The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-10


her election triumph. "she's chos'
eIi between q career and me-she
has passed out Of my life, and the
ron ot 1t Is, / had to help her do
Ny conscience wouldn't have
let me vote for her opponent, al
though i realized was casting a
ballot against myself when 1 mark
Cd the cross in front OF her name"
IN truth, Alex was discouraged.
Fof several years two blazing lights
81 ambition had been guiding him
Into the future. He wanted to be
general manager OF the Dalton
House urnishing company, and he
wanted to be the husband Of Cora
Haincs. The first ambition he had
at1ast realized, as a result Of hard
work, but in the second he had
RsiIed.
Alex at last was financially sit
iiated SO he could step into matrt.
inony, but he had no more than got
SQUARED away for the venture IN
question when the young lady who
had been his ideal for years coldly
threw him over for political ca
reor.
Sow he was at sea, his Cherished
plans were shattered, his soul felt
crushed. He did not even conceive
thelidea that he might choose some
eneselse for a marital partner; IN
lffaet. he had no other feminine &C.
t,ouaintanee who by the widest
stretch OF imagination could be
considered eligible. Only this one
gfsl won her way into hts heart
during the thirty years OF his earth
ny sojourn, and he. knew there
never would be another. He en-
deayoted to reconcile himself to his
late. For the rest OF his days he
} would be bachelor.
Now, Alex was Il wizard when it
came to- understanding business,
but IN asssiling the problems Of the
feminine he registered zero. Max.
ing love Is not like selling chairs,
and he should have used different
tactics, Cora had not thrown HIN
over, and IL lie could have changed
his perspective. he would have real.
ased II. During the four years he
had been calling on her, not once
had he even so much as limited at
marriage. He was waiting till ,he
rnsde q financial success Of him.
self and he took 1t for granted that
she understood that. II there had
been more Of the romantic and less
of the business Instinct In his. ma;
tiIre; he would have proposed first
and then got out and hustled for
the dollars.
For . long time Cora had been
talking Of a GREER She was
stNenty:tIye and she said 1t was
inc for her to pick out her lies
work. Alex felt somehow that was
his cue to- hint at the plans he had
In store for her, but he found him
self unable to put his thoughts into
words. Several times he tried It,
and all this time her campaign
went forward, aud before he knew
II she twas chosen at the primaries
and then in the regular election,
He could view 1t in no other light
than a plain case Of being tossed
aside in favor Of a career.
Alexis disappointment was keen,
hut he made the best of 1t, and
threw himself into the business
whirl with Just so much more
earnestness, with the result that
success mounted upon success, his
salary increased and the future
looked bright indeed-provided he
didn't stop to think about the girl
that had thrown him over for q
career. He tried to dismiss her
from his life, but he couldn't keep
his hands on the newspapers and
they kept him in touch with her
legislative lie.
One day business carried Alex to
the capital, and It happened that
the legislature was in session. He
promised himself faithfully that he
would keep away from the state
house; bnt when his business had
been transacted and he found a halt
day left on his lands, he couldn't
help wandering in the direction OF
hegcapitol.
There he walked about the capt.
,kol grounds, and finally he went IN.
Side and looked at the curios in the
miseun1, and then he ventured into
the senate; but there was no ex-
citement In the upper house, SO he
walked to the other end OF the
building and peered into the lower
legislative chamber. There was
tsome kind Of debate on and 1t
made him curious, SO he mounted
togthe gallery and took a chair. He
didn't scan the floor OF tho house
100 closely, but his eyes couldn't
help picking out the only feminine
member Of the assemblage. He
,feIt guilty, but eased his conscience
bS telling himself repeatedly that
twas a public session and he had
q perfect right-indeed, 1t was his
duty-to be there. Too few citl.
zels interest themselves In their
governments.
The debate was hot. The states
funds were running low and some
means were being sought to replen.
ish the Golfers; and some happy
married legislator had hit upon the
plan Of placing a tax on bache.
Tors.
sHuh!" growled Alex, when he
learned the cause Of the debate.
s.That's a fine idea! Make a fellow
pay for being single. What II he
can't find a wife-like me? What
they ought to do Is tax the girls
who turn down men who want to
be their husbands"
The negative side OF the argu.
fnent was getting the best Of 1t. 1t
happened there were a number Of
Bachelors who held seats in tho