The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-02
THE D
SHORT STORY
Lee-Ander
BY Martha neutrality-suspicious.
copyright, 1921, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate).

Copyright, 1921, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate).
g wv 1HAT's his chance7" Dr..
INV Helm asked Of Tommy
w w Barton, nodding toward
couple whitltng in the newest
q gwestep. II
LETS see! About tttty.fitty."
Tommy said judichlly. I'D say
odds on, only she's a widow"
'tTherefore wise and wary
Helm chuckIed. Y'Well, luck to Lte:
Rnder. He deserves It. for having
70 support that name all these
years, Il for nothing else"
.You mean let It support him"
4auoth Tommy, his nose wrinhins
4 i bit.
aHov aye make that~ from
Helm.
Tommy looked panied. "a blind
man ought to see" he said, with
grandmothers all but fighting as
10 how he should be called. Grand.
ma Green Is bent on making him
Lee, Grandma Towle as hot to have
him Andy. Each subsidies him
literally to embrace her view, es.
peciGlly when after his losing out
at everything he lays It all to ths
fact that folks have no confidence
ina fellow with one o these fancy
names"
1f,Itye heard Of being hag.rldden, :"
lelm chuckled harder, "but be
,hanged II ! ever knew another man
! granny;ridden. How'd he happen to
The fancy name?"
sTwasn't a. happen-dead set
purpose" from Tommy oraculariy.
"one grandpa, you see, was Levitt,
Gus, t'other one Andrew. The
names were sort OF married to keep
peace in the families us there was
J no chance OF another Green boy.
= Leander came into the world faith.
eriess, and the only son OF an only
SOM
Him! Who wised you up so?"
iIe1m demanded. 1t was Tommy
who chuckled, replying: Earned
wisdom, doctor Grandma Towle
has been visiting us regularly all
the year-what she hasn't told me
qfamily matters could be writ.
~ on your thumbnail and leave
I-t ia for more"
NWhat meanness you two up to
now?n Anne Saxton asked, coming
behind them. Talk Of women COS.
sips she went on; why you beat
| q sewing circle without half try.
tng. Always picking on somebody
tell me, who is the last yictim?'
yourselves" Helm countered
promptly. "Not saying but feeling
what fools we are to let that whip.
ar-snap Leander carry off fine
tqn like Mrs. Dan Taylor, right
hdef our noses"
shameful, I admit" Anne said,
With the least toss OF very nice
head-one set well on handsome
shoulders and massed all over with
waYy Titan hair. Young looking
for thirty Tommy and the doctor,
4bothi highly eligible bachelors, had
been rivals for her favor all Of ten
years. Hence the Implication re.
garding Lenders widow. Anne I'm.
derstood 1t perfectly and laughed
over 1t, inside. She was really fond
OF both lnen-so fond she sighed
semetimes, why wasn't born
twins" Nobody answering her,
1Sshe decided It was part of the gen.
eraf grudge Fate bore all lone wo.
men with a pretty taste in mates.
Shes Ought to marry-that she knew
rs well as anybody. But how to
take one when the taking might
mean heartbreak to the other?
Anne was not above puns-wit.
MSS her demure: "Can't either OF
you rescue lady? Seems. to me
MfsA,Taylor must be terribly fed
up "a green stuff right about
now IN the laugh that followed
.this fsaily she made u dignified re.
treat, her eyes withal twinkling
wickedly as she looked back at
i Tommy, and waved her hand to his
tallow.sinner,
y tWhat would you give to shake
Ahsr-hard? Hard as she deserVesH"
Helm demanded under breath.
Tommy muttered something and
walked away. In his heart he was
saying: Almost as much as to kiss
her. She is the very devil for ag'
grayating you-but-we love her
what struck you blind, Tommy
kHartpn?" Mrs. Taylor called as he
sassAd close to her without ap.
|ntly perceiving her neighbor.
d. Seasoned as he was, Tommy
started little-he had not meant
$50 to lose his sense OF everything.
Mrs. Taylor-sometime Mary Dake
had been good pal, back III
their remote youth. Sentiment had
hot touched them then nor ever.
lie had been the first to kiss the
and wiring Dan Taylor's hand
he wedding-moreoVer, he had
the handsomest present Of all
d been the. favorite visitor
Groughout the five years Of happy
married life. So he was not loath
. walk with her away from the
apcing find a cosy double scat,
and after establishing her to. her
mind, and his own, say, patting hei
arm affectionately: "Molly-you
were always a wise bird. Spill a
little OF It now for my benefit about
well, about-almost anything"
.'Meaning Anne" Mrs. Taylor
said Swith a roguish smile. Tommy
s 1fton, you are the blindest idiot
lSing-always excepting old Joe
w.