The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-31
THE Dali X
SHORT. STORY
lklin Comes
the
Rescue.
BY LILLY WANDEL.

efT NEVER had u chance to do
things that want to do"
Maybe you would no: like
lnen u you did have the opportunity"
yentured the caller attempting to com
How do know when 1 never could
una outT asked Sophranla passion.
ately. I'm tied down to this big old
mouse and long to sell 1t and 70 to
Inc city In convenient little apart.
ment and-liyel"
fou should have married long ago,
Inere's nothing like four youngsters
ana an exacting husband TO keep one
contented|-Mrs Cooke thought OF her
own. II often wondered why you did
not marry Ed Wallis after going to.
sether so long and be was so suitable,
too,
scphranias eyes grew steely. mot
u ne were the last man on eartfI We
could not agree, Jessie, and 1t was ali
hpout this house. Ed actually thought
We could live here, that would be
satisfied TO go right on in the same
DID rut! told him wanted to move
% the city in an apartment. found
iishl1
VANo tAiV vel HlEu Ill lie Guy.
SO YOU should be glad that you have
his nice, roomy, comfortable place
Comfortable!" fairly shrieked SO.
p1rania. Yes, comfortable to you be.
cause you don't have to climb those
ladder.like stairs, nor bump your head
syery time you go down the cellar to
tend that crazy furnace that does not
neat the house no matter what You
DO to it, Nor have you ever washed
dishes three times day at that back
breaking sink, nor have you done the
Instance from the kitchen to the front
door thirty-eleven times a day, nor
had to carry lamps around-no gas
here nor electricity-nor houseclesn
these htgh-ceilinged rooms. nor that
Shed filled with all sorts Of junk! Look
az this big kitchen to scrub and that
Immense stove to polish!"
Franklin seems to like It," smiled
Mrs. Cooke, nodding toward big
pufted-out pussy purring her loudest
before the warm range. 81 must go
now. So. Maybe this house does tie
yon down, living here all alone asLyou
do, but it's a pretty. cool place in the
summer with the big lawn"
Yes answered Sophrania, bitter.
" you've never moved that lawn.
"a enjoy a city park better"
a few days later Sophrania had a.
surprise, Ed Wallis, her old sweet.
hsart, called. He had not been to see
her for nearly two years and when
Sophrania saw his round, genial face
N the doorway something warmed
her heart and made her feel young
with happiness.
Derby. '''
Thank you, So: won't keep you
but few minutes he answered in
brisk matter!of.fact voice. 1--we come
on business, Just business he emphas.
lied.
The warm, happy feeling vanished
and she felt tired and chilly. 1t took
quite an effort to ask politely. what
isit?,
u happened to hear that you would
like TO sell, your house, and you know
always rather liked the place, and as
am looking for home" there Ed
flushed and pretended to stroke
Franklin's sleek back). "why, er-I
thought I'd drop in and ask you what
you would want for the place"
Sophrania considered for moment
and then named the sum.
That suits me. So suppose you
come over to Mr.. Halls tomorrow and
wen fix up the deed and settle It.
There's just one thing (rising); could
you yacate in two weeks?"
She looked at him in surprise. How
businesslike, almost curt, he was, as
though he were stranger. yes" she
answered. "r1l be out in two weeks"
After Ed left Sophrania ran around
to Mrs. Cookies and told her the
news. II wonder If he intends to rent
that old-fashioned place.? she asked,
innocently.
II hate to tell you so, but Ed told
my husband that he's going to get
married very soon. don't know who
the girl is unless it's that pretty
school teacher that lives at his board
ng house-he's been walking home
from church with her real often"
For the next three days Sophrania
took the early train to the city and
returned at dusk very tired, footsore
and disappointed. 1t surprised her
hat suitable apartments was so very
difficult to locate, that rents were be-
yond her means and the rooms so
very small and often dark. She had
told the real estate agent to hold a
certain little apartment for her; she
would let him know positively by the
next day at noon.
II was somewhat on the outskirts of
the city, two rooms and kitchenette,
al to the rear, W tn view of hund.
reds of pulley lines. 1t was the beet
she could get for the money and she
was sure that on the morrow she
would rent It. She would have to do
eide what pieces of furniture she
would take with her and what she
would dispose of.
One thing was positive, her four.
poster bed never would so into that
little bedroom, and she hated to sleep
In another bed. Not one of the living
room chairs could she take, for they
were all too clumsy, even her old
favorite wing chair would have to be
sold or stored.
And the old secretary-she could
not do without It, she must have 1t
but where on earth would she place
III OF course, the davenport where
she often ctrled Up with Franklin for
nap, was quite out of question. So
phrania sighed as she looked at the
bookcase filled with her old. friends