The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-27
THE Dali ~
8 SHORT STORY.
Two wills and One Way.
sy A. W. PEACH

you could not induce him to
Sell the cottage? Well, Ill try"
She turned the big roadster down
toward the lake shore where the
brown cottage nestled. She was
not used TO having her will oppoS
ed. The only and beloved daughter
OF the rich mining maBnntei she
had found wills of men easily bent
to her wishes. Now she had bought
the fine estate high on tho slope
70 the lake, only to find constantly
in her view the squat cottage.
Stopping her car at the gate, she
went lightly up the walk TO the
porch Stretched comfortably out
In q battered steamer chair was a
tall figure: 1t rose slowly, with evi-
dent surprise, as she stepped on
the porch, and developed into a
Young man OF about her own age,
r Hght;haired, lean and strong OF
face and blue eyed.
She read in his eyes the admira.
ton that the eyes OF men usually
awarded her, but there was a grave
tntentness III the look, searching
that seemed to penetrate her and
that tTritated her.
Briefly ole explained what she
wanted. "And the pTice-simpiy
name what you want. FAUST have
you Olt Va lu5 WY SlE utuGI.
He smiled gravely. Il like to be
obIiging, but you see, cannot help
liking this view myself and besides
.E this cottage is family heirloom.
Yes, know 1t spoila the landscape
hut ] have the moLntuins across
the lake-old friends OF NINE; AMI
really think | shall stay"
There was calm certainty In
3 shis manner that annoyed her still
sore than the amused glance he
Z turned, upon her. She looked at
him in mute anger. Here was a
breed new 10 her. Neither the
money she had nor her own sheer
loneliness seemed to make any up.
peal to him.
II wish l knew OF some way OF
getting rid of YOU" she advised
A shadow came into his face
4 leaving 1t bit haEga"d. HIS voice
q q hanged to a sudden stern ncte
THAT she had never before heard In
4 her life.
FYou should hav2 been a prin.
cess of old-then you could order
4my thick head cut Off. a Elo"
lsglowing anSe: c.ep. into his voice.
This is America. Your father
) foSgot 1t. That great mine OF his
has1 ground out the lives OF men
and Schildren and mothers; he be-
longs to the dark ages as bus
mess man. He refused to see what
his associates saw-that employer
and laborer must work together.
The wealth that Is yours is not
yours. The mine that you own now
Is he'll in its conditions" he
stopped suddenly. The stern light
faded and the amused glance came.
She stamped her small foot In
wrath. what are you socialist?
No one ever talked 10 me this
way
II am glad l did then" he an.
s%ered. mo | am not a socialist.
as you think OF the term. was an
Industrial engineer until your. ia
ther hired me and then--why little
girl you know nothing OF the ter.
xible conditions there.
'Don't little girl me-" she cried
almost In tears. You aren't Il day
sf4older than am and YOU know Il!
He looked at her with frank.
.1NSoyish eyes. II guess you're right.
9NltFe got lots to learr-and so have
a. Lets not quarrel" she said If
you won't sell this cottage, why
/ suppose You WON'T"
He nodded end she left kim.
Oily " k4lll1h " 44lA+A AAASA AhAhh 'fl'N
had ever thought of any other man
What he had said about the mines
might BIO true; her father had Civ
en- her all MS love; but she knew
how cold and stern ard harsh HI
had been e. heart. She wondered
81 she had better visit the mines.
Roger SewarG-she had remam.
bered hearing tho name mentioned
with anger by her father. Seward s
words haunted her until she ex
claimed. II wish ! were Il princess
would have his head chopped
She could not get the clean,
\ strong face from her mind; and tho
Il upshot was she sent him an invita-
ton to q garden party, and she
mischieviously planned to make
herself as beautiful in his eyes as
3ha could. To her wonder he re-
fused the invitation.
She sent him brief note which
said: you haven't the courage 10
come"
n He came. She planned her re;
z veage well, but he carried himself
among her friends with an easa
and assurance that astontshed her.
some of the older men greeted him
with respect, they evidently knew
OF knew Of him. Like a naughty
child she laughed 10 Illuminate MIN
"a some way, and she leased him
with her beauty.
At last as they stood apart
among the moonlit aisle6 Of the
fragrant garden, he turned upon
her; bitterness and pain were in
his voice.
~ don't wonder that men will
wreck the lives Of others to pos.
sess woman like you. You art
beautiful beyond dreaming" Then
- with soaring words he said quietly
ifYou have played with me this
evening-tortured me II you wish
to know. I thought I was civilized
but there Is Just one way to make
YOU see. You feel safe In your
I. mower Of name and wealth, but
Then very calmly, but with a
strength that seemed to hold her
R}HelpleBs he caught her and kissed
her. then said: you're naughty
TfrI, Now be good!"
~ The days that followed were
arrange ones. From hot anger at
I'm her mood changed. The warm
memory OF his kiss changed, the
QUIET charm Of his manner fingered
Die sure assurance Of his attitude
became more pronounced IN her
Thought, Last Of all, the old visit
StIineas and tenderness OF his last
. ~ Il