The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-23
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Modern GaYe Man.

4 lCopyT1BHti lyk1, by thu MCCLURE
Newspaper syndieate.)
-, AVID RENDERS ON, sitting In
d secluded spot OF the Tetap'
- da ii the depths Of despair.
Was startled out Of his unhappy
.lina OF thought when he heard his
lame nentlohed. He got up, think,
lhk the speaker was looking for
i'm. Then the words arrested him
Tor 0 moment. He was behind
some polted plants and egreaB was
not easily gained. He did not in.
tend to listen, but could not help
hearing the following in girls
indignant voice:
eLois Mardls Is just too nnkind
for anythlng-Lhe way she treats
David. hate TO see he. 50 indit.
fcrent toward him when he ID 80
thoughtful and unseliish."
s'That's just the trouble" replied
another girl. II know Lois pretty
well, and / think she really loves
David, but SIS too uninterestihg 70
have some one 30 perfect all the
( time. He ought to employ cave
man tactics. I think shed like III"
EDO you really 'fbe voices
trailed of In the distance.
David dent back to his seat. 80
that's H." he thought. "Just beng
considetate Of a woman. anticlpat.
ing her every wish and waiting on
her devotedly IS not enough. Cave
man indeedl"
\ Hessat there a long time. and he
wasn't looking q. the moon, either.
Ne Was thinking harder than he had
~ r thought before III MS whole
sfAtter a while he arose and, with
grim smile on his usually placid
tnce, he Joined the ether young peo.
pie who were celebrating Lois
birthday.
he was the first to leave. Lois
looked her surprise, for he usually
fingered until he was the last Que
to 90 home, but he youchsafed no
explanation.
Many, many times he mad asked
her 10 marry him, but she had new.
er given him the decisive word
stiligs she had not refused him. She
kept him dangling. He had tried
harder and harder. TO please her,
and had made no headway.
The remarks tonight were a rev.
elation. He hadn't realized Il be.
lore, but he was getting tired OF
alsngling, He would either give
Lois Up or he would make her come
TO adecision.
HeSdtdn't want to give her up:
Those girls were right. He ougIi,
to get Lois with "caye.man tao.
ticsr-he5 certainly hadn't succeed.
ed the other way, He would blde
his time, and Il she preferred be-
Ing knocked on the head with a
club and then dragged by the hair
10 his denied doiit.
He wanted her In any way he
could get her, and he would be
obsiging enough to get her in the
ysay she wished to be won.
So, one bright, sunshiny day,
about noon, when 1t seemed that
every one was out Of doors, Lois
and he were crossing some street
~ tracks on the busiest intefsec.
ION Of the city. Lois was tripping
aloiig on dainty, high.heeled, black
saith pumps, when she stopped sud.
denly with a cry Of dismay. One
heel d her shoe had Caught in the
tracks. In her effort to dislodge
u she had Withdrawn her foot, and
she stood with the stockinged foot
held lightly from the dusty pave.
rnent,
aoh, why did wear white stock.
tngsfp she groaned to herself.
telt so conspicuous.
avid turned to the rescue. Cars
sre coming from each direction,
Ind Changing down upon them.
Pedestrians had stopped In amused
interest looking at the embatrass,
ed girl In the white stockings and
the one black shoe.
Lois looked TO David confident
that he could rescue the shoe. He
did. But lust before the cars
reached them and as Lois put out
her white.clad foot for tie black
1oyerAh he put the shoe behind him.
'Yo1 don't get It until you pfohi.
Use TO marry mel" He waved the
shoe aloft. ~.
Lois turned red with shame that
she should be made such sbec.
tacle for the passersby. Then,
white with anger, she demanded
her shoe.
People were laughing outright.
Several chauffeurs had stopped
tSr motors. The street cars
coming nearer and nearer as
3 idd raised the shoe high over
his head. The wretched girl was
! tottefipg ON one foot like lame
,duck. There was no sign OF re.
leuting on the young mans face.
4 woatis she answered.
You will or I'll so home with
tie shoe and leave you here" he
shouted above the noise OF the traf.
SePlease, David" she begged.
! Inere was a loud gullaw from a
fit man, who evidently admired
David powers Of entertainment.
Lois was crimson with shame
" aus she was unable 10 keep the
d5snty white stocking away nom
Tie dust and CRIME OF the street.
sPromisel PROMISED" he waved
the shoe high as he could reach.
III Lois gulped. Very WELT prom.
To- marry youl"
ASoon ~ he demanded.
yes she cried.
Dafid grasped her firmly by the
as:ps and slipped the shoe on the
5slittIe dusty foot, The street
Gals went past them in q fury OF
noise