The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-20
THE name was u rank plsfit-

THE name was q rank p4sIlt-
Aspasia Gay presupposed a
4 personality ~learuedly light.
instead. poor Spasia held learning
in horror, and regarded real hear
~ mi.th as a snare of the Evil One.
Consequently she found existence
so dull, drab and lifeless her nat
ural sweetness fermented in its
vacuum 10 a SOU verging on bit
terness. Very human, very tmid.
wholly wanting in conceiti appar.
emily she was toredoomed to tragic
Observation-Disclosures because she
had a warm heart withGl tender, and
filled with yearnings for her very
own. A husband, little children, a
snug place to keep spotless and
| comfortable-such were her dumb
desires-which she would have
gone TO the stake rather than adj
nit. "a born old maid" said her
| world, unsuspecting-that is to say
its kIndlier half. The other half,
led by Jerry Dayton, sneered: "a
monument to mems determination
what could anybody, even a blind
man. find in her to attract?"
Jerry "a wicked-spIrit, tongue
and temper. Hated things and peo-
pie for simple sake OF hating. Rich,
quest and dominion, she chose to
feel affrOnted by Spasias meek ex-
istence. Possibly the seed of al.
front had been planted in child
hood, when Spasia had Ventured
to put her small niece's picture in
a local newspaper contest. where
1t had won first prize oyer several
presentments OF Jerry. Jerry had
cried herself into spasms over the
hurt to her vanity-mysteriouSy
that night, the prize picture was
defaced, nobody could tell how. But
shortly. afterward a Dayton foot
man left service to set up In bust
ness for himself. Tongues wagged
d~iscreetly. behind hands to be sure
but nobody got further than say
ing the Daytons would never let
money stand between their girl and
anything she might want TO do or
have done.
TImId though she was, Spasia
had texture-witness that when
she was left on the small place she
kept on living there, making enough
through her garden, chickens and
dairy to live decen;Ty and keep far
from debt. This In spite of feed
ing, clothing and housing Black
| Maria and her blind twins. Maria
did the milking and marketing,
working out in spare hours for
money which added to her modest
wages. would send Bill and Jimmy
through the blind school when they
were bigger.
One fine day a bomb fell into this
islet OF content-the convalescent
wrath Of a very pretty girl . stu
/ very pretty in an elfin way, with
infantine curls beginning to crisp
above q white brow, and faint ros'
es to show in hollow cheeks. the
some time prize winner, grown up,
had been mighty near death. She
had oYerdone piteously after the
| manner OF fresh youth. working
by day In the art school, going the
mace OF Bohemia at night. Her
dead fathers gift of artistry law
, compellingly upon her; then, 100
she resented her SNUG stepfather
and the small brood which seemed
to have crowded her out of her
mothers heart. The mother had
remembered Aunt Spasia in this
extremity-and sent Leslie to her
without the Formally Of asking a
welcome for her.
Spasla, doubtful through a min
ute, in the next took the girl to her
heart OF hearts. 1t somehow
warmed curiously, and the queer
pain in It lulled. But habit held
| her dumh-she could only stroke
the fairy curls as she babe Leslie
good nlght-yet though she had
long ceased praying, she knelt that
night crying voicelessly: Save her,
Lord, save herr"
Leslie was up very early-she
had run through the dewy garden,
with Dashdog at her heels, inspect
ed the COWS, and s~hamelessly let
out broods OF tiny, peeping chick
ems. She was so rosy and bright
| eyed health seemed to have coma
! back magically. But toward noon
she tainted dead away-and mex
day and next stayed abed, claim
inG TO be not i'll but merely lazy.
Halfway the second morning
she lay alone in the cool spare
chamber opening from the porch,
! smiling a little and signing more.
At a vigorous knock, imDatiently
! repeated, she called: Come In! Or
out! Auntie, l think, Is lost"
Entered a tall young fellow,
! brown and wholesome, good to looE
upon, bringing with him the out
door world. why, YOU are Les
ne!" he cried, coming close: And
you've grown up to your picture
I fell In love with It twelve years
ago, and have Deen waiting for you
ever since"
"Indeod!" SAID Leslie, meaning
to speak saut)ly, but achieving
only shakiness: why wasn't told
of It? l might have taken mole
pains"
wasted them, you Smean," the
visitor retorteu. Pm Jonn-Dr.
Manton's John, they call me. /
knew you had come, but didn't e2