The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-22
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
.At The Gfossroads'
a.EAM hr.Aca

h IA A1l't0& ELLiS looked with
~ sutrber eyes through his Of.
- lice window at the tail build,
,liS beyond the square. with his
thoughts on the problem before
llm. tlo knew that he had COMB
Z 10 the crossroads. and the road
that iMYi4ed him was not the road
that he wanted to take.
In line with his gaze was the
lari; hal: and round cheek of the
gill who was worth far more thar
the meager ralary he had been
able 10 pay het from his lawyers
silSotiie. she had been faithful to
him; and " quiet coniradSshib had
grown up between them until the
Thought OF losing her had become
q coIs!aht worry to him.
He turned to the papers on his
desk. The estate which had been
In his care was to be settled. He
had hardled It SO we'll that Il had
yIeld6d $4,000 more than any one
would suspect. BY 6mittIng that
account from his papers, the $40.
coo would be his, and no une 10 the
world would ever be the wiser.
With that money he could place
hlmseIf III position that would
bring moro opportunity. end his
present haild.to.mouth struggle and
make possible, perhaps--a home,
and I'll spite OF himself ne glanced
at the dark head and watched the
white capable fingers husy over
his letters.
He 'ithdrew from the papers In
/, front tf him a set OF three. and
folded the others into the envelope.
The Precipitation broke out over
him, and he waVered; then he seal.
edithe envelope. His foresight had
made possible the thousands. They
would b.. his.
The golden glor! OF the late sun.
set touched the great building be.
You'd the green square. He closed
his desk with a trembling hand,
and turned.
"Time to quit. Ruth. Suppose we
go 10 lunch together he suggest.
She looked up with smile from
eyes over which the long lashes
laid their darkness. Just three
more Lines, please" she said, land
III bs ready
Outside the building they turned
lin the direction ot tavsrite res
taurartt. On the way he came to a
mail boz, and he held the long en-.
yelupe ready. TO drop It IN. For q
second he paused, then he dropped
the letter In and started quickly
along.
Over the shaded table IN the
quiet corner Of the little restaurant
he faced her. Never had she seem.
ed SO sweet, wholesome and sin
cere, to him with the memory Of
his own guilt upon him.
ruth, ! sometimes wonder why
sYcu are willing to help me when
you could Command better condi.
lions and salary than | can give
YOU" he queried.
She lifted her direct gaze.
Please don't talk shop. I'll like
II think you hive a future before
you, and ! want to be in t." she an
swered;ii Il !.
oils future" The phrase hurt as.
helhought Of what lay In the dark.
ness Sbt the mailbox. He turned the
cdnSersation and they chatted Of
ythis and that, "the nothings that
make up iite," until they parted.
The next day at his office the
bottom/fell out Of the sky, for she
Z sent him word that she would not
/ be at the office. His own sense OF
guilt heavy upon him. lie figured
frantically on ways by which she
might have discovered his act. But
the day after she appeared, the
n same winsome. comforting pres
erice that had come to mean so
much TO him.
On that day he received his sec.
ond shock. On that day into bis
office came the gray.headed Nc.
Lean, bead OF the great Investment
firm OF the north OF the state.
Quickly he came to business.
ELLIS, I happen to know OF the
fine way you handled the Dartmore
estate. It was clean ten or twelve
Thousand above what was normally
expected. We've decided to make
YOU our legal agent here and the
retainer will be satisfactory" he
added, naming a sum that made
Ellis catch his breath. "Ot course
you will accept?"
When the whirling room had SET
tied Ellis came to with 3 gasp. He
khad not sent the money. and yet
the gruft Scotchman had referred
toAt, What could be-
He looked in the direction Of
Ruth, to find Ter dark head turned
in his direction.
II couldn't help hearing, Barton.
What glorious opportunity" she
said eagerly.
But something in her eyes-a
look beyoni his analysis struck him
"a sense OF great hurt-ot love In
agony.
he sprang to his feet with sin.
gle cry, Ruth"
She came to him with a rush,
hiding her face against. his coat,
Awhile his arms pressed her tighter
4 err and tighter to him.
"Ruth-you know!" !
Her head moved on his shoulder.
4 ais heart sank from light down into
shadows that no human plummet
can ever sound; but the chill that
went over him brought the dead
calm Of despair.
'9TeIl me. You saved me, but
i HOWE he begged.
esYou forgot that l had seen the
naf,ers. - she said, and then breath.