The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-18
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Helen's Daughter.
BY IZoLA FORESTER.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure

Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
Co. HE Judge sat with one leg stretch
ed out before him on green
, plush settee. 1t was wrapped
and swaddled like pampered BABY
hut the expression on the owners face
showed no affection for it. He glared
at 1t resentfully, while Letitia sat on
the edge of a chair and waited anxi-
,ously, wondering II the big oil paint
Ing over the mantel was a portrait OF
her mother Neither of them noticed
the buzing OF the street doorbell.
.Its preposterous sending you on
to me without first obtaining my coz
sent" fumed the Judge. How many
are there besides you?'
"ouly Bob, and he's older: Hes
working. If there had been only little
ones I'd have stayed and looked after
them with mother gone" Her tone
seemed to say that the judge should
have understood this in the iirst
place, and he caught it's hint.
"You can't possibly stay here. No
place to put you. Nobody lives here
with me but Flint and Aoki-Flint
looks after me and Aoki after the
house. We don't want any female
ON the precincts"
He eyed her quizzically to see II she
got any OF his sardonic humor, but Le'
titia was frankly tired after her long
tourney, and only looked at the sltua-
ton from a personal angle. Her eyes
glanced around the large, high-ceiled
old study in the back OF the house.
Here the Judge lived most of his life,
she knew. 1t was untidy and dusty,
papers and books piled indiscriminate,
" everywhere, books in their tai
black walnut cases jammed in without
Negard to order
II could help you a lot, grandfath-
er. / always worked with father In
his study, and know how to dust and
file and arrange papers, and can DO
typewriting, too" =.
"Think it needs it here, don't you?"
demanded the Judge. Il like things
this way. Never let anyone touch any
Of my papers in my life"
The street door opened and closed,
and somebody came along the polish
ed hallway with quick soft step. Lee
titia did not know she was taking her
first look at her champion when John
Farley stepped in and smiled at her, a
slender, almost childish figure in black
at the mercy of the judges wit and
favor.
"Helen's daughter" was the way in
which the Judge introduced her curt
" adding, "she just suggested living
with me in order to put my place IN
order. Do you agree with her, John?
~ certainly do" said Farley hearth
Nv. az he seated himself. at the broad,
iat-toppetl, desk and opened his case
of legal papers. II wish had some.
body this minute to take dictation and
help me, sir"
sHupiIl." growled the Judge; take
OF ycur hat and coat, Letitia. If this
doesn't aur6 out right, I'll hold you re-
srop & John"
Fal e. .ighed roundly and met LIE
tiua's t.lc.I, appealing eyes, the lowell
est eyes lie had ever seen.
81 stand responsible" he agreed.
From that day on Letitia's work was
cut out for her, as they said back
home. She was given little room up
stairs, and every day found her labor
ing under the judges watchful eye,
Strengthening out the library and the
malice in the old study. And every
day at 4:30 came Farley, with his case
al papers, to go over the business OF
the day with the Judge and look at
Letitia.
She had become plumper and roster
since that first day. Aoki, the Japa-
nese house boy and cook, adored her
Z very shadow, and delighted in making
dainties to tempt her appetite. Anoth-
er duty which she had taken upon
herself was airing Beckett, the big
English bulldog, and Rienzi, the kal-
ian greyhound. This gave her an ex'
cuse to get out on the drive for long
walks, and Farley found that, BY I'm.
ishing his work about $3.50, he couid
ioin her for a short tramp.
And during these times their friend.
ship ripened, until one day Letitia ven
tured to tell him her new trouble. She
even showed him the ring on her left
finger, very plain little ring, with a
forget.me-not in turquoise surrounded
by pearls.
It was very old affair, she assured
him, quite two years. Bert was TWEEN.
ty.two now, and when he left for col
lege she had promised to marry him.
1t was only to encourage him, She
added. plaintively. She had never
thought he would care for her so long,
especially when he didn't even sec
her. OF course she was eighteen now,
and old enough to know her own mind.
aAnd you don't want to marry Bert,
IS that it?" asked Farley briefly, try
ing to hide from himself how her
words hurt him. "Is he coming on
here?" -,
4 Z Il don't know. He says he won't let
me stay here half killing myself work
ing for somebody who doesn't care fol
All u foN ko,. roS