The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-11-11

BllNB from u ILApt $500
and with wIstful eyes watched
stars straggle forth into the gain
ering night, her father, Ben Gran
| dali, rocked by the stove ana reah
OF Black Jim Simpsons a~less Gep'
relations.
no sound disturbed the dusk or.
cept the piping Of a trce-toad anu
] the creakinE of Mr.. Crandall's Chair.
Marjorie had sat by that WINDOW
much OF late, IN q pensive mood,
with her mind far away. at race
tracks where demons In motor car
annihilated time and sometimes
tossed a human life aside.
Her father always occupied the
creaky chair by the stove. at this
! time of day. The stove was dead,
.because summer was here and Ill
n most ready TO depart, but 1t was his
custom to huddlc near it. forever
reading n paper.
"That rascal Black Jim is Mt i
agafn.' Mr.. Crandall observed
aloud. "And mes not so far away.
He seems to be cdging toward Hap
py Valley and I'm feeling a little
bit scared, although OF course there
would be nothing here TO interest
him."
Marjorie scarcely heard him. Her
thoughts we're of her racing demon.
Harry Trenton. and she had a vague
hope that be might keep the big en-
n gagement. very vague. indeed: for
Harry was now famous ard would
NOT be likely to remember his sweet
heart Of a year ago.
The big engagement was made
y early in September a year ago,
while Marjorie and Harry sat in
Belle Islo park. in Detroit. having
motored thither in his T0ttle-trap,
made w auto OF veteran service
which had been nurchasd for less
than a song and given a racing ap'
4 pearance by means of some clever
body work. At that time Harry
was a mechanic in a Detroit auto
mobile factory. but the racing fever
had gripped him and he was re-
solved to make a name for himself
on the spoedways.
On the September day Harry had
proposed marriage. Marjorie loved
him and she was exceedingly roman.
tic, but there was a practical side
TO her nature and this asserted it.
self. Harry was not in the proper
financial circumstances to care for
7 a wife, so she advised that they walt
a year before becoming engaged.
"All right" Harry sighed. Make
1t a year-a year from today. On
that date I'll call OIL your for my an
sger."
This appealed to Marjorie's 70,
mantle propensities.
Exactly a year from today she
SAID. "But," she added, as an after.
thought, perhaps VIC shall be far
apart by that time"
ut makes no difference" he as,
srircd her. NO matter where you
are, 1 will keep that engagement.
And IN the meantime, we'll never
refer toit again. Neither of us is
to Bas reminded. for il we continue
to care well remember. One year
from today, II we arc both living,
shall call on you for my answer"
Within a month Marjorie moved
away. Her fathers health suddenly
had failed and his physician advised
outdoor life. They went to North
Dakota, where Mr.. Crandall invest
ed his savings in n small farm.
Marjorie and Harry correspond
ed, but as time went on and he be
gan forging ahead in the business
of motor racing. the letters became
more and more irregular.
The date OF the big engagement
a.V,, Ar.n .Inr.p DFVra4r IYVN
Marjorie entertained little hope as
she sat by the window and ponder
ed. Fame had taken Harry from
her, she was afraid. for it had been
more than a month since last she
heard from him.
How dead everything was in the
valley! Happy Valley. How she
loathed IT. No, she did not quite
feel that way, because K had re
stored her fathers health. But
, Marjorie's romanticism did not
thrill to lonesome places. Crowds
OF. people, glittering electric lights,
appealed TO her. She was unhappy
in Happy Valley, especially as tho
day Of the big engagement drew
near; for 1t meant disappointment
she was almost sure.
The night before that day dawned
Y Marjorie was alone. Her father
? had found It necessary to go to Bis.
marck on business, and he would
be gone several days.
Watch out for Black Jim" he
admonished as he hoped into his
tlIvver, In which he would drive
thirty miles to a railway station. y
hate to leave you alone like this.
hut the business cant walt and
somebody must stay to look after
the stock. I guess Black Jim is aft
er bigger game than this little piece
Of land, anyhow. And don't fall
into the well-and take care of your
cold. Your voice sounds like an
auctioneer's after a week Of hard
work. I'd never recognize II as
Iours if didn't know"
81 The well was a hole in tho ground
where Mr.. Crcndall was drilling for
n new water supply. Water had not
vet been rachel. but indications
we're that It was near.
Marjorie promised to heed her
fathers warnings and he drove
away. Until late in the night Mar
jorie sat up and tried to read. then
finally went sobbing to he'd. recon
ciIed to disappointment on the NOR
row