The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-22
d
ST. QRT s TORY.
Lucky lin
81 r. RAY BAkER.

ron would Aend me PaPA'
I had one once, but he went away
before l came. That's all J ask
Just q papa. Never mind dolls ana
isiRds and candy Thank yon IN al
vance, HELEN !.
psep in thought Hugh Reynolds
mounted the second flight IN the
Talbert apartments. 1t was Christ
mas morning, and no CHEEKY smile
adorned his clcar.eut feaiuTeE. Al
ways at Christmas time Hugh felt
lonely, and his thoughts were de-
pressing. He wac tired OF this hacn-
elor existence; but there Was no
remedy. now that Lenore was be.
2 yond reach.
At the landing he pushed ahead
and opened q door. Then he came
to himself, for his eyes found an
ayArgreen tree Illumined With cleo.
trIci bulbs and decorated with tin
sci. II was out OF place in his bach.
eIor rooms and had not been ther9
when he went down town two hours
ago. he was sure. Now he remem-
hered distinctly that he had locked
the door, but II had just opened to
his touch without use OF the key.
II somebody was playing joke.
il was a poor joke And how about
that sled and that doll and those lit
tie stockings from which pepper
mint sticks protruded? Hugh
glanced about .he room, and
gtrRnge pictures looked from the
walls. Yes, and there was the rug,
and then It dawucd on him This
Was not his apartment. he belong
ed still another flight up.
He hoped he could Withdraw with
out being seen, but he. hoped in
vain. A little girl, dressed in blue.
danced out OF another room and
stood staring at him. \ bright
smilc Wreathed the pretty face. and
she held ont her arms.
"Papa?" she said, In tones like
S:he peal OF a silvery bell. $50 you
did come after all Santa Is very
good. don't you think?'
Still holding out her arms. the Ii
tile girl advanced toward Hugh. Ne
human being could have refused to
take her UP, and Hugh was deCid.
eddy human. She placed an arm,
about his neck, and he was kissed
HIlBuI vi lHS IuOulu. I Hvl { - Nv
downing that Hugh was confused,
But I'm not"
The. child Interrupted with a
shrill cry
'Mamma! Mamma! Come GVics.
Papa's here"
Desperately Hugh looked iOwaF'.
the door. but he realized flight was
& IniroESihle now. !! lie rushed nTt
I with this child III his arms hc prob
ABLY would land in a cell charged
with Kidnapping Then there was
another reason.
The other reason stood in til.
door Of an adjoining Tonm-a very
sz6fdarfGl young woman,
asSQh Sh-er-Merry Christmas,
he observed. rather namely.
THE same to YOU" she smiled.
.'Helen seems to have adopted ynn.
although I'm sure don't know
She stopped speaking and sinEe.!
and Hugh returned the look
"EhS--why-- why-~yuu &c Hugh
Reynolds!"
"And YOU are Lenorc Hewitt. o:
/ rather that was your name once.
Helen scrambled ont Of his arm
Aren't yon MY papa" she de,
manded. disappointed eyes turned
upto him.
Hugh had forgotten the ch'ia
existence. He went to the woman
and grasped her hand. TINS was
the girl whose marriage five years
ago had made Of him n confirmed
bachelor. They had been sweet,
hearts back IN Montteth wnen he
was sent to the Pacific coast on
business and became so wrapped
upstn making money that ne toFgo
to write even to her. y year Later
he returned 20 her. but she ha4
moved away and married anotnet
man. America entered the war
about then. and Hugh enlisted IN
rather a receptive mood for Ger.
man bullet. The bullets missed
him, however, and now he was back
In New York. Only yesterday ne
rented the apartment one flight m.
You had better stay to dinner.
Lenore said. 1--WE have turkey and
everything that goes with It.
There's more than enough for
three
Hugh accepted with alaCrity.
You may help In the kitchen. "
she told him, "and we can chat.
"Your husband" he inquired hest
tAtinSly. "Is-"
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