The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-27
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Doreen
7 ROSE MEREDITH

NSHs1SS Mamie smith lett the
/. lNl poBtotfice and stepped down
4syS4 the village street with eager
MT Her faded eyes were fixed on
Eneiine Taylor's little brown
house, aud with the enthusiasm OF
the born gossip she was picturiz-
tng the coy warmth OF Mrs. Tay-
: tioE'a sitting room, and hoping that
The old lady was all alone.
i've got TO know about this
postal card-she's SO closemouthed
itstaSwonder she would let me stop
tof her mai. But suppose Mtttie
Weed can't be trusted, she's such
afeather.headed piece to take care
~ q sick woman II II Is only rheu-
natizl" Her thin, pink nose quiv.
ered like an agitated rabbits as
sho went into the yard and around
the path 10 the side door entrance,
where glass doors led into neat.
" furnished sitting room where a
white haired woman sat in deep
cnghioned chair.
wei, Emeline, here be faith,
tul as ever" greeted Miss Mamie
as She opened the door and walked
N. Her sharp eyes darted to the
kitchen beyond where MIttie Weed
\ was clattering around In heed.
less way, leaving untidiness behind
her and creating agony In the soul
d Emeltne Taylor, the neatest
ousekecper In tho whole county.
ITS real good OF you, Mamie"
said the sick woman gratefully.
Some day, I'm going to make 1t
| gu right with you for all your kind.
= nass:e +
eTgdon't want anything" assured
MISS Mamie, turning very red. I'm
always glad to do something for
y sick neighbor and you know l
live noxt5 door. The Weekly
Times, letter from Robin and a
postcard-there that's a nice
bunchi"
Mrs. Taylor smiled in tight.
Tipped way as she took tho letters
In her swollen hands. THANK you,
Mamie; she said quietly.
Miss Mamie's face fell. "Ain't
You going to read Robins letter?
III be looking at the paper min.
ute and maybe there's some news
you'd want to tell me-"
NE Is 50 busy-traveling most
OF the time-he doesn't have time
TO write much" defended Robin
Taylor's mother.
q expect his wife travels with
him. yentured Mamie.
Possibly, said Mrs, Taylor
crisp1y.
Mamie rose to go. II thought
maybe they'd be' coming down
here"
Some day" and Mrs. Taylor
turned her head toward the kitch.
en- You can make me some toast,
Mittie," she called.
Well, good.by," said Mamie, as
she went out through the glass
doors into the pleasant old garden.
neglected now that Robin was
away and his mother was tied TO
her chair. The whole village knew
more about her affairs than Eme-
line Taylor suspected.
They knew, somehow, that Rob
dn8had telephoned home from Chi.
cage that he was going to marry
Dorean,' and they knew that Mrs.
Taylor had telegraphed him not to
! DO att-and Robin had married the
city girl and although three
y4months had passed his mother re.
fused TO forgive him or to see the
young couple, Ho didn't even know
that his mother was crippled with
rheumatism, for she wrote to him
faithfully every week, acknowledg.
ing receipt OF the check he reGu.
larly sent her, though she never
cashed the checks and never men.
toned the name OF Robins I'm.
known wife in her letters.
Lately she had formed the habit
Of putting his letters away unop.
ened! The fact that he could write
meant that no was well. Now she
kissed his letter passionately and
I put IT away with the others, but
the postcard she looked at with
interest 1t showed the New York
Botanical Gardens, and Off on the
sly line was an arrow in ink.
we are keeping house hero
you must come down and stay with
u.s. Love TO you, Dorecn."
The arrow pointed to a tall apart.
menu house,
Sending her love to me-" sob.
bed Emeline Taylor angrily as she
tore the postal in two and tossed
Y into the coal hod by the drum
stove.
''Mittte, Is tea ready"
Mitde Weed came scuttling her
feet while her dark eyes, scanning
the room, discovering the agitated
face OF her mistress, tho unread
letter Hlltched in her hand and the
torn postcard In tho coal hod. In
IA trices Mite had the big chair,
nlaced the little tray, with its
steaming pot Of tea, It's plate of
hot toast and dish Of ounce Jelly,
deity spread damaak napkin
over Mrs, Taylor's folded hands,
uncovered the sugar bowl and
cream Tug and picking up tho coal
bod, vanished into the kitchen,
Here alone, she drew out the
torn postal and studied 1t with pity.
ing eyes. That girl ought to DO
here looking out for his ma! II |
( had 10 mot Observation-Disclosures
wagged her untidy head and pulled
Z some letter paper from q cornol
lctphoaTd.
Ten days later Mite startled
k'Ihfs Taylor by giving notice and
Weaving at once. "You can easily
gek some one else, Miss Taylor"
said the girl, stubbornly, when hor