The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-24
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Three Possibilities.
81 &. RAY sAkEF
copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate

HlS cigar IlIeu al al angie VI 1e
n degrees, one leg swinging slight
! = " in indication OF contentment
Norman j. Haskell read from the from
page with strong personal interest
and satisfaction. Presently he fold
ed the paper and laid 1t on a corner
Of his desk, while he leaned back IN
the swivel chair and meditated, and
there seemed tinge of gloating II
the luster of his eyes.
His partner entered and interrupt
ed the flow Of thought.
Afternoon, Marvin" saluted Has
kell, as the stocky figure with the boy
ish face drew of his gloves, and. de-
posting them in the crown OF his
brown derby, hung the latter on hook
Drotr1dIng from the wall.
This ceremony concluded, he ap-
preached the desk, rubbing his hands
as though he had performed somt
neat business trick and was congrat-
ulating himself. Haskell showed
nearby chair to a position at the cor
ner of the desk on which lay the
printed doings of the day. Stonewel
began to seat himself, still rubbing
his hands and smiling. Before he
was settled, however, his hands had
stopped their caressing of one anoth'
er and the smile was superseded BY
an expression of establishment. He
was gazing at the newspaper.
whats this, what's this?" he ex-
claimed with an air Of wonderment
What's this, say? Here's picture
of the Marquis of yDownsberry, to-
gether with three young women
and one of them is Evelyn, your Sis
ter. Let's see. 1t says Marquis
coming to America for Possibilities.
That means he's looking for az
American bride, and Evelyn-can il
be he's considering Evelyn?"
ut means Just that" he admitted
evelyn has a chance Of marrying
into the royal family. It's standof
between her and those two other young
ladies whose photos are grouped
around the marquis. He's coming on
his steam yacht and expects to arrange
a series OF cruises during which he
will make his choice. Won't it be great
Marvin, if Evelyn wins? Just think oil
it, thatll make me third hunky-
dorance-in-law of the king by mar
riage, or something like that, won't
it?"
Hmm" was Marvin's response, as
he settled himself in the chair and
continued reading.
Mrs. Jerome Rodney Haskell was
beaming.
your great opportunity has arrived
Evelyn" she said to the slim younL
woman perched on : the window-seat,
Evelyn did not beam, but her lips per-
mitted flashing smile to form. Was
it exultation showing in the girls
countenance? Mrs. Haskell never
could quite determine the meaning OF
an expression on her daughters face
Mrs. Haskell felt she had perfect
right to beam. That very day she and
her daughter, with few of the other
members of their set, would leave New
York on the steam yacht Of the Mar
nuts of Downsberry. 1t was the third
and last possibility cruise" the mar
uuis intended making. Already he had
conducted two such cruises, each OF
them having as guest of honor one OF
his marriage prospects.
Ruth was the last Candidate
After this third trip on the blue the
marquis would make his choice, and
Of course an anxious world would be
waiting breathlessly for his decision
1t must be understood that the Has
kells we're one OF the foremost fam
lies of America, and Evelyn Haskell
was a leader of the fashionable
younger set and the cause Of much
heart burning and heart breaking
Her mother had frowned on many OF
the suits for Evelyn's hand and had
tolerated some of them, principally
because her daughter had a pro-
pensity for getting her own way, but
had always admonished the latter to
wait awhile before choosing "a hus-
band, because she was confident
Something worth while" was COM
ing. Mrs. Haskell and Evelyn had
made several trips abroad, ostensibly
to study art, although there were
some prying persons who claimed
there were iulterior motives in which
prospective husbands with titles we're
concerned. Be that as it may, Mrs.
Haskell was now basking in the sun
shine of a told you so" satisfaction.
The cruise was not to be an ex-
tended one. At no time would the
party be more than thirty miles from
New York. In fact, the yacht was
expected to travel in circle, spend
ing two and possible three nights on
the voyage. Various forms of enter
tainme6t were arranged, including
dancing. 1t was intended that the
marquis should have every oppor-
tunity to note the charms and like
wise the flaws OF the candidate for
his love and lands.
The marquis YVES rather droll
looking young man who, strange to
relate, was not equipped with mon
acle. He had very pleasing way
about him, which was only natural