The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-16
THE DAILY
.SEl0:R STORY
An Epidernic
81 Martha Mcculleeh,W Williams.
II TOW DID thar happen 10

not 'happen'-no reflection here
Va divine Providence"
ggPhep how Basil began.
Edna interrupted What you see
3 IKE q Christmas tree-the plti-
nate Of aecretipn. Joslinda puts
Nthipgs, more things, other things,
on apd on and on, till there isn't
fneEa for another. Bear witness
her hair, EVERY. bit natural she
iays--and truly. You can all but
teekon her age by the varying coll
~ Of her switches, transtorma-
Hons and so on"
Cate Basil commented severely,
nut pndtd the severity BY a giggle,
,aen ran on; u must have q close
y4p-pf course you'll present me 4"
j Heeuldnlt hell it-if tried
haFd,H Edna flung back. "And you
Snew 4 wouldn't try, Home is like
The Laval men and women asked
se ] aresfer the time being equal.
gndeFstana-l'm not making fun
u y eslinaa merely explaining her."
PITY she can't see she makes fun
Of herself Basil said, cycling mar
fowly q fawboned outline, tail and
broad, vet lank, without a soften
glcurve, clothed in loud plaid blue
silk, low cut, with elbow sleeves
and fairly bristling back and front
with tag ends Of ribbon, ruffles,
YIeads and fringe, thereby doing dis
eredit to some really fine lace. A
SCARLET crepe shawl, richly en-
bfoidarad, was draped from the
Shoulders to fall over a solid form.
tshalf ambushed the bertha Of rose
Point which was caught In a bun.
die the middle with q cameo
brooch three inches across. Girlish
strands Of coral Rugged the lean
throat, topping a string Of gold
beads, below which rama thin gold
rhain with q single big diamond as
pendant Many manners Of brace
lets, mostly cheap and ugly, half
covered the lean forcarms but did
no. quite reach the single button
FlnSes. Noting all which, Edna
hreathed In Basipss ear: "All her
heiflenrts but two-grandma's gold
trnffbox and grandoa's silver punch
bowl. ! look to see that some time
instead OF a hat. Joslinda says
she does e like to be individual
1in dress
Must be rich" Basil commented.
Has been, you mean" Edna re-
tufned, II laugh at her because ]
ant help hut inside I'm sorry
g can be-she so Graves the fine
hings she feels herself to have
been born to-gcts herself up this
way as a sort Of defiance Of Fate"
II Is right down pltiful-if you
look under the surface Basil an
swered, rising with her. Two min.
ites la.:r he was shaking hands
with Joslinda-who babe him call
her by that name-''samc as my
ether friends" She was fearfully
and wonderfully made up-rouged
almost to the eyes, whitened be.
yend any sepulcher, scented Of law
ender, cheap essence and moth
balls. "You better take care
sHeddy is the baddest Of all US
girls she said archly, glancing at
Edna, "She looks love at every.
body. Don't you never believe her
syes!el
aThanky ma'am for telling me-
Snow ! shan't have 1t on my con.
science that she is breaking her
heart for me,r Basil answered. with
bis most solemn accent. you had
better tell Brother Nixon, too. I'm
less you do, fear he'll be running
away from his conquest before he
IS half through converting all US
) sinners"
weil! A airt will try anything"
Joslinda said acridly. You'd
think shed let alone a poor widow
er-with two childrcn-almost
.sbies, in fact"
You know men are often caught
in the rebound. You seem to me
the very moral of a preachers wife
maybe L you hadn't been so high
with him Basil paused signif.
:antly, then dropped shamcd eyes
as he saw the flush that spread
over neck and forehead, despite
the whitening. His chance Shot
had told-hit the white dndeed.
Joslinda swallowed hard, then
blurted out: What makes you say
that? Anybody tell you anything?
I--I-never dreamed he-oh,
pshawl l mustn't talk foolishness
But / do wish you'd tell him."
what" Basil asked very low.
.FThe-the TRUTH" Joslinda an.
swered low. you know-about me
and you and Neddy. You're the
one for hcr-l'vc known it ever so
long-any caution was all in fun.
And you can tell him, too; won't
mind dressing plain. know what
Scripture says about gold and cost
tly apparel. I'll sell all the hen
shouse. I've been told they arc
worth enough money to clear off
my mortgage-but you see, a girl
= has to look well unless she wants to
bean old maid"
'of course" Basil returned,
Schucklingly. JoSlinda was obvi.
olsly beyond middle age. Still he
snwed her an enormous debt Of graf
situde. If she did know Edna's
hkart-if she had spoken even half
truth, he would take heart to pro.
pose to his dear for the magic
seventh time.
& In the joyous relief Of that un.
Outstanding he was ready for any.
thing. Nixon, the evangelist, was
! fine, genial fellow, younger posi-.