Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-02-13
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
BY JENNIE LITTLE.
o. 1870. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

I'll Your nerves arc on edge, or your
spirits down IN zero" and I felt that
II didn't need to persevere much long
er. Summer vacation had begun. but
what was the use OF being released
II IN drilling tiresome children and
correcting examination papers. II there
was nothing better in sight?
NO. | may rs well confess and ret
IL over. Up t" TINT time not Il scrap
az excitement. adventure or romance
had ever come into my life. and II
was my thirty-fifth birthday. But
what could YOU expect from plain,
prosy creature. handicapped from the
very start with the name of Amelia
Bump? I suppose the Bump was in
| eritablc. seeing that I had no choice
In the matter Of ancestors, but surely
II my dear parents bump of wisdom
had been over so slightly developed
they would have Offset it with lovely
front name like Evelyn. Sylvia or Dor
| IS.
Even Caroline might have been
transformed into Carolyn. and Mary
Jane into Marie Jean. or May Janctte,
| amc!ioratc the misery Of being chris
tened Amclin. No young man could
be expected to choose as his partner
ut the merrymakingS Il girl who had
neither. honey, beauty or brillance to
take the sting from that hardly sup
pressed smile when he introduced "My
friend. Miss Bump" Why, even my
scholars made punS about IT.
And SD when the old folks died and
left me little besides the old home.
with not 4 near relative In the world
| 1t Just seemed natural that / should
settle down for keeps, In the role of
old muid country school teacher. Nat.
urally il happened that sometimes
that starved youth in me clnmored for
recognition, and raised riots, rs to-
day.
1t WAS the annual county fair. and
had watched them all go by in their
shining hugGicS and autoS-Swect-
hearts. young married couples. and
families. ill it seemed that poor
Amelia Bump was the only solitary per-
son in the village. 1t had been a per-
feet morning. and now felt Il touch
Of savage satisfaction that the rain
would spoil their pleasure, until re-
memhcrcd that blizzard may seem
81 May day If only YOU arc with some
one YOU love. Oh! was in tune with
the weather, all right.
And then my ears caught the roaring
hum Of an airplanc, nearer, nearer.
unhclicyably near! raced to the door
IN "a ,ri..n
wounded bird swooping down on the
hiG meadow below the house. Crash!
Then my curiosity carried me on fly
ing feet TO the spot. where Il figure re-
semhling an armored knight i'm goggles
picked himself up with dazed look.
and bent over another PROSTATE form.
After lasty examination Ire turned
to me- rs I stared. opcn-momhed.
though luck Came through the
war without SmaShs and now n broli-
en- Lex. and perhaps worse, for this lit
tie testing trip. Accident to engine.
and we couldn't make right landing.
Where's doci0r?"
Believe me, had little time to
waste sympathiZing with myself the
rest OF the day. He was badly hurt,
and the doctor and nurse settled him
in my little sunny guest room, so long
without guest.
The holidays flew on wings had
an interest in life. and the neigiIbors
really seemed TO include me in their
interest In him. But the blow had to
fail The day that nc was able to be
helped out on the piazza, he turned a
serious fnce to me.
..llcrc ] am. nearly well enough to
leave. ana have never asked your
name. yet it seems that must have
known 1t always, we have grown to DC
such friends"
"Oh, no" ] gulped, You couldn't
guess it in lifetime. It's Bump!"
and | fairly gIarea mt him as braced
myself To meet that amused smile.
Bnt il seemed To make absolutely no
impression on him, for he went OIL
And your first Nance
Try, all you Kosalics and Mnrjorics.
to share my feelings 9S ] blurtcd ont.
"Oh. it matches tho other-.iust Amelia,
and how ! hate it,"
He gave me such queer look Of
surprise. "IIatc Amelia:" ne repeated,
rs If not sure Of hearing me Alright.
~ love II best OF all the names In the
English language, for It was my moth
cr's. Since she died. I've been the
lonclicst fellow alive" Lonely! Ana
he n handsome hero. There We're two
of MS then. 1t seemed.
Well. AL iiiS happened weeks ago,
and to-day rs | write, across the table
sits my aviator, tho man OF the house.
refuse 10 recognize Il grammar rule
, or algebra sign whcp meet them.
! for unlovcd and unwantCd Amelia