The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-05
T THE DAILY
STORY
Playing G~ooseberry.
M LlLY

tattng with white forehead ant
dropping lips.
~ won't co. she was saying L
herself bitterly. I'D rather stay a
Ahome than play gooseherry for Pen
eiope and Rodney-for that Is wha'
IL amounts to these everlasting tri
angle outingsl I'm tired Of heariu
Rodney tell Penelope how pretty
she looks tonight and OF her tell.
Inc him how we'll he drives aud
what not,!''
oh 1t has been a queer affair frorf
hasinning-Rodney Wells com,
9 them and nobody quite
saant Avis or Penelope. And
Ms, before she vas positive that
Penelope was the lucky one had fall
Ban desperately in love with this fas,
einating young man. At first she
really took It for granted that he
was attracted to her. For Avis
mirror told her that her dark beauty
was more alluring than that OF her
little blond sister. but after a BIZ
his attentions seemed equally d..
yided and since n few weeks Avit
felt that she was becoming the
loser in the race.
With a toss Of her head and q
deep ugly hurt in her heart she
marched down the hall to Penelope't
room, and as she was about to en-
y ter the girl herself steps out. Pen
eiope with her blond hair uncurlet
rnbrnshed wore a serge dress al
rtimpled and a very pale face.
soh, Avis, l was Just coming &c
ash you a favor" trying to speak
naturally. II can't go tonight-no
really, I'm too tired.
sBpt you will do me a fayor?'
slowly bringing to view a square
white envelope, "giye this to Rod,
ney," blushing and dropping her
eeyelids, "but not when anyone sect
YOU. / can depend upon It, can't i
Aylslp
why surely assured Avis cas-
ny taking the letter. Hope you
will be rested in the morning, I'm
going to spend the night at Meta's,'
and retraced her steps leaving a
detected looking Penelope leaning
against the door.
or all things" cried Avis to her.
SELF, as she slipped into her dane.
ing frock, "to make me act as a go
between and carry their love let.
terEt It's cruel and Peneiope does
II On purpose"
Fin. shed dressing she slipped her
marty bag over one slim arm and
fitted her cape-there lay the white
envelope pleading-and quickly she
slipped 1t into the corsage OF her
dress and hurried downstairs.
At the bottom OF the steps she
stopped treathless and warm, fol
through the living room portieres
she caught a glimpse OF Rodney
waiting HIS lean. we'll built bon;
looked exceptionally good in even
ing clothes, and the light shining
on his clear cut profile sent warm
rushes OF blood through Avis young
bedt. "Its my night" she argued
to herself for one brief moment,
Hmy opportunity and Rodney won't
mind not getting Penelope's letter.
Penelope isn't going" she In
formed him, "wilI do?"
.sThat's too bad, he regretted but
CLINT IN his eyes told Avis that
she would do very nicely.
The taxi ride with Rodney alone
would have been a dream realized
for Avis II It had not been for a
sharp corner OF Penelope's letter
pressing into the tender flesh un-
der her dress and reminding her
much against her will that she had
not fulfilled her promise.
Rodney's hand lay dangerously
near her own and once he made Il
movement as though he might take
the little willing fingers In his own
but the taxi driver taking the cor
ner. on two wheels spilled Avis away
into the corner and Rodney did moi
renew the attempt.
Avis felt her spirits tagging and
Try as she would she would she
could not whip up any vivacious
ness. A gloom seemed to have set
tied down on her that could not be
shaken off. At the party she dane.
ca the FIRST dance with Rodney and
she felt that her feet we're heavy
and twice she got on OF step.
ooh, that letter. It's spelling my
evening"" she caught herself think
ing a hundred times.
Rodney was entertaining, even
jolly, but Avis repartee was lame
and realizing it she became quiet
almost sullenly taciturn. She did
not catch the surprised glance thai
fitted over the young mans face
now and then. Finally she slipped
out in the hall and had a battle
with herself. Would she give hin,
the letter after all? No, 1t was toe
late now. And gathering all her
courage she shook off all conscience
pricks and determined to be gay
laughing companion she knew
Rodney admired, but the young
man was nowhere to be seen. Al.
ter a BIT she caught sight OF hin
towering above a beyy OF pretty
girls and that was as near as AvI!
got to him the rest OF the evening
It was noon the next day wher
Avis opened the front door of he,
home. In the living room hel
mother smiled a welcome.
Late hours do not agree with yoi
dear" warned the mother. "Yot
are quite pale"
Where's Penelope?". demanded