The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-08
THE Dali Y
SHORT STORY
"a Good Catch. :
BY r. RAY BAKER.
Copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure,
Newspaper Syndicate.)

BY r. RAY BAKER.
Copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure,
Newspaper Syndicate.)
CT ITHER of them would be a
good CATCH" said Mrs. Hen
bricks, busting about the
studio and setting things to rights.
believe, though, ] would take Mr..
Seldon-if was doing the selecting"
Mrs. Hendricks, erstwhile society
matron, now ION her uppers," and
serving Clare Hawley as general bust
ness manager, social mentor, book
keeper, housekeeper and maid,
v reversed II against the back OF the
davenport, then stood of, arms AKIN
bo, and surveyed the offending object
with a no less critical eye than she
would have used in arranging draper.
les in royal palace.
Clare Hawley, artist, clad in dress
Ing gown and slippers, smiled, some
1ect interested her about as much as
the price OF ice in the arctic, and
went on munching meditatively on a
piece OF dry toast while she reclined
lazily. in a deep, luxurious chair. Now
and then she slipped from cup of
steaming coffee.
Success had been dwelling with
Clare for three months. Her picture,
THE Water Lily's Dance" had met
With such favor, once II got on ex.
hibition, that she was carried In TWEEN
ty.four hours from the bottom rung OF
the fiadder, where she had .plouded
andl groVeled and half starved, to the
topI where she worked when 1t struck
her fancy and lived on the best the
land afforded.
Much of her success with 1.-The Wa
ter Lily's Dance" was due to the eff.
forts and influence of Mrs. Hendricks.
VINO was largely responsible for plac-
Ing the picture on exhibition; SO
when Mrs. Hendricks suffered a de-
cided reverse in fortune through the
eccentricittes OF Wall street ana came
TO her with a tale OF woe, Clare gave
her a place in the studio. Mrs. Hen
bricks never would have served any
one else in the same capacity; but
she worshiped art and artists, and es.
peeially did she worship her protege.
Mr. Pontello, though, is the best
locker" Mrs. Hendricks observed,
seiztng dustless buster and getting
busy with 1t about the legs or a Ia.
bic. And they're both rich-that's
the best part OF 1t" she added as an
atterthought, as though that phase
OF the subject had never before &C.
Cured to her.
Glare drained the coffee cup, wiped
some remnants OF toast from her lap
and laid the cup and plate on the ia
BILE.
ooh, they're both fine fellows, and
both good.looking, and both very ac-
complished musicians, and both rich, -
she said, standing and making few
alterations in the arrangements of her
hair Mr.. Seldom plays wonderfully
on the violin and Mr.. Ponteilo has no
peer at the piano"
II Mrs. Hendricks could have be-
come cognizant of the workings of
Clare's mind Just then, she would
have gasped with establishment for
neither the pale blue eyes OF Mr.. Sci.
don nor the midnight orbe OF Mr.. Pom
i telio played even minor role in the
meditattons of the procrastinating
artist.
The picture that Clare visualized
had to do with a country town. She
yisioned herself in a sunbonnet, and
bingham dress walking along the
sstreet in company OF a freckled youth
who was carrying her books.
The scenes shifted, and the new
one might have been called six Years
Later II 1t had been part of film
play. In her fancy she was attending
a barn dance, where country lads ana
lassies cayorted and coquetted and
flirted in their rustic way, and all OF
though none was handsome or accom-.
plished or rich.
The music was furnished by tall,
gangling youth, mounted on a plat.
form, saving on violin and stamp
ing his foot loudly to make up for the
ABSENCE OF drums. The gangling youth
was the freckled boy grown up. =
Another scene showed Clare on the
rear platform OF the last coach OF a
train, which was moving from a sta
ton. The gangling youth stood on the
platform, a torIorn-looking object, and
Glare's eyes filled with tears as the
train carried her out of sight.
Glare sighed, and took rom a
drawer of The table letter which She
opened and read. Her mouth took on
q wisttul expression, and her eyes
glistened.
Mrs Hendricks hustled into the
room an hour later and found Clare
busy at her easel.
aave you decided, dearie?" she
asked. Have you chosen?"
Il have. At our little party tonight
you will announce my engagement
ITO Mr.. Seldom" breathed Mrs.
HENDRICKS hopefully.
Clare shook her head.
I'm not telling you who it is to be.
You Will know no sooner than the
Others. When you get ready TO make
the announcement will slip you q
FOLDED paper containing the name"
4 Mrs. t1endricks looked disappointed,
cresttallen.
sBy the way" said Clare, "a boy
from my old home town is coming 10
sle me today-and he's going TO be a
guest at the party"
Mrs. Hendricks lips framed a re.
monstrance, but an idea struck her
and she exclaimed instead:
That's a good idea. 1t will be
something novel; he'll furnish some
amusement and be no end OF fun. Is
heTan entertainer"
ayes, he plays the violin; not like
Mr.. seldom, but he plays well, in his
own peculiar way"
All was ready for the party except
that Clare and the newly invited
guest were absent. Mrs. Hendricks
told Mr.. Seldom and Mr.. Pontello OF
the treat that was in store-a selec.
IL.