The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-26
HE DAILY
SHORT STORY
An Unchristian Martyr
sy MARTHA MecuLLocH.WlL.
LlAM9


standing now on uptoe, now LeeLe'-
1ing on Doth heels, arms VIDE anu
l&luKh above her shoulders, "tGh
punches OF red.bud TI9Wers III eAe :.
You think I'm foolish enough
not 10 take dare Sis rIupB oacA
ulsdatnIully, her words muttIoC ~
Lhe noise ut the swollen creek. A.
was late March, DuL warm enousA
for May-almost sultry, lnaeeG
hence tie Tedbud flowers nc
: pair had been sLrolling through
narrow wooded bottom where al
manner OF cylVan LaIhBs we're WhA'
ing cnecriIy. Across tho Scream
Lnere was BuuCnIOOKlnS nII
slupe above low limestone D!dtt,
scared thick in every seam AM
Granny with heputiCHs, white, pms.
and pale purpIe. above tneM
+ blIlnk- parked lreeB bore Cluste4S
OF WnILe stars Win bointed solaSA
hearts al beautltuI As OrcAlus an.
swseLer than spring ttseit Be-.!
wanted the WaIIe bthrG-- "aht"u =
pIusK Them hursei. ong VAS 10
superstlLIUus, VI c0dtav-stil =
was counLry.siue benet WtsA IL
unlettered That wlsmGs ihudd as yo..
uaucKed were sure sure 70 COLI
Hence her refusal OF Peters hell.
her resolve TO cross me sIFe@...
whether or no reter owed b..
could never walk the IoS, even W..
ms leIp-the trunk %ua gnAFi.
rounding, and Deset with A!s.-
STUBS or the rev OrUnches wnos' =.
cue IT. down udd taken time l.
sash away. Bat, ne could carr!
her over, IL she were Il BABY, Hls
a m =.
and her weight wac nOthinG 10
mention.
Betty had laughed IN his face
2hen lie had stGode across, ana
&topped to IantalIZe her. Han
minute she ueG.LaIeu, then d:oy-
PED her MOWERS 10 earth aIuAS
With her hat and basket, sat her
self upon the tree TRUNK aud be-
gan to inch along 1t. slowly, Dd>
surely, and it seemed more than
securely.
gled, Take care you don't wet
your feeb-they almost touch water
noW-and It's lower in tho mo
Thank you for nothing. have
not lost sight nor hearing" Betty
retorted, somewhat breathlessIy.
The progress, SO easy in theory
was proving hard urd slow--be.
sides the big stub midway loomeu
menaclngly. She could not posslb-
" lift herself past lt--cFaw!ns over
was her hope. Go away, / hate
to he watched" she painted to Pc
ter who shook his head obstinate
ly, saying nothing. She drew up
her feet Tor the crawl, setting hei
hands either side OF the stump,
then incauLiousIy looked at the
water. The log appeared 10 turn up
FeSeam and go sailing 10 nowhere
&desperately she aSsayed to follow
it--wIth a result OF finding herself
spiashing in cold and very swift
water three feet deep. 1t swept
her like u dead leaf down TO
pool very much deeper-as sac
come to its surface Peter clutchel
her, holding her with Que hand.
ana very snorrly drew her Sate
to the bank some hundred yards
below where she had Iatlcn IN.
And there watching, first with con,
Germ then, with slightly velleu
amusement, stood Jack BGlIew and
his city cousin Emma, very pat
tern OF trim elegance in weeds,
high boots and severely tailored
hat. They had come from the Bel
lew house upon the hill top, 10 see
the creek just past It's f""u sa8e,
and the waking woods Betty could
cheertully have slam tneM both,
why had they chosen TINS special
fnorniug for their stroll! Jack
BeIIew hud been huItcrlng about
her since the Xmas parties 10 the
great distress OF his MOthcr, WuO
had matched him N amt &c her
Mind with Niece Emma. Betty had
played with him prettily aftUr her
Sabit-but she would never be arIe
to face him again she was so coz
sciouB OF her draggled dripping
garments, her blue lips, her halr
stringing over forehead and shout
ders, Peter was in better case :
coat to be sure, but the clinglnS
wet shirt revealed the muscles ana
;orso to delight any eye, moreover
his clutch OF her showed giant
strength. He did not wait for her
10 refuse. Bellows eager turlta-
ton. Homes nearer--going there
Is the best preventive OF taking
cold" he said almost hrusquely.
Its mighty nice of you TO offer US
x Hire and shelter--thank you a lot
but wet dogs had better get to
their own kennels"
Then he, hailed, half dragged
Betty away, bowling airily TO the
. pair they left. On the way TO the
log Betty stopped him, pointing to
a Towering tree overhead, and
reaching silently to witch off low
hanging clusters OF starry flowers.
She was quite willing to be carried
over the stream. Peter set n ten
tative foot on the log. then plunged
down to the stream-side, snying.
with a grin, I'VE can't be wetter
here goes!" then went striding
steadily across. He put down his
passenger unbidden, picked up her
hat and flowers and started along
the home-ward path at nearly Il
doE.trot, but Betty kept up with
him SO cleverly. In a Whit her
color had come back, her eyes
were shiny, not clouded. and her
ha.f beginning to franc her face
IN adorable small tendrils. Viewing
ali which from the corner OF his
eye he smiled whimsically, saying.
"lucky those others, noddInB back
ward, cant see you now, Betsy!
Jack would fan in lovo with you all
over again and cousin Emma would
want to bite herself with Jealous
spite. Fine as she looked in her
out-of-door get-up. she'd have moth
ing on you. Now you have, as the
darkies say, done come undrOwned
Did you wish anything on her
when you got the floWers?"
Not a thing" Betty painted, run.
ming a yard ahead of him. He
caught her arm saying sternIy.
mo running away. miss! Things