The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-12
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
His Dark Past
ey MARY MORRISON.
~ BY MANY MORRISON.
Newspaper SyndIcate.l

Cousin Anne looked at them with
rather humorous expression in hel
beautiful gray eyes. Let me see II
have 1t straight" she said, show.
ing her concentration on the subject
in hand by most alluring frown.
There are two Inen-one named
Tommy and one named James-both
ptanding on their toes to marry Daisy
here"
Wen, really, Cousin Anne" inter
rupted Daisy conscientiously, James
has never said anything as definite
as that. 1t is just that he keeps cNl,,
ing here day after day and sends ne
all sorts of lovely things
Mrs. Trent broke in rather breath
lessly, Among them some French
poems which Of course, l wouldn't
let her read!"
Dear, dear, how dreadful of himf'
assented Anne Dunsany, sternly re-
pressed twinkle showing in her eyes.
What else does he do, Daisy?"
ITS more the way he looks at mt
than anything else," said Daisy. Ills
! eyes are so, we'll intent-they make
Z me fairly squirm And then the next
minute l think he's laughing at me.
Tommy says he knows there is some.
thing very queer about James, drop.
ping down here in Glenbrook from
nowhere that we know anything about
and keeping dead silence about his
life before he came. 1t, does look
queer, doesn't it?"
can see how 1t would look queer
to Gienbrook," replied Anne equiv.
ocably. These silent, mysterious,
fascinating men with intent looks in
their eyes generally bear inyestIga.
: That's what Tommy says, smiled
Daisy.
Anne looked at her younger cousin
In silence for moment. Then She
rose, picked up her very chic hat and
placed 1t on her golden head with u
most becoming tilt all her own.
"TI be back before long," she SAID.
I'm going to have look at the
mystertus James house. An obsery.
ant woman can learn almost anything
about man from his front door mat
land waving her hand in farewell she
disappeared down the garden path ard
out the big gates onto the road.
In spite Of the differences OF ten
years In their ages and the difference
OF q world in their experiences Of life
Anne Dunsany was very iond of her
little cousin. By some freak of cous-
inship they looked almost enough
alike to be sisters and Anne took a
very deep and personal interest in
everything that touched her.
could easily murder that James
man in cold blood If he is playing with
her. she unused as she approached a
comfortable house set back from the
street. She was just in time to see a
motor car dash through the gates and
disappear in cloud OF dust up the
road.
THAT'S James, unused Anne. "Now
for his housed"
was nice house from the out.
side, Anne had to admit. The white
pillars of its broad veranda cleaned
in stately purity at all suspicious
passersby as II denying their owners
possible blackness Of reputation. The
wicker chairs and tables, the maya.
zines and books strewn around in
pleasant disrray looked attractive.
wish could see the inside" sud-
denly thought Anne. Hes out and
don't see any servants around-Im 60.
ing to explore!" and before she had
time to reconsider she had hurried up
front walk, mounted the steps and
en- ered the house.
SSN walked into a long, low room.
The ate afternoon sun came through
the open windows and touched the
rows of old books that reached IN
TO the ceiling with golden light. 1t
was a most satisfactory room and
Anne sank down on a deep sofa to
take II In. She picked up little red
ilhOrrTfd ~rOInFna
where its late reader had thrown it
only a short while ago-and caught
her breath. Monsieur Beaucaire!"
What memories the title brought
back to her! It reminded her of a
wonderful summer years ago, of long
days spent in a small white sailboat
on bright blue ocean and of evenings
when man with quizzical gray eyes
had recited bits of Monsieur Beau
caire's to her in the moonlight.
It was one thousand years ago.,
said Anne Dunsany.
So absorbed was she in the sudden
rush of memories that surged over
her that she did not hear a motor
drive up or a heavy, footstep enter the
room.
man stood in the doorway, quite
still as he caught sight of Anne. His
face whitened little and his mouth
twisted into quizzical little half
smile, but hisSHoice was quite ste:.dy
as he said:
! Hello, Anne"
Monsieur Beaucaire" dropped fltm
Anne's grasp and lay unnotlced on
the floor as she sprang from her seat.
jimmy" she exclaimed, how on
earth did you get here? Am l dream.
ing?" and then in sudden retaliation.
.oh, you are James,"
James to Daisy" answered the
man, still looking at her from his
place in the doorway, "but Jimmy to
you, Anne-always and forever"
There was utter silence in the big
room for minute, and then the lnan
went on:
do you remember the first time
you called me Jimmy?r he asked. ut
was at the Van Norden's. We sat out
six dances in succession and started
all the old gossips talking. That was
the first time told you loved you.
too,-and l."
Don't Jimmy" said Anne. "our
love didn't treat us very well, you