The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-10
THE DAILY
SHORTS STORY
Taken For the Family
b. noRoTHY poUaLAs.

- some one to take a snapshot
III her and her brother together.
The Albany Day Line boat was
sailing between the great hills that
glortty the Hudson, and behind
1tretched the wonderful silver rib
bon Of water. Ethel and her broth.
6, BeDf had taken numerous PIC,
lures Of each othet as a foreground
20 the magnificent scenery, but NOT
one did they have together.
If don't see why some brilliant
person doesn't invent q long string
effect OF some kind 50 that two
people can take their own pictures
together"
''Nutty as usual" commented her
brother unfeelIngly, but never the
less very, very proud OF his prox-
unity to Ethel. She was BY far
the loveliest and most attractive
girl on the Robert Fulton or any
other ship, he thought.
Il am going 10 ask some one to
snap US off," Ethel suddenly decld'
ed. II don't see any reason why
shouldn't. am quite sure either
OF US would be glad to do 1t for any.
OUG El6Gt IAGi GSGS We q AA' 'SNS
casting about for II victim, prefer
ably one with a camera, and there
were plenty OF them, there on the
upper deck.
You'll pick up with some strang.
er just once too often, Ben warned
her.
But his sisters eyes had already
found. their victim. He had
camera and was even then snap
ping the trail Of the ship, noun
tains, silver ribbon and all. His
suit was OF well.Cut tweed and his
figure Of sturdy proportions.
III you will do fool stunts,
Missed Ben as he was moving away
on this mission, "let on you're my
wife. / don't want any strange
man thinking he can take adYan-
tage OF your advances.
4 brilliant smile rewarded him.
Sometimes, dear" Ethel inform.
ed him, you have a curious amount
OF sense" she looked over her
shoulder at him, for one so young"
Ben was perhaps eighteen
months younger than Ethel.
He watched her while she began
her conversation with the strange
young man, watched that same
stranger freeze suddenly, then as
swiftly melt when he heard EtheFs
simple request.
MY husband and do so want
to send one picture back to our
families in which we are both Tisl'
ble-I wonder II you would NJ Ind
very much just swapping US on?
Ben knew exactly what EtheIs
eyes would be like as they flung
their wonderful rays into the
strangers own, aud he quaked for
tho stranger. Ben was too familiar
with the havoc his sister was want
10 leave in her wake.
Tom Warren went to the slaugh.
ter like a lamb TO the fold. HIS
smile was boytsh and Ben liked
him.
She brought him over. and the
two men shook hands as any two
well.born men would under the cir
cumstances. Warren's keen look at
Ben and Ethel told him much.
Bens was merely appraising and
admiring.
MY wife is bit nutty when we
are away on these jaunts," Ben
said by way OF making conVersa-
Lion and also in a way apologizing
for EtheTs unconventionality and
,absorvinG himself from blame.
Warren laughed as he took the
camera from Ethels hands, and
the glance he cast her showed en-.
tire disagreement with Ben's YER
dict.
I, There's fine view now" he
suggested, iii you will just stand
out there by the railing He TO-
cused the camera watching more
for certain pose and expression
in the girl than the scenery or Ben.
He took three, then asked II he
might try one or two with his own
camera.
Ethel and Ben exchanged glances
but mutually consented.
u shall return the compliment
Il may" Ethel said with a slight
blush. You have no one to take
your picture and you might want to
( md one to your wife,"
Ben positively gasped at his sis
ter's unveiled curiosity as to War
ren'S state in the matrimonial
field,
mot yet arrived" Warren told
her, and Ethel had the grace to
blush again.
They finished taking pictures
and 1t was Ben, much TO Ethel's
surprise, considering her brothers
reserve, who suggesterd that they
descend to the queer little coffee
room two decks below.
1.-THE idea is good" laughed
Warren, whether We need 1t or
not"
They made jolly trio, the sup
posed man and wife and Tom War
rem.
When they exchanged addresses
with the promise to send snapshots
TO each other there was citation in
the heart OF Warren.
1t was then that Ethel had the
surprise of her life.
"You might come UP ana have
dinner with us-and bring the pho
tos," Ben had said, and Tom War:
rem needed no second bidding.
But Ben" Ethel warned, when
they had parted with their new
found friend, you know nothing
about him and"
u like him better thin most Of
your SWANS"
"You forget. desrIe, that we are
yHVtpA A r.