The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-04
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
BY MARY MORRISON.
Copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)


do 1t at last. I'm going to meet Henry
Buchanan, the rich and eligible, this
afternoon at 5 o'clock and over our
tea cups give him the fatal answer.
And with a twenty-seventh birthday
staring me in the face its going TO be
distinctly affirmative.
what a world we live in, Peg o.
my heart! We quarrel with the only
men about whom we ever cared con-
tinental and marry the ones who fill
the matrimonial bill with the least
possible inconvenience. know Il
shall be haunted all my days by the
one romance l threw away-but l
shall cross my rubicon just the same
at o'clock this afternoon.
"In fact, must hurry to 1t this
minute. Shed one tear for the dead
youth and lost illusions OF yours, as
ever.
With sigh Barbara sealed her let
ter and rose. At twenty-six Barbara
Bowen looked nineteen. Her crinkly
brown hair had myriad little golden
glints to 1t. her eyes were deep,
dark blue, fringed with shadowy LASH
es, and her mouth-well, she had the
most bewitching mouth in the world.
She made her way down to the old
stump where she had "hitched" her
canoe, and looked around in her
amazement. What had happened?
Where was her boat? The tide, stead
fly and n1ercilessly rising inch by
inch gave her back no answer-but
far off, floating gently up the river,
she saw her only communication with
the mainland and Henry Buchannan's
tea party disappearing from view.
He'll never forgive mel" thought
Barbara in dismay. What on earth
shall ! do?' and she sank down on
the bank in helpless fury at the trick
fate had played her. Henry would
forgive you for lying and stealing,
but never for being late" she MUIR
INJURED. But the tide only rose the
higher and at half past four no sal
vation was in sight.
AS Barbara sat there, bitterly think
ing Of all the things in life she had
missed and of one in particular, a
sound-far off but insistent-came to-
her ears, a distant whirring that grew
louder and louder./ Up in the Opal
sky, where the sun was Just begin.
ming to set, she saw what looked like
a great white bird approaching soar
ing majestically along, master Of time
and tide.
She leaped to her feet, as o s.,
she cried and catching up the viyit,
coiored sweater beside her, she waved
it violently and desperately in the
air. &C. r. o.
Il guess I'll marry Henry Buchan-
an after ALL" she said to herself, With
a sigh.
The aeroplane was almost overhead
now and BarbSca waved as If her life
depended on it. I'm certainly exert
ing every effort" she thought.
The birdman circled around for a
moment-then dove down until he
reached the water-a long skim over
It's surface and he was alongside, cap
in hand, ready to be of any assistance
to beauty in distress.
Then they recognized each other.
You, John Trumbull!" breathed
Barbara, her hand at her throat.
The stern lines around John Trum-
bulls mouth, hardened and then re-
laxed into the kind of smile that made
men want to claim him as a friend
and children and dogs love him on
the spot, and women-well, he haa
had his share Of encouragement from
women, too. He looked at Barbara
and saw her lovelier than ever his
most vivid memories had painted and
Y said:
How are you, Barbara? 1t is five
years ago yesterday since we last saw
each other"
Barbara nodded. From the church
steeple in the distance the village
clock struck five times. On the steps
of the clubhouse she could fancy
tai figure, disapprovingly waiting.
Whats the matter, Babs?' asked
John Trumbull, you weren't waving
that pink sweater just for exercise
we're you?" and he laughed little
shakily.
"Johnny." said Barbara. desperate
~, there's man waiting over at
he club-h house for me to tell him that
will marry him, and my canoeI gone
off and left me. Will you give me a
lift?"
"oh.' said John Trumbull, and he
helped Barbara into the machine
without another word.
The powerful engines skinned the
water, leaving behind a streak of
white foam, and then they lfted-ris-
ing higher and higher-until 1t seemed
10 Barbara that they were making
Straight for the heart OF the sunset
sky. To their right little new moon
shone at them from her soft height
and here and there star sparkled
brilliantly. The air was clean and
sweet as they cut through 1t on their
way toward the village. AS they near
cad the end OF their flight Barbara
knew that the one thing In the world
she did not want to do was to meet
Henry Buchanan on the clubhouse
steps.
They were now clrcling over the
club. Far, far down, alone in the dusk,
she saw solitary figure waiting.
"oh, please. Johnny" she cried,
laying her hand on Trumbull's ARM
Pleasure not just yeti"
Still, without word be SCARED up
ward again. She breathed a sight Of
relief as the figue on the steps dis.
appeared from view.
Barbara" said stern voice in her
ear, do you want TO marry this man,
damn himi"
mo, no! i won't marry him." cried
Babs, giving voice to >all the pent up
z ravrnfa and amnfinoa ~ A. 80 g.