The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-18
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Meeting Sister
BY CATHERINE PARSONS.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)

keX IoUtRE hopeless woman hatef
" Kenny" groaned Lieutenant
i Campbell. But II you refuse
TO meet my attractive sister-tn-law,
at least, you will consent to meet my
attractive wife-she's quite harmless
Is far as you are concerned and well
worth knowing"
Kenny grinned.
'fYou bet, I'll meet your wife, Fred
the sooner the betterl It's only a lot
Of silly girls can't stand"
well, she's here now. She's taken
q little apartment about mile from
camp-10 Main street. Well expect
you to afternoon tea tomorrow-that
VIII be before her sister gets there, So
you won't have to worry. Is that
o. KT
at sure Is So long ,now-rve got
to get back to my job"
The next afternoon was cold and
clear, and Kenny walked briskly along
and thought rather pleasantly OF the
hot tea he would soon have offered to
him. And he was really anxious to
meet Fred's wife, too. They had known
each other since they were boys and
his friend had married only month
or two before-just after he left train
ing camp. The girl he imagined Fred
would pick out, would be tall and
stately and dignified and very good
looking-he could see her perfectly in
his minds eye.
But he had quite a shock when his
ring was answered and he was ushered
into the tiny living room to Mrs.
Campbell's apartment. To be sure, his
hostess was there-very much So
but she was small, very pretty ana
ridiculously young looking - Fred
should have prepared him little for
this.
"we're glad you could come. Lieu
tenant Kenny. Fred took my sister
out for few moments, but they will
be back directly. Do sit down and tell
me something about the camp-I'm
dying to hear all about II"
"Sisteri" thought Tom Kenny.
groaning inwardly. Then she did
come after all. Curse my rotten
luck!" Aloud he said:
1--WE just been thinking it's so won
derful out-perhaps you would like to
see something OF the place yourself
we could take little walk out in the
direction of camp II you want to and
you think Fred won't mind"
His one idea was to get outside be-
fore sister returned-he hoped she
never would return!
Mercy, no-Fred won't mind! He'll
be only to glad to get me of his hands
for WHILE
Having made up his mind to make
the best of things, Tom found his little
companion decidedly good company.
She laughed at his jokes and made
herself SO agreeable that he found him
self feeling almost disappointed when
they finally turned towards home. But
the whole afternoon she never men
toned her husband once. When they
first started out Tom had turned to
her queStioningly:
you are quite sure your husband
won't care II you do go of like this?
"My husband" echoed the girl,
b1ankly. Then, light dawned in a mo-
ment, and she turned her head away
to hide the twinkle that shone in her
eyes.
He'd trust me with you, know"
she returned, smiling. I'm Just going
to have good time and forget all
about HIM"
When they got back to Mrs. Camp
bells apartment it was so late that
Tom begged to be excused, as he had
to beFback at camp in time for mess.
Fred's wife did not urge him 70 come
in, ut,asked him to come to tea two
days later to meet her sister. He tried
to refuse, on some sort OF pretense,
but he found it too hard to refuse any
thing this girl asked him. when she
really wanted to have her own way.
So he promised, and went back to
camp, thinking that Fred was a pretty
fortunate man to have such wonder
full little wife, and wishing there were
more women in the world like her!
On Friday afternoon he found both
the ladies home, and he went through
the painful ordeal OF meeting sister.
She was far more stately than Freds
wife, and possibly very charming. but
Tom hardly noticed her at all.
u was so sorry about the other aft
ernoon," apologized Miss Ely, Fred
told me It would only take a minute
and then found so many things 1 had
to attend to that before knew 1t 1t
was terribly late. was so sorry not
to meet you"
MRS. Campbell was very kind. and
entertained me royalty" assured
Kenny.
'1'l bet she did," agreed Fred Camp
bell, and CLEAN of amusement pass
ed between him and his now very de-
mure little wife, who was seated at
the other end OF the room.
we had a beautiful time, Freddie,
dear" she cried enthusiastically.
"And I've been thinking we ought to
get up some nice little parties while
sister IS here-just the four of US.
do 60 love to chaperone."
Fred laughed. Anything you sug-
Eest will be all right, my dear"
"Then, let's so skating Sunday aft.
ernoon-it's heavenly on the lake.
WIZ you go, Lieutenant Tom?"
III Ffeds' willing. Are you. fond of
skatlng?' he asked the silent sister,
who had not entered into the conyerS
eatten for some time.
u adore IT." she assured him. ct
haven't been on skates for two years.
but IN probably get along with a
Z little Aelp. You won't mind, giving me
A-teE points TIN get used to It. VIM
mo. tnaseal- he assented. almost
too proudly. and he thought he no.
t1eod Bred cough slightly to cover a
FlA1fnlh AAs,aNn e..