The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-02
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Moodlun.
81 IzoLA FORESTER.
ysigift 1913, By Mcclure Eewspa-
per syudicate,)

~ IzoLA FoRREsTER.
wright 1913, By Mcclure NeWspa-
per syudicate,l
HEY named him Hoodlum when
re first came to Blue Meadow
farm, long legged, knock-kneed,
eyed colt, With nothing but a
yfeC % make people admire him.
can't take him over with me-"
re wrote back, "and he's all gold,
ave me, Aunt Sally. Just keep
TIL get back and don't let any
y but me break him. It won't be
oH
That had been nearly year ago,
still the Hoodlun ranged freely
iOut saddle on his back and a
between his teeth. It seemed as
e had become almost a symbol to
Mss Sally, Of DacTe's safe return
home. He had been her tavcrite ever
fice his mother had died In his baby.
hood and had given him into her care
when she was only twenty He had
f6Wn up on the farm, and 1t had
Epuedtt all the horror Of war close to
her heart when she heard that he had
zone into the aero seTvice.
But the Hoodlum took life easy. He
handsome colt, rich bay In tone,
TIA & darker name and tail, and white
se He would come at Miss Sally
clear from the river meadows
Where he loved to Craze, to the lane
6 for some sugar or an apple from
hand. And when she drove along
tie road toward town the colt would
race, With name flying, trying to catch
her before the carriage turned the
bend IN the road, to whinny anxiously
er her departing figure.
Then Betty had come unexpectedly
ma the Hoodlum took second place In
interest Betty was seventeen and
adventurous,
only hope she won't prove thorn
"A So1r Hesh," Mrs. Sewall had writ
sshe seems very cheerful and
Wiling. and ] suppose you can put her
% rome use. It's splendid OF you to
keep her until VIII and get back
tor I'VE never could have taken her
clear to the islands with u.s."
they we're Miss sally's second cous-
lIia, and Betty's father had recently
been appointed on a commission to the
Pbiilipinas, which meant Betty's being
guest at Blue Meadows for at least
three months. She was slim and big
eyed, with freckles and smooth braid
Di brown hair wound trinity about her
head
just forget I'm here at all, Cousin
Hsliy, and Ill promise not to get into
one sit OF mischief" she declared, the
an day Of her arrival. Then seeing
photograph on the table in an oval,
q silver frame, she asked Interested
ANYONE know or should known
That's Dacre, your third cousin, Da.
ore Ktneald."
smiled and sighed approvtngly.
HES a darling In that uniform, isn't
bn Aero? He'll be home before long
lhen won't he, almost any day."
we hope SO. haven't heard In
months.
Betty took her cue from the note
~ reserve IN Miss Sally's tone and
nshed no further questions but learn
"a ~ she wished to know about Dacrc
from his babyhood up, from old Aunt
selRh. his nurse. Perhaps Hoodlum
Told her something also.
At any rate, they became extremely
vol acquainted after Jerry, the stable
boy, gave her Hoodlun's story. Every
day found her on her way down the
mulberry lane to the river meadows
Win pientysof "Ncoa1ers," as she called
themS 70 tempt the colt, and one day
1iio carried an old saddle, of Dacre's
81 her shoulder, and ? bride.
TWAS early in the spring when Ds-
ere returned. He had been wounded
aud detained for months at base hos
pital. Miss Sally was in perfect
hurry OF excitement after the tele-
rsi arrived saying he had left New
York and was on his way south, but
Betty happened to be Sizing. over the
week end ct Jumper Hall nearby with
tNo xii friends, and missed the news.
ls Wag quiet and natural appearing
around home when she came back.
Miss Sally had gone to the station to
meet hbf hero, and excepting for the
big service flag with its one star in
the upper bay window there was no
spaclai stgp OF preparation. Betty
won't to her room, whistlng happily,
and changed her pretty tan silk gown
i6t ono Of brown corduroy. On her
WsS out she paused to look at the face
q the oval silver frame, and cur
ious look came in her brown eyes, a
look almost OF tenderness.
oli know we've grown to be al
nose acquainted, haven't we, boy?"
lio asked Il. II approve Of you and
o Everything I've heard about you.
You the nearest to a hero rye ever
had only you don't know it. I've
tole friend Of yours alI about 1t,
lhoHgh and he understands perfectly.
Wcndgf e you ever Willy"
went down the wide center hall
b1osnntiy, out through the garden and
down the lane toward tho meadows
snei Miss sally's well-known car
flhge started homeward. Dacre lean
"a neck On the old plum broadcloth
tufhlons luduriously, and his eyes
t1uGlit every landmark and beloved
hot g they neared home.
SUDDENLY he Ggw horGe approach,
IN gallop With Q girl IN brown
tiding cFosa-saddle, girl with brown
bfa bound closely around her head
under hor cap. She leaned back and
Faged ns she drew near,
Hclle, Cousin Dacre. Welcome
BONO rom 8o0dlum and me-"
lt aid not occur to him then, not
WIN ire slfst surprise OF her face
on him and her voice Ia his
o1fs inst what lay under the words.
hut N1 weeks later, aS he waited for
Eef q ne foot OF the wide veraNda