The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-22

.sEi0R Il s:TORY'
a Safe Proposition
~ a. W. PEACH.

sA.tEA0451StA4u sNsSsS +
fashion, good fun.
Beth was surprised to find tna'
3a seemed to select her Tor ms spy
& c4SiS companion, and at first a nit
soubtftil, she finally acceptea MS
somradeshlp.
one evening after a particularly
saS5y time Ehe questioned him:
.fDon. why under the sun do you
Rsk me to these good tlme - aro
he nobody like myself, wnen tnI1S
are girls in the Office VINO ie"'''
are somebody?"
HIS gray eyes twinkled o'C'
because you are safe,
SAFE" she repeated, bit pug,
zied. ..You mean am not hks -
;siinf away with you or bite you :
f5S laughed his merry way no.
y Sssth h,,t that ring on your hand
she stared at 1t. 1t was an gu
..Sdu a see! You have some one
s S9sae You have some one" she
added, gently. 10 ION.
s.51s ,ssr dangerous assumption
5Sslaweyer, for him and LOT her' rs Mg
a. Snradeship between them s"
rloser. She often wonoeTeu , Mnu
"a tar away girl was who nao wo o,,
hfrn and she knew IN a am M
st,3i3f Ia often wondered who u Was
II whom she had given her love
HIT neither told the otheI. o,ao,
sort Of climax came one golaen
9 syan3nr when they we're together on
ia river ferry that took them nome ON
i ffsr working late in the city ! ne
ss,eep. soft, starlit dusk was c'oaS
Ssmt them with its suggestion o.
Sssmfort and coutentment- ~
ieaned toward her in the dusk '"'
~ s gonder il IT is wrong for me
II tell you something 80 :,
NJ ghe thrilled bit at the tone a.
IA voice and smiled little iear,
s;sily @How can tell until ! know
sEf,at It is?" ,.,,.
I'd smiled in turn. q am taNins :
mother position, going away. S ~
Know / shall miss you IKE VI.
III IN deuce. That's. all. and oon .
lthRE9VSa 8lHE S'"P ,.;r1 Thai
& Suid object to my SAYING '"'''
Sss ,e NJ nodded. silent and almost
distressed. Inarture
\ i54eueht her an uncomEortaOte SUI SUI,
nrife, She was called from ~
room in the hoarding-house 10 me-
ranger, and found nerseL lac,
I'M a slim girl whose lace was
II an Myrtle Raymond, engaged
i "; Dan Seaver. and have come 10
", n YOU will tell me Just wnat
fSsre Is between you and him.
q asked bluntly. ..a ~
Bsth stared at her. Offended oS
he tone Of her Questioner vI,ce
III ans irsinuation in her words.
tsYou need not answer unless you
3sb !" the other said sharply. 81
ience is assent. ia
s.tEnt shall answer" Beth said
anlrly, finding her tongue. mere
~ i1,Gfhing between us; We are, OF
SgaTe simply good friends.
III have heard rumors.
= ,.non't listen to them. Don took
Z: around for company, because
he said, was sale
asafe?" 80,
Smiling, Beth held out her hano
an Il cleaned the engagement ring
The face OF the other sottened.
6nh see-engaged. Well, thai
i6oes make different matter OF 1t.
E3ath looked at the ring with rue,
sfal eyes. Eyes, I suppose 1t does
THE next surprise came to her
f1rae evenings later, when, as she
SSsS leaving the office, Don's tall
form appeared.
geBeth, he said directly, want
Yfo see you. You come to dinner
she demurred, but he was in
sistert, and she followed him.
.sEow. answer like good girl
ordered. "Dtd Miss Raymond
~ TO see you-about me?"
SIC refused to answer, but HE
ray, keen eyes read the truth. He
leayied back in his chair and looked
haY with thoughtful eyes. But
1 M thoughts were beyond her read.
Ia spent the evening with her
I'D q happy one It was. 1t left her
With curiously mixed feelings, for
Z N said on leaving her:
t'Beth, there Is one lucky chap IL
tFeS world, and he Is the chap who
$siipped that ring on your finger.
I4ood.night."
me last surprise was the great
"a Of all. She had stopped in the
san Of her house and was looking
sySar the mail piled "on the usual
tsI9ie. The day had been a weary.
zone at the office, and she was
IN shutting the letters.
q s9iddenly she was seized from he
a,gSd by two strong arms, pinioned
esi5sa. her face turned, and her lips
sEe struggled away and turned
Ter asssilant who stood before
Eey smiling and at the same time
bit worried.
.' R9n me, Beth, It did seem
IS reod to see you and
y Il have Just learned Of my one
h Ana flapcee's engagement, that
~ me free. And as for you, lit.
II girI, let me see that engage
II IN llald ont her hand doubtful
u ~, Z. a lrayv him quietly remove the