The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-25
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
A Tangle IJntangled.
BY A. W. PEACH: ,,.-.
Copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure
N,e,,snenor cvnhicate,l

BY A. W. PEACH. -
Copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)
N vss lunch hour in the restaran!
| nun by he big mail order firm io o.
Inc ma Of its employees. The glriS
wete seated about, talking or , iesu'I no.
Ruth was the only one 70 wng.n NV. wv
Syoune man Of the many men IN tn s
Neef building had seemed 70 turn 4. ~.
interested eye-that Is, no man Oh 'ne
lind she wanted to know. -. -.
The girls had joked her about tne
s,tnat S me- 20 much that when Mary
Kennedy had come to her and snowea
hef 4 picture Of whimsical mSscu
Ina faee handsome In a clean, pleas
IN fashion, and told her that ne
came from her town upstate, she had
said glibly: ..,, ., o,d
aoh, yes, know him; he's an olo
friend OF mine!' IL, Gov,
And she did not KNOW nim ifow
a lyon do?" said Mary. well, that
Il fine He Il a friend Of Fred's, and
q coming in on the evening ttai IA
iuSt N time to 90 to the dance anu .Ia
YOU can take care OF him. All tne
other girls are tied up ..,
And Mary, walking gayly away.
mad announced to the gathered girls
| sti,af n last Ruth was to have a beau.
J, Thinking II over in the room, Ruth
9tGlt tears come to her eyes; pqt
llsnce 81 the clock startled her INTO
Sction. She got out the simple dress
Ifhat was her sole evening gown, and
With unwilling fingers prepared her'
seli for her ordeal.
She went alone to the hall where
fhe girls were giving the dance.a
Ittle. lonely, and somewhat pathetic
atrre She was welcomed VIII
smiles and questions" Is he good:
Sookine? / didn't see the snapshot
% he an old flame Of yours" anu
Stmilar queries we're asked her. Sne
forced herself to smile IN q tantallz,
4ng>Way, but her heart was not as
Inc dance began, and to her sur
4 nRise she found she was asked 10
dance more than ever before. she
q wondered why.
me fateiul hand moved around on
ai,e Blk hall clock to the train time,
fhen to a little after. Perhaps, ne
WUuld not come; and she prayed that
lea hope might be true, She mac
about reached the conclusion he nau
not when a slight confusion at the
door drew her attention, and she saw
Mary bearing down upon her.
ruth. he's come and waiting. AS
ionE as you know him, just get him
and give him a good time" Mary SAID.
this Is my fayorite dance"
Setting her will to the effort, she
vent down the hall and up to a tall
Young fellow who was watching her
VIII an odd expression on his face.
She stolped before him, panic
Stricken until she saw the brown,
friendly eyes looking down at hers.
She held out her hand and he took It
IN q close, friendly grasp.
AMary had Just time to say Hello:
III get q friend Of yours-an old one!
Are you the one? | hope So" he add
i was enough Forgetting that he
still held her hand she blurted out
tia whole miserable story. He lis
tened soberly-she was bit fright
ened al that-and then spoke the
words that brought some peace to her
stormy heart.
ave ought to be old friends II we
aren't. Let's dance. That music Is
great" he said smiling.
4 She drew long breath and swung
with him into the dance. How simple
he had made the puzzle unravel with
afew words. And the girls would not
know.
B They did not, but soon they did
want to know the tall odd friend
withthe smiling, pleasant brown eyes
and the straight 1.-THE form that be-
.tokened strength and manliness. She
introduced him to all, but he kept
coming back to her for a dance.
She thought she knew the reason.
Yi,Please don't feel that you must
dance with me because-because you
are an old friend" she explained pain
fully.
The smile left the brown eyes and
Sshe saw IN Its place the strong.
searching glance Of man with girl
I Ind mind Of his own. The smile came
sThat Is not the reason" he said
briefly, and tucking her arm under
iiE he led her to the floor.
-Four hours later It was tired but
Supremacy happy little girl that crept
INTO the small bed in the ballroom,
After 4 long examination at the mir.
ror and the old verdict, What a
homely pug nose! II ! could get rid
&c that Never mind-I have had one
good time that no one can ever, ever
(: take away from mel"
II the office, the next day, she was
The subject Of much interest. But she
Srfied all comments that were sug-
gestiye. .'He goes home today" she
said quietly.
But be did not. She was called to
the telephone at noon, and his pleas
ant voice asked her to- promise the
evening to him. In voice that must
have been faint to him, she agreed.
. Then the wonder days began
golden, glorious days when hearts are
finding their way to each other in q
union that even death, supreme over
N else, can never sunder.
And then came the last evening.
!, Tkey were alone In the little recep-
Hon room. he was standing and say
ing simply: II must 80 tomorrow.
Before | 80, Ruth, I want to know
something; can you grow to love me
AWHILE I am away"
She could not find the words
though her lips moved. The keen,
searching strength came into his eyes.
Suddenly, something strong and
eteatyirg went about her, and from
his shoulder she was looking up.
"But nobody ever loved mel" she
Whispered, da1ed and confused, and
shaken by what had entered her life
nth Overwhelming force. Gust see
my homely nose and NY"
& Something gentle and kind burned
+ softly In eyes above hers. And my
dark, pretty hair and-little girl, there
are III kinds Of flowers, the one |
love Is the simple rose that used to
groW In my mothers garden: you are
I e! As for that nose" His gentle