundred and some odd acres of land
to look after, and all the timber be-
sides.
I'm gone by, Elva," no said. "Be4
ter get(a man you can trust to look
after things. Tuck's ri at next to us,
and he's been good neighbor. /
give my consent right now"
But Randy may come back"
HE amt never had the gumption
to ask you, has he? Amt you got
any pride at all for girl that don't
have to pick up with the first one that
comes along?"
Elya had WINGED, and when Tuck
asked her again that night, she had
nodded YEARLY.
Only just one thing, Tuck" she
added with flash Of her old spirit
Il think l ought to tell you thi-.
There amt any man on earth eve.
can be TO me what Randy was"
We'll, guess don't have to worry
over that. He amt on earth" he
told her slowly.
Hes never been listed dead"
Tuck toed the ground linda striously
and looked at the pattern he traced.
i didn't want to tell you, but
Harley Evans came back last night,
and he was Randy's bunk,o for months
after they went over. 7 says he saw
Randy die Just before .ey picked him
up TO take TO the he TAI. They left
Randy behind"
He stopped shor. She had dropped
her face in he two hands and her
stiffness startle.i him. He laid his hand
on her shoulder appealingly. 'TIl be
good to you, Elva"
The day before the wedding she
sat with Ter father in the sunny little
side roc: whose windows overlooked
the r ey. One by one the women
neishLors dropped in and her girl
4 ends, but Elva was like "one called"
as old Miss Carter put It.
SCOT look in her eyes never was
~ 1oTA Dak