The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Steering for Heaven.
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

cious hall.
This is good-by, John" she said
quietly.
sGood. byl Why good-by and why
80 serious? l am coming tomorrow
TO take you skating and"
No you are not" Muriels voice was
firm. II am not going TO the Faulk-
ner's skating tea, nor to Mand Guth-
RES Pomeranium breakfast nor TO
Jimmy Rogers jazz swimming party.
am going to steer my bark toward
heaven when you leave tonight" She
smiled softly while an expression quite
misunderstood by Gibson filled her
'swhere Is this place called heaven
lis Il on the Long Island route?"
It may be on the Long Island map
and II, may not be-" said Muriel. 81
don't know. But / do know 1t is not
TO be found at the Falkner's nor the
Guthrie,s nor any place within my
present vision. Muriel turned away
her eyes. There was wistful some
thing in the depths OF them that she
thought John had better not see.
We had Jolly time at Dicks to-
night The wine was not bad, consid-
ering our dryness. The music was
gloriousand you-you were there in
your fragrance and beauty" Gibson's
voice had softened. What more does
a man want?"
Nothing more, apparently" said
Muriei and the usefulness turned In
to something OF a bit hopeless. "but
a woman does. At least" she cor
heaven and I'm going to find It." Her
vii NJ Tho
haunting emptiness of life as she had
found It cleaned through Muriel's
tones. II hate every silly, vapid,
meaningless hour spent as our friends
spend them-wasting golden hours
comparing Pomeranian noses, discuss
ing latest degeneracies. and drinking
loathsome mixtures while vulgar sing
ers and more vulgarly undressed dan
GERS try to arouse our faded emo
tons
You've always enjoyed"
No. have hated 1t all. There
Is not one soul in our entire ultra
smart set that would walk across the
avenue to chat with except you.
suppose way down in the depths, I'M
explored though they be, of you there
is something that appeals to me, at
least that part of me which is about
to steer for heaven, otherwise would
not have told you this" She extend
ed warm, firm hand. 81 have not
mentioned 1t to any one else"
Gibson drew her hand against his
side aud spoke rapidly.
Mnriel, don't leave me. You know
~ love you==haye loved you for many
months. Forget this silly idea bf
heaven and marry me. I'll take you
anywhere you like-Italy, Arabia, ia
PAM i fancy veil be taking the OPP
rosite route to heaven II we go to any
of those places Just now. but we'll
anything so long as you are mine"
Muriel shook her head.
You will take me everywhere ex-
cept to the one place / want to go. i
must 30, John. ] will lose either my
mind or my soul unless turn sharp
1y and steer away for heaven. want
TO find a place where men and women
love one another because Of the soul
within them, where character and
nobility and simplicity Of nature count
] am sick OF being loved because my
ankle is slim or my eyes alluring or
my clothes fantastic" Muriel paused
q moment while a real DISGUST inflat.
ed her delicate nostrils. Then Gibson,
mis- heart in his eyes. watched dream
nit into the face Of the only girl he
could ever love with all his fine
Strength. There must be country
where lovers can walk on road that
winds under the moonlight like sill
yer ribbon and where birds sing In
leafy trees and where the pungent odor
or balsam filters the air. We dash
past all wonders in our motors intent
on getting to some Inn while the lob
sfer is still on the grill"
She struggled breathlessly, for Glib
son had jerked hor swiftly into HE
arms and was laughing softly, II un-
steadily at her flaming checks. He
pressed his lips 10 her rebellious,
wistful mouth. She was molten gold
IN his arms.
See, dear can take you by one
route-to THAT place you're looking
for-wtthout craft or steering gear
Come, Just trust me to land you safe.
~ In heaven"
But Muriel had regained comand.
She was a bit white, but her smile
was knocking,
''It isn't temporary heaven I'm
Fteering for, nor one reached and sus-
tanned by electric wires"
She nodded, turned and left Glib
son. =
He was torn between disappoint-
fnent, passion and a keen appreciation
Of Muriel's tersely expressed compre-
hension Of his route to heaven.
With shrug OF his shoulders he
picked up his walking stick, and hat
and lit cigarette, assumed non
chalant carriage and walked out into
rhe night His mouth was rather
splendidly- set and his eyes contained
. speculative expression that promis-
ed well for the appearance of second
pilgrim on that road toward heaven.
Summer days had passed and gone
and cooler October dawned on the
country side.
Mildred and her chauffeur, fine,
strapping English girl. who during
the war had driven an ambulance un-
der the w. A. A. c., were stopping
for the night on bit OF the Long Is
land road, The improvised caravan
which they had driven and lived dur
ing the summer was costly yedged IN
a small nook that tutted out over
the harbor at Cold Spring.
Murfel sptang lightly down onto the
soft turf and then few Yards heyond