The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-26
THE : DAILY
SHORT STORY
False Pride.
BY KETuRAH VAN TYLE. .
Copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)

q oMETIMES pride is very val
u uaDie asset, and again 1t can do
more toward wrecking humaL
ppinees than any other known quail
harfy Forcsters pride amounted
70 an addiction. He found It a val
uaple asset more than once in his
business career, but 1t proved TO be
more than an affliction when he found
nmseh hopelessiy In love with Beat
nee Fagmtng ton-hopclessly only be-
cause OF his own hidebound decision
never to marry until he could provide
nus wife with everything or moro than
sne was accustomed TO at home.
beatrice, cannot-must not CONT
mere any more!" hc had told her us ne
was leaving after one Of their many
happy evenings together.
Why Harry g'Ofeste;: Why can't
you? What do you mean?"
Just can't-that's ALL"
When Cousin Archie came in lit
ne lated he found her plunged in the
most abysmal despair.
What's wroug, I'hss.ir:" 10 qlies-
TONED; Dad refused you the moon OF
an sgyptian pyramid
Don't-don't make fun Of mel" she
walled; I'm so miserably unhappy
Come on. now, little girl; tell me
this minute who or what is the rea-
son.
III It's Harry"
What in the world could he have
descended from his dignity long enough
70 do?p
Nothing; but he says he can't come
hero any more"
The devil he can't! Are you engeged
to him?'
Not exactly-but almost"
suppose it's another spell of his
7ubborn pride. Some one has probably
accased him of fortune hunting, and
believe me, IL they ever did the
SUITS off. He makes me sick with
that thick upper crust Of hist"
You shall not abuse him, Archie!
His pride may be false. but we'll have
70 admit he's true to his convictions,
anyway g
Daddy" began Beatrice the next
morning, while her father was finish
ing his breakfast, what would you
say IL the very incest man in all the
world, except you, refused to come
and see your daughter any more, be-
err has in the bank?"
I'd say he was the most colossal
ass on record; but you're joking
aren't your
p'No, daddy dear. Last night Harry
y insisted he must stop coming here,
and refused fatty to give me any rea-
son. Cousin Archie says some one
has accused him OF being fortune
hunter"
st doesn't seem possible that
man Of his intellect would allow fool
ish scruple TO wreck two young lives
said her father, land I'm going to sec
what can be done toward waking the
young man up"
Beatrice was somewhat comforted
by her fathers assurance, but IL
would have been short-liyed could she
have beheld the storm when Farming
ton called on Forester and stated his
errand.
see here, Forester" he began alb
ruptiy, .are yJu in love with my
daughter?.
Forester's face paled, but his voice
was steady and he replied:
Mr.. Pennington, l presume my fire.
quent calls at your home warrant your
asking that question, but as have al
ready signified my resolve to discon
tinue them ISrefuse to answer you"
Come now, young man, none of
that high-handed nonsense with me!
/ believe you are in love with my
daughter-1 know she's crazy about
you and can't see why you don't mar
ny and be happy. She's good girl
any man might be proud OF you as
scn-tn-law. Beatrice will bring her
husband splendid dowry, So
Mr.. Pennington, please stop! am
no fortune, hunter. Were Beatrice the
daughter of poorer man I should
pot hesitate to ask her to marry me,
for might as well be truthful and
say ISneyer expect 10 love another girl
as lido her, but as it is will not ask
her to marry me. Good afternoon, Mr.
Harrington"
Phillip Pennington smiled all the
way down in the elevator, his resolve
Increasing with every motion. A man
Of Forester's strong principles, even
though a bit narrow, was something
10 have in the family.
Some few weeks later rumor be-
gan floating idly about that Phillip
Pennington had been losing heavily
in stocks. The rumor Travelled and
grew, the truth OF 1t seeming quite
substantiated by the sudden departure
OF Harrington for parts unknown.
When the report reached Forester he
was told Pennington was bankrupt
and that day he phoned Beatrice ask
ing permission to call that evening.
Beatrice, dear little girl" he begin
when they were alone, will you mar
~ me and let me take care OF you?
I've wanted to ask you for ever so
long. but NY scruples against taking
a girl into home less luxurious than
her parents wouldn't let me. Now
you viii need some one and love you
with every fiber Of me. What is the