The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-10-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Two Henrys.
AZ ~FHEpERIcK HART

ByFRkpERlcK HART.
KTwSs Henry Bottoms habit, when
reieased from his office by the
stroke Of hait.pGst twelve, 70 30
SO the AduRrAhtn in Battery PARK
md watch the seals and sea lions
II thetr monday meal. he enjoy
"a the sight OF the sleek creatures
nihSing about IN the water; n
.iheir catBlfee abandon TOOK MS
mind for the moment on the prob
gtemB OF waste and spillways n
bafraEeB and aprons which occu-
Ned Ms working hours. For Henry
Bolton was q rising consulting en-
Einser with a leaning toward ny
drshiics and his work kept MIN
(hofoughly occupied: SO that the
dioment Of relaxation in the Aquar.
lurn came az a welcome relief.
one hot noon. as he was enjoy.
tbs Inc zoo drafts OF air that
siSvkd about tho tank where the
E9Ais ware kent, he wAs startled TO
h6ar 4 feminine voice, very near
"a him. call out sharply Henry"
ne YES the moro amazed, for his
list Of girl scquaintonces IN the
CITY was practically nil. He turned
AID took On his hat, prepared TO
see some friend Of his from his
home town. But the girl beside
him. who had Just spoken, seemed
not TO he looking at him, But
even as he turned away she called
again Henry! How are you to.
day"
T-T beg your pardon" he
hogan, But are you calling me?"
The girl turned and showed him
q face that he Vas not to forget
"a sweet mouth. a nose tilted ever
go slightly, and two deep brown
eyes-altosgther such a face as he
had sometimes seen in his dreams.
"You-you called me by name"
he stammered, land I thouGhp-
she interrupted with a little
burst Of laughter.
"Oh!" she cried when she recov'
cred her breath. rs your name
Henry, too? was calling to an
old friend Of mine who knows me
here he comes! Henry!"
Bolton followed her glance and
saw a smooth brown seal flop iE:1
the wAtar and shoot across the
tank with one fin of It's tail. He
was conscious OF embarrassment,
and then he saved the situation by
laughing with the girl.
T must confess he began.
that my name is Henry. And
when Won called I thought some
n I knew was here. so | turned
and spoke. -" he paused and
then ventured on. VI am very fiat
tered q have you choose such a
good.looking namesake MS that.
And truly the senK as 1t PLAYED in
the water. was n thing OF beauty.
~ am very fond Of that particular
Zeal myself" he went on, as she
did not reply. ~ come here every
day to see him fed"
80 do l." reioined the GiTl.
Then she glanced at her watch.
"Heavens! / must get back Ard
before he could say anything morc
she had gone.
Henry Bolton contemplated the
seal for a moment in silence. The
animal returned his gaze calmly,
aHenry, old man. said Henry Bot.
ton to his namesnko. II think
you're very lucky TO have such 4
pretty ~godmother." Then his race
clouded.
sconfound 1t, /. may ave see
her again." Henry, the seal.
looked at Henry, the man and the
man was sure that he saw a solemn
wink. You're right. old hoy"
said the man enthusiastically. she
said she came here every day,
didn't she? Well see her again
after ALL And he departed for his
office. whistlinE noisily and very
much of.key.
He did see her again. The next
day she was there and ackuowl-
edEed his presence with the slight
est Of. mods and smiles. Henry
Bolton, undiscouraged, returned her
salutation and made no effort to
progress further. a fact which
pleased the unknown girl. Each
day they met. at the seal tank,
and as 1t is humanity impossible for
two young people to have a com
mon ground of interest without
becoming fairly well acquainted It
was not long till they knew each
others names.
"Alice Farwell." said Henry Boil
ton to himself that evening, as he
sat confronting q very important
nroblem that must be done before
tomorrow. "That's a pretty name.
/ like that name-and like her
too! we'll" he meditated a
while and returned to the Calcutta
lions before him.
Their acquaintanceship grew and
deepened into warm friendship.
They had lunched' together several
times, and he had taken her to the
theatre twice. She seemed to en-
ioy his company. and he frankly
took pleasure In hers. He con.
GRADUATED himself on having found
such a friend.
And then, one day in the autumn
she was not al the tank In the
Aquarium. He waited for an hour.
but she did not appear. He thought
nothing OF It; but when she was ab'
sent for four succeeding days he be-
gan to wonder, and to be a little
worried. -,
Where is she, Henry, old mann
he said to the seal. But Henry
merely looked soiemnly hack at
him and vouchsafed no answer. A
telephone call to her apartment
brought only the information that
she had left four days ago and left
no address. Her otfice-he had
found that she was secretary for =
fifm lear his own oitice-gave no