The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-23

a your fathers. meadow? That wac
wonderful June day! can close my
eyes and see the shadows trembling
the water yet.
Alicia Conway smiled reminiscefiuy
rs she glanced up atsthe serious blue
hyes OF her compansion.
That was u long time ago. she
sighed softly hut you talk ~ il the
pleadow we're miles away instead Of
tight hocl o. tho hoase, whore it a.
WAYS Vas
tloa werc ten and was sts.eca.
spt that wasn't the last time asked
you 70 marry rae," he said disregard.
ing her remark.
NO. remember" the girl answer.
.'Yes. Ct was seven years later. and
yotl gave NE my walking papers for
good and al. You wero simply infat-
mated With that Saunders fellow"
John, you ought not to talk that
Way--you know loved him, and do
yet, and j shall wait for him Just as
ne promised to wait for me-"
Alicia, you may not realize II, but
you've got oveT loving him long ago,
and you're only keeping your Promise
out OF conscientiousness.
You ought to be ashamed OF your.
self, John Foster, and you must not
speak to me like that again. I'll ask
you never to refer to the subject after
this!e $500
With a;frigid little nod Alicia excus
ed herself and went into the house.
Miss Conway threw herseh onto the
couch In the living room and burst in.
to tears. She kept telling herself that
she must be faithful to her promise.
Yet the persistence OF her old lovers
attentions was awakening emotions
that she had considered long ago dead.
After an hour or more. she went to
Ter room and removed an old package
letters from her trunk. Taking uD
the top one she glanced at the post
mark-it was only SIX years old yet It
seemed centuries to the girl, and. of
late, she was growing to think of her.
self as an old spinster. With a gesture
OF impatience she began to read the
message that she already knew By
heart. She always read this letter
when she had fear OF wayering
loyalty. SO. mechanically, she let her
eyes run over the lines once more:
Dearest: / know you will wait for
me even though. 1t be years-and 4
willacome back to you. Charles"
She went over the words carefully
in an effort to breathe the old life in.
TO them. but somehow nothing seemed
as It should be and the sight of every
thing depressed her. AS she glanced
out the window she noticed that even
the reflection Of the sun on the green
leaves had a cold and lonely cast. The
1 voice OF her mother calling her down
to supper brought her back to the
present with start.
Coming in minute" she answered
as she, hastily powdered her face and
tried to remove all traces of the re-
cent storm.
She went through the meal mechan.
ically as she answered her parents
absently. the meanwhile thinking that
in q very few years she would take
the letters up to the attic, where such
things always dwell, and resign her
self to spinSerhood.
Each time John called she fortified
herself ,afterward with the wornout
letter and renewed her vow. OF loySalty.
Each time her thoughts wandered to
John she rebuked herself with yehe.
mence.
Weeks. later Alicia was sitting on
her porch ones ummer afternoon when
her attention was attracted by ia
miliar figure coming down the street.
He wore a7wide- brimmed floppy straw
hat and carried In his hand two fishing
lines and an old tin can Of unmistak.
able contents.
John Fosteri" exclaimed the girl,
running to the edge of the porch as
the man turned in at the gate. What
on earth are you up to now?"
Were going fie1ing in the meadow
behind the house and we're going to
make believe we're boy and girl again
Just this afternoon" he ended with
q hint OF pleading in his voice.
The girl hesitated, but her eyes
glowed.
go get your hat" the man com.
handed. .The pink one with frilly
stuff under the brim."
After all, there was no harm IN 20.
ing tishfng-you couldn't ostracize
yourself just because you had promis.
ed to stick TO the other man. So Alicia
went.
Down In the meadow along the
brook where 1t was cool and shady
s the two sat breathlessly watching
their floating corks. When his line
bobbed he squeezed her hand ecstati.
cally.
sYou mustn't do that" she protest,
Don't forget smiled Foster. "that
you're only ten. years old today, and
you mustn't be SO frightfully proper"
The girl laughed in spite Of herself
and the man considering the moment
favorable gently slipped an arm about
The slender figure beside him.
Now, Alicia, let's promise to get
married when we're old enough" said
the grownup boy at her side.
sAll right. Let's" the girl answer.
ed as il in dream.
wei. 1 haven't got an engagement
ring, but Wen be engaged If / IL"
John, you" she began weakly.
Alicia, knew you'd relent in the
end" he said moment later in tones
or sober happiness.
But I'm afraid I've done wrong"
the girl replied. "And what'll do
when he comes?"
"I'll take care of that" said Foster
in no uncertain tones
The next morning when she went
down TO breakfast her mother tossed
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