The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-20
Il
LsN9RT. STORY
Dayid's House
(copyright. 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndtcatel
BY KATE EpMoNDs
. Hn gound of hammer and saw

: RAp r WIZ A4StAAd ~ 1SsA0 " 49, 80
Other: David Brown is building
his house"
That was when the house was
started. Suddenly, the sound Of
hammer and saw was stilled and
the staring windows, unfinished.
we're covered with thrred paper
sand the little building implanted.
incomplete, was closed and left
alone. David Brown had gone to
war.
The women who met at each
others homes and worked for the
Red Cross wondered because Alice
Eorson was B6Gheertul. They knew
siiei was worried about David be-
cause he had been in some of the
hardest fought and won battles
IN France, but always she kept up
her courage aud her high endeavor
never faltsred, although there
we're gFiefs at home. That last
year 81 tho war her father had
died, and Alice had taken over
his small but established real es-
tate and insurance business. II
worked for father SO long that he
knew I could understand lt-he
left II to me. Mother has the
home and separate income. This
ismine," she told people. and she
proved d formidable competitor TO
the other dealers in her locality.
eThat Corson girls got
some git up and git to her" said
one of them, with admiration,
fipened into love and he wanted to
maj - Alice Corson, but she smiled
gently and shook her head.
s'I,m engaged to David Brown"
she said amiably.
$50 d heard, but he may never
come home, and II he does he
might not be able to support you
suppose he'd be crippled and
hs1pless?"
~ would still be engaged to
him, returned the girl proudly.
one day there came the news.
David Brown was coming home
crippled for life. He wrote Alice
lei ter releasing her from their
.adhgagement. Dear girl, he said.
s35fG4 lQulL KNOW NudL SAoAA w IL
the future sell the little house l
made for you and start a news
stand or something.
Alice cried mad kissed the let
ter Dear old thing" she whis-
pered. He must think I'm afraid
10 face the future with him!
am SO proud of his valor that l
could about the news from the
Sihouse tops. must do for him
III hat i cam am sound and
SStrong. He has fought to save us
from tie plight Of Europe-ah, my
soldier boy!''
than ever and once more people
heard the sound of hammer and
saw on the hillside, and they told
each other breathlessly that Allce
Corson was finishing the house
that David began-"she wears
overall and she mounts ladder
and paints the housed! 1t was
an true, she would not let another
hand touch IT. Sometimes she
you'd allow man to lift some
ming heavy, but she did the ac-
mai work, clumsily, 1t is true;
ltit as one man said with tears in
His eyes, ~ wouldn't care If the
roof was matched, II a woman low
I'd me enough to do that for me-!
Aitee aid that and more, and
fiC spring came and David was
ed home, she had the garden
ready. for seed and the house fur
iifshed. Her mother gave her
much furniture, because she was
going % make her home with a
married daughter in nearby town
nd so David's house was ready
ind waiting for him when he came
back TO Lfttletord.
re never forgot that day.
TIE townspeople turned out,
6are was a parade In his honor,
feade "a by a brass band and COM
81 ttee OF welcome. The houses
Mere gay with flags and little girls
tfeged flowers under the wheels
soe the automobile that bore him
down the village street. David,
aIa after long months Of hos
fffal life, looked very handsome in
his Inform. On his breast were
- edalE OF honor and faded ribbons
worn through many campaigns.
he siaiied and waved his hat again
md again, but nowhere in the
crowd did he see the face he loved
tho face OF the girl he had
voluntarily released from her en-
gagennentSto him. His mouth be-
came bitter and cynical. He had
|shoped through everything that
|flIice would not, give him up-ai.
Ifdst any girl would have quailed
" the thought OF marrying Grip
spte, but-his eyes suddenly blur
The crowd had dispersed IN
front Of the town hall with final
Enheer for their wounded hero and
The automobile was bearing him
6n through the village. His par
ents had died years before and he
had only a sister in the next viii
iagefle would 80 to her tonight;
she WAS expecting him.
Where are you taking me?" he
ssed Of Judge Bland, in whose
he was riding. The minister
O. opposite, beaming mildly upon
him. Where are We going2"
gHome,9 said the Judge. but
they passed around corner where
payid had been building his house
when the war cry sounded four
n.