The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-07
TIE DAILY
STORY.
sMissIQ uiekgilyer
" MARTHA HecULLocH,vytL
LlAMs. ~
Copyright, 1921, by the Mcclure
Newspaper synllcste,J

IllItkNg9F4AAHtAbf- ASk4t W bAbH AsASStAA&
Newspaper Synlicate,J
ftA A AY II" Arketh asked IN
MI steadily, leaning almost
W. sbyly toward Glare. Shs
shook hpr finger at him, smiling
and saying: Naughty! Naughty
PRETENDING not 10 know The first
Epdimept Of the game"
What gamer" Arketh demand
Ed possessing himself OF an ador.
able small hand and sitting appre'
eiRhly closer.
Why. being engaged" Clare
tlpng back at him With a smile Of
dainty malice. Then nesting a yell
low head in the hollow Of his shout
detg rPoor little man! Ought TO
have fallen IN love with nice
MISS Pinky Prim, instead Of Miss
Quicksilver. That was my school
name. so ! have to keep en- living up
I'll hate Pinky Prims," Arketh
half whispered, slipping his arm
about her. II have TO hate every
thtns that isn't you. But, dear, be.
ms engaged Is no game 10 me.
Rather the finest, most sacred
thing In life"
.oht me! my!" Glare cried, sud.
denly erect. Nov, tell me, right
straight, what story book that came
outfof. thought you didn't read
story books. see have much to
find out about you"
rarely do read story books,
Arketh contested. What | said
! may be In all OF them, but didn't
J needSto read II. said the thing |
know
Glare had been laughing softly.
Now her lips shut In q straight,
tight line. Looking full In her face
one might have said she was both
shamedSand frightened. Arketh do
not look; he could not, with his
lips buried In her soft, scented hair.
She had gone TO his head at their
first meeting, six weeks back.
Shortly after she had gone straight
10 his heart, never TO leave 1t, he
WINS sure, however his wooing
tdsht speed.
She was different adorabIy diff.
feretit. from all he had ever known.
His father, crippled BY the accident
that had left Arketh m0lnerless at
five. had been playmate. comrade,
teacher, friend, to his only child.
Life had gone well In the big, hand.
some homestead until the master
OF II slipped away into tho great
peace.
The end had come TO suddenly,
Arketh stunned and fesoiate, had
tried to carry onto so around the
world as the two OF them had
planned, against his coming OF age.
Hut things had fallen otherwise
Handsome aunulties had died with
his Enthusiastically and expensive
td1ing before settling down would
Haeantan impairment Of his patri-
ny IL would be unwise TO risk.
an fate had declared trumpg in
Epades-by means OF Mexican min.
i1g Investments Arketh had spent
three years in an almost hopeless
effort to save something from the
wfeck-in reward he had started
home with a not uncomfortable
Saiyage, and tarried by the way to
J visit his fathers sten.slster, mis- sole
family. connection.
She was queen Of rich country.
side, elso gay, jolly. generous. low.
ing young folk with all her heart
perhaps because she was child
iess-and forever making her house
the pivot OF things social. By cou'
trast, he old life Of dull comfort,
prim responsibility aud narrow vi.
sion appeared to Arketh n prison
IL chilled him TO think of going
back to it-even with Glare, Hap
piaess flooded him at thought OF
her, always beside him. brighten
ing and sweetening existence: but
Why tax her unreasonably? Though
not rich, he had enough money for
A decent beginning anywhere, even
though Aunt Lura, who was Wild
10 adopt and make him her heir
might possibly change her mind.
She was kind to Clare In word
and deed-almost too Kind in fact
Yet, intangibly he felt her attitude
otresret' over, rather than hastily
to,ihis choice. He had not told her
outright-had not dared TO tell
anybody, hardly even himself, un-
tiIShis ring was safe on a rosy
tipped finger. Now, In the intoxl'
cation OF the moment. he wanted
10 shout, to cry aloud his happiness
tosall the world. Instead he caught
hisisweetheart in l smotherIng EN-
brace asking in a shaken voice:
s'Darling, when will we be mar
sied?r
aRight now" Clare said, sitting
up suddenly, rigid. 80 cant
oi.ange my mind: I'm drcadtully
lazy, you see, and making It up IL
hbrd work"
EsEd like the Job OF making 1t UP
! for you-shali we say next week.
sAfketh began. She stood up, hot
face sybiline, raised both her hands
above her head, and answered al
most solemnly: "As you choose
But somehow III feel Il must be
now or never"
BE ready at s in the morning.
shall be here then with the minis.
ter, the license and Aunt Lura,'
Arketh cried joyously. Glare put
her hands upon his shoulders, but
dropped yisihly as she answered;
u shan,t feel safe until We are Ii
your old home. Promise to take
me there straight away"
If Arketh was amazed then his
Iiewilderment increased when he
told Aunt Lura OF Clare's speech