The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-26
TIE DAILY
Garrett Hume's Oppor-
tlnity
BERuLT. AA[aS

-
GESTURE with which he waved bis
lat With one hand, while the other
hGtod itself with the gate latch,
Rs significant Of q spirit OF trl'
. umph. His smile was a snnburst.
Joyce could not help thinking
that there was that about Hume,
sometimes which suggested a prep
school boy lost in the sauguine
settlement of the days football
match, rather than a veteran OF o
hundred ghastly days I'm the for
est" and a man with his face set
to the serious business of making
away for himBelf-and for wom-
an. But Hume's Infectious smile
was REFLECTED in the serious gray
eyes of the girl as she greeted him.
Somebody leave you a million,
GARRETT" she called to him before
he reached the yeranda steps; "Or
did you win a set OF tennis? Some
things happened, I know, you're
bubbling like a geyser."
Hume threw himself down on
the top step, tossed his hat down
beside him, leaned his back against
the wooden column that thanked
the steps and clasped both hands
around a knee.
"Nobody's left me a nickel-and
4 don't want anybody to; I don't
need that kind Of softly luck. and
I'm through with tennis--and all
the rest of the foolishness, Joy.
But something has happened.
"Joyce"-the young mans lace
took on suddenly an expression Of
ereat earnestness, and e~arnestness
In which there was just a suSges-
ton of awe-"Joyce, 1 fancy tfere
Is something to that saying about
opportunity coming once to every
fnan. Mine is here. 1t has come >,
An observer less influenced by
the equation of personal Interest
than Garrett Hume might have
read more than he did In the alb
( rupt flash of concern that came
into the gray eyes. All that che
said, however, was: tell me, Gar
ny"
Neville, our major, Joy-"Mad
Hal they called him-the chap
who took our battalion a mile far
ther~than his orders--and pried o
Hun division apart by doing It.
Well, he's in on q big deal in
China, a railroad concession. and
he has offered Inc n good position
out there and a tiny little interest
in the syndicate--gratis, Of course
for he knows l haven't any money.
THE salary is three times as much
has I've ever had to say nothing about
the Ultimate profit and the get
ting in" with men Of big business
affairs.
There was an eager expectancy
in Fumes n OF looking at
the girl as he told her the big
news. But Joyce had drawn q
spray of h~oneysuckle to her and
her head was bent over it. So
he hurried on, gettig to his feet
and coming close to ner as he
spoke.
Joyce, DEAR" he said, this
means success-it is success. You
know I have only waited for the
justification of assured post
ton Of decent income to ask
you to marry me. 1t has
come. You will-won't you, Joy?
And go out to China with me? l
have accepted, Of course-I'd be
crazy not to. But it would spoil
lit all II you did not go with me.
( Joyce's checks were a little pale
hut her voice was cool and firm as
she replied after an instant's pause
sSGarry sit down here and let ME
iEalk'to you. Laddy, I care for you
more than anyone else in Lha world
but / am not going out to China
with you. I am not going to pro-
mise to marry you. / do not agroe
with you that this chance OF yours
Is in itself a success. And l San
not marry you unless you succeed.
watt will do no good to insist
This is the most vital problem of a
Woman's life. I must make my own
decision, and make it out of my
own heart, and my own mind. l
have made It,"
"'Joyce, don't say that 1t is no"
mo, Garrett, I will not say that
! It would be as unfair to me as to
you. My decision is this: You
must take two years-two full
years While you are out theirs
you may write and I will answer;
hut there must 6e no renewal Of
this subject during that time. Then
Garrett, II you have really and
truly succeeded, II you can show
me that you r a man in whose
hands I can safely trust myself,
and that you are beyond the pos
sibility of failure, 1t shall be as
you wish If you still want ne for a
wife"
That was in August. In Sep
ttember; two years later, the Asia
tic mail brought to Joyce Allerton
the most tragic epistle she had
ever received in her life. 1t was
dated at Shanghai, on the anniver-
5seary Of the day when Hume so
joyously announced the arrival OF
hts great opportunity. Joyce read:
'"This is the last day. In the
face of every misfortune, of each
bitter disappointment, I have
fought down despair and chung
desperately to hope-until now.
It is the end of course. Instead OF
having made the success you so
rIghtfully demanded, instead Of
having attained to position and
fortune and the assured capacity
for protection which a girl IKE
you have every logical reason to
Jarpect in her huband. I have TO