The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-06

NE IJnrornantic NE. Dale.
~ HAYDEN Z. rRIcE:

Copyright, 1920. by the Mcclure
Newspaper SyndicateD
n N ARJoRIE ROGERS had looked
NI forward ever since February 20
hNA Dale's visit at Eastertine. Dale
was her brothers. roommate at college.
Brother Harry had ''raved" about ne
great Dale IN letters and on his VISITS
home. He was ono OF the big mon
IF the class, Harry claimed. And Mar
tories married aister, Alice. had met
Dale on the occas sion oT her visit as
chaperon at the Juaior Hop in Febru
airy. Alice. like brother Harry, return
I'd to praise the charm and clever,
sparkling personality OF Dale.
+ Marjorie, Just turning eighteen. hat
hearc so MICH anoGt Dalc That her
girlisn imasinaiton had seized upon
Hin, az a subject for day.dreams. And
when. in March, Herr! had sent copy
Of his Class AnHcai, Tho iirs! Thing
Marioris did w9s L, i9ok up Gale's
picture 'amorS The saS.ofs.
A humorous descriptive sketch &C.
oornpanled each seniors picture, anu
the sketch describing Dale pictured
him as yornS tsaa no serious In his
work to recognize slp5 .sg1Stencc OF
the fai, sex, 1t was Iot that raie was
uninagiaatiya or wGDan'hatc:.
It was 7lr,.ss %nrss ti.aa ,,:s.,
thought MaiJpsla the @. wotaaa later at
least recognizes f'le existence OF Wo'
men and romance, but the serious M
Dale was 10 blsy that he was incif.
fcrent, chilliegiy Indifferent to girls,
moonlight on lakes. porch swings for
two on summer nights and all other
:rappirSs and accessories Cf romance.
Marjories heart sank little as ene
read this disqlieting description OF
Dale. What chance world she have
with such man, even though he was
going to spend week at her home as
her brothers guest--a week in the
spring Of the year?
That afternoon Brother Harry and
Dale ware to arrive for the Easter va.
cation. Marjorie lived.in a state OF
suppressed excitement all day and felt
that S o'clock would never come. At
a the Telephone rang and Marjorie ans.
wered.
Her eighteen.year.old heart nearly
stepped whom voice, announced as
the property of Jerry Dale, conveyed
the news that the boys had missed a
train connection and wouldn't be homo
until q. ~ wonder IL he heard my heart
beating" said Marioriec to herself as
she hung up.
This delay In the arrival Of the
young men hardly made her more pa.
Hent. As relief from her restless.
ness Marjorie went to the station to
meet their train. When the train
pulled In her heart was beating as
pniy q girls heart can beat under tho
+ urge Of star worship. What would he
look like? Would he think her attrac.
tive, but OF what use was that il tho
great Dale didn't think 80?
There's Madge!" cried her brother
~ the train came to stop In a mo.
ment she was being bcar:hugged by
HARRY.
awhy, what's the matter with your
voice, Harry"
Nothing much--just a cold. but
cant speak above a whisper, That's
why Jerry had to do the telephoning
when we missed our train,
Then came the big moment Madge,
this Is Mr.. pale-Jerry Dale.
Madge on the way home re-lived
that moment when her hand rested in
ne. .9dC tlhEu " IeSoli tuot tuSlS WOO
nothing pertunctory III his handc,aap.
Tntlier tightly. But probably, she
Ethought, abe was lnistaAen. Probably
the wish was father To the thought
with her.
She drove the car back from the sta.
ton and between her busy thoughts
and her easerness to catch Dale's
tffpa hop A1ipiO0 &rn,,lfl 1,oyn ~,
worry to the founders of the Safety
First movement.
They drew up before the house and
MaIioiie's little heaven was nearly
complete when Jerry Dale helped her
from the car.
She began to wonder II Mr. Dale had
changed suddenly since his class.
mates had described him as being "too
serious for romance"
But her happiness was short.liy0l.
On account OF their late arrival, and
because OF his inability to be heard
over the telephone. Harry--her own
brother-asked her to call I'm Ethel
Msrbridge and tell that young lady
that he aud Mr.. Dale would be over 10
call on her that evening.
Now 1t SO happened that of all the
young ladies' lin the little town Ethel
MRrbtidge found least favor in Mar
.jofie's eyes. But how could brother
remember detail like that? And how
could her brother know t!..t Dale
meant SO much In her lie and
thoughts?
So she bit he lips and went to the
telephone. She was sure she hated
her brother In that moment.
Marjorie called up Miss Marhridge
and as casually as possible delivered
the message. In her heart she felt Ger
tain that she had caught little ma,
licious Tough OF triumph in Ethel Mar.
bridges voice, and felt certain that
Ethel was enjoying her discontinue.
The day was spoiled for Marjorie
even the Easter week was q dismal
failure. She began 10 blame iletself
After all, 1t was rather presilmptuous
10 have hoped ;aat she might mean
anything TO Mr.. Dale.
She remembered with chagrin her
fatuons exaltatioE OF spirits wher she
tho..!sh ts,a s;pl haij hsf i,.at u; .yle
station with sometains OF Significance
IN his clasp. Tears came into her
eyes at the thought.
That evening Dale and her brother
called on Ethel Marh.tdge and IL wlst
10 O'clock the next morning when
Marjorie saw them again,
Madge," said Broker Harry, In al
lusky whisper, You'll have tn sc. as !
our social SECRETARY. Ms throat E,,n't'
permit mo to do any teiephrt,is 20
I'll have to ash; You again e Il: pI
ethel Marbridge and tell her we'll be |
AVER about Q O'Clock this afterrn<r .