The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-22
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Held in Trust.
By ZoLA FORESTER.

into Liberty. How narrow it was
down here, and how like canyons.
with the great dull gray walls tow
airing SO closely together on each side
Of her. She wondered how on earth
rruesdale could spend all his life in
such place.
Yet in way he was like it, deter
mined and silent Even before her
father died, when she was only
Twelve, she remembered him as a
young man who rarely smiled. Her
AUNT had always said he was Sc rclia-
Die and steady-dualities which mad
never recommended him to Barbara's
favor. She went up in tho elevator
now with feeling of relief that she
was twenty-one and his guardianship
was ended at last.
Allan was alone in his inner Office
waiting for her. the clerk said. She
glanced around 1t curiously as she
sank down in the leather armchair
he drew forward. 1t was tall and
narrow and somber like the street
outside. Only hat-topped desk
seemed to show any human interest.
In a copper urn was a bunch OF arbu-
tus, and little squat silver figure OF
, 1 Chinese mandarin perpetually made
obesance on an inkstand.
i've been planning to do so many
things that l never dared even to
mention BEFORE" she told him hap
ply. II want to go somewhere and
build myself wonderful mountain
bungalow and have horses and sort
of play ranch. And then / want TO
give Aunt Cecilia solid annuity SO
She won't feel as If her whole life was
10 be spent keeping one eye on me.
And I'd like to just sell out the whole
business so / won't have to look after
anything at all, and thought Id like
10 found an orphanage or something
ike that"
Allan listened, but with no smile
On his close lips. He was marking
star shapes on his blotter and watch
ing the clock above her head now and
then. 1t was nearly 4. He wondered
Z he would have time to tell her be-
.ore Yates arrived.
when Mr.. Curtis died his affairs
we're in very tangled state" he said.
'He always suspected lawyers and his
Heath came so suddenly there was no
,hance for him to attend to anything
or to explain anything"
What was there to explain" ask
ad Barbara with a touch of her faith
sr's quick pride.
"aiuch," answered Allan tersely.
He had been persuaded to tie up his
money In a lot of unsafe speculation.
md had borrowed heavily to cover his
,wn outstanding liabilities. These
obligations to banks and friends had
% be paid out of the estate. A few
IF us Who ha dbeen close to him car
led ours under interest"
'tDid father even owe you money!
Some. I was very glad to help
him."
He turned his attention to mass
If papers at his elbow, sorting and
arranging them for her perusal, while
Barbara was undergoing mental re-
adjustment. 1t had never occurred
% her that Tom Curtis, her father
,ould possibly be under obligations
% any one. He had seemed to rule
hat end of the state politically, and
here nd been his railroad. and-oh,
I was;absurd to talk so. She looked
1t Allan aggressively. ;.
:, 81 don't see how it could be true"
"You will find everything here" he
old her bit YEARLY. There Is
Nothing for you to worry over, Bar.
\ ,ara. You may not be able to found
iour orphanage, but you could still
ave bungalow. Another thing !
lhouid tell you before we part as
yard and guardian. Paulton Yates
las told me you are engaged to be
married."
Barbara did not look at him this
line. Only from his voice she could
ell that he did not care one single
,it. He went on talking to her in the
,ame impersonal aloof way he had al
gays used ever since he had found
Ter on the veranda with Paulson.
And. it had been so perfectly silly to
imagine she cared for him seriously.
IA always took thinks for granted.
There came a call for him in the
mter office and he left her alone just
is Yates arrived. Allan told him he
you'd find Barbara within. But 1t
vas a different Barbara who faced
lin from the girl he had danced with,
,idden with, hirted with for the past
rear.
She was not engaged to him at all.
The told him Indignantly. He had
lad no right to tell her guardian that
he was. And Paulson, stung by her
one and manner, laughed at her
aith in Truesdale.
Everybody knows he's played fast
,,pd loosc with your money, Bah.
What have you got left now? I've al
way cared for you, you know that,
md 1t doesn't matter about money
rith me, only I want you to drol
rruesdale."
Allen on the threshold Of the outer
ioor. heard her answer, and caught
iates' muttered curse as he left her.
4 was like him to do 1t that way, he
bought. lose his tempre and accuse
lin of wronsdoing.
And he was really very decent
,olid sort of fellow. who wouldn't
make her a bad husband at all, since
The wanted money and society. He
ried to tell Barbara as much. when
ddenly he became aware that the
'ars were falling down her cheeks
she stared across the label at him.
II think you're perfectly abomin-
s,le. Allan. to try and marry me on
~ that after telling me l haven't