davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11
A Mad Prcposal.

there vas form to the face. The baby raised
q hand and Warner put his finger in ths
palm. There vas . clutch. . tight clutch
that startled him. He held his finger there
and the baby snilsd again. By God! The
child had remarkable intelligence. He re-
membersd his biological study-ths differ
enee between man and the animals wa
mans ability TO smile. But this child. . few
hours old. he knew II should not have more
intelligence than . fox terrier. and yet II
smiled. He stood there awkvardiy. with his
nnser In the little wizsned hand.
Warner hsh himself inamovabLs a. the
baby fell unconoernsdly to sleep. still hold.
ing to his fathsr's forennger. After . while
the little hand dropped hack and Warner
felt sighted. Then he at down. but After
4 few minutes he decided he had better look
a. the boy again. He might slide under the
covers and smother. Odd. the sensation b
had when he looked down upon IT,. sleeping
baby 1t was like pleasant hands that were
gently cuppinE his heart. Then . great
swelling took place within him and, power
less to check himself. he began 70 cry, the
tears flooded his eyes. came faster. II he
could only pick the youngster UP and hold
him, kiss him. That would relieve the flood.
ing emotions that seemed expanding his
breast. He went to the bedside OF his wife
and touched his lips TO her hand a. II lay
upon the coverlet. Marion did not waken.
Warner went to work next morning. The
new wine Of spring was in the air. As he
walked up to Warrington Bridge . cool
breeze played with him and he caught upon
the air that intangible perfume which the
city dweslsr knows 10 from fnrway. unborn
flowers. How clean the city was! 1t seemed
as If innumerable housewives had scrubbed
it. There was . dance and . skip about
people a Gallo air, carnival.
At the ONCE he wss slapped upon the back.
ing the infAnt's taste IN cisarets. blondes.
and Shakespeare. Al noon he escaped With
Stephens TO lunch and there he heard .
revelation.
Paul" began Stephens carefully. I'm
quitting the shop"
90" said Warner, IN surprise, I'm sorry
to hear 1t, Bob. What's up?"
i've got an offer from the Trib. And
now want to tell you something"
stephens leaned back and lit . ciearetts.
evidently an action to bring his mind into 4
focus point. At last he said:
Paul, the old man 10 going to make you
editor. He decided 1t just one hour ago. Do
you know why?"
NO" replied Warner. WHY
Because he thinks that the past SIX
months you had bean worrying about your
wife. Up until today he thought that you
were just discontented and half hearted. II
isn't much of a Job. Paul but It pays nfty.
and it's a milestone. I guess you can use
fifty now. Well. tell ms about the kid"
Quite strange. the way the spring wine
kept lowing through that Afternoon and ere
ming. The 3osthng IN the subway seemed
good natured- yet Warner fumsd at the In.
Vulnerable delays Of the train. He wanted to
get home before the baby fell asisep. He
wanted to teal Marion Of the new Job. He
wanted to Sc how much mcrs the child had
changed. It vss rsmarhahis Rev he I'D
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11

The physician smiled
-weu.- he aid. "yoavs gst . nne boy,
Mr. Warner"
Thank you for what you'vs done, DR..
syclinE." Warner replied heavily.
Part Of the days work. responded the
doctor eheerfulty.
WIN you send me . sII. asetsr-cr would
II Wa going to speak Of that .id the
physician. Nov. I'll b blunt with you.
Mr.. Warner. You're . vsry young man and
you weigh feathers. sometimes. As II they
were lead. You pay Miss Weir first. and
whom you can, pay me- And II were you,
I'd watch that baby closely for the next two
or three day.
The doctor rose and put on his hat He
held out his hand and Warner Er.sped it,
suddenly grown warm to this man who had
sensed his smothertng problem.
IL can't tell you how grateful Am,
DOCTOR
That's all right. was your age myself
once. But time cured me. I'll be in TO see
Ms. Warner and the youngster this after
noon"
II was a tremendous easing Of weight.
this knowledge that he would not be pressed
for payment by the physician. He had ne
doubt but that he could 60 to his employer
and obtain an increase In his salary. He
had never before asked directly for more
pay. but circumstances altered the matter.
Suppose, however, this raise were refused:
Well. he would quit the Job on the spot. He
knew more about the ways OF getting work
than he did In those horrible months which
were already covered by the green vines OF
distance. And II he quit he would have the
satisfaction Of telling his employer 4 few
things.
cry came from MArions room. 1t was
the baby again. In his problem then was
this new factor. which he must carry over
like an equation in algebra, or the sum Of
all things would be wrong What had the
doctor meant by telling him to watch the
child carefully during the next few days?
Was it possible that It might die' His con-
ventional being rose up to engulf q half
formed wish that this would occur. II 1t
did-he clenched his jaw. There would be
no more; there might be = path of escape.
He and Marion would como to agree
ment! She had her profession. The nurse
came out
Mrs. Warner is sleeping" she said.
You must be all in yourself" Warner
answered
I'm used to this" she smiled. I'm get
some sleep now. though, II you don't mind
sitting in the room. II Mrs Warner wakes
up. you can call me-"
20. certainly" said Warner. Don't you
want TO use this couch? How-how IL the
baby?"
Just nne. Hes a beautiful child. Mr..
Warner"
Warner softly entered Marions room. He
stole over to her bed and looked At the pro-
file Of her face. He could see how exhausted
she was. Her breathing was heavy and she
seemed % fragile. 1t was almost as II IA.
ture had used q toy as the medium for its
miracles. He turned back to the clothes
basket and looked at the baby. and the baby
suddenly opened its eyes and smiled. Ridicu-
lous Warner bent down to scrutinize this
futile bit Of life. A change had already &C.
CURED. Why. the child was not brown and
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11
ICsuktmad frum preceding pagsl


hound Marion sttttns IN . chair. hsr bead
hsnt slightly forward Tho doctor took the
astrmsant and held It b her nostrnA
You mnst newer by bar down In . faint
- R3d. How - her hesxff-
-Doctx.- aid Warner, wbsn A1rion bid
ben carried to bar bed, -when-vhan Do
90 think the baby WIN b bornf-
well repnsd ths other smiling. thsf-s
Gn1ruft 10 ansver e1actfy. From what you
tell No. ho~s~r. I should say within two
veekA roa hsvs . family physician. sup
post
-Nos- rsps,sd W.zn<, II vondsr Il you
you'd taks the cassf~
m you ha-s no other physician. shooid
b wy h.ppy To Do % Mr. warn4r Ia.
not bsn advissd ~ 10 hsr DIST, and %
erth3-
-Rn,. s.tf Warner. desperately I'VE
nat h--I am h1shtfnIly txnorant about
thsss thtnsA-
-Hmmnn-- The doctor knfttsd his fore
bad Il shan can and Sc your VITO tornor-
row. And Il you vtah, shaIl engage q
nurse You wm hsve her ready. then, In an
smerEency.-
Doctor" began Warner, his agitation IN
9eastng 1t the nearness of an event which
had. untfl this night seemed vague and
rsmoes, MIR. Warner Is not strong IL
noticed II particularly tonight Do you think
chsre VIII Be any danserr-
There IL always danger. It - dangerous
b eross the street It strikes me that your
wiz b IN . sertousty run down condition
She seems to be extraordinarily nsrvuus-as
Il shs had been under soma severe strain
II were you. Mr.. Warner. should send
her to . hospital Immediately There sh.
could escape the details Of her house work
abe would get the proper diet and exercise
and whom the baby Ii born there would be
every convenience necessary
Warner paced the room nervousiy. AT
hst he turned:
"As . matter Of fact, doctor, 1 can't AFFORD
. hospital
There are tree wards.- replied the
physictan- eisvattns his eyes.
Warner aid nothing to this. he ssnsed
the implied criticism but his mind was rang
ing upon different thoughts He could not
erase the yiaion Of Marion, stretched inert
helpless, upon the floor by the stove, nor
could be detach from this same picture its
background Of debt He felt Like . man
enveloped BY . thunder cloud which has
fallen upon the earth; around him there
seemed q smoky blackness in which he was
lost
He stumbled through this cloud during the
following days like q man who, wandering.
may suddenly come face to face with God.
And here he was. upon the brink of An event
as convulsive. repetition though It were, as
the birth Of Adam A portent Of a new life
coming into the world, new human being,
inheritns every motion. every reserve Of
brains and muscle and development Of a race
since the beginning Of beginnings. And he,
divinely appointed agent Of this new
Thing.
scrambling, with the dignity Of an eel upon
. hot griddle, for enough money to pay the
details, he sold his watch to jeweler for
thIrty-hve dollars. He carted his store OF
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11

shs made . potful and - be slipped It Ids
thoughts went TO Marion. He was enjoying
that coffee and the ctSaret he alternately
pulled a. he drank. What was Marion think
ing, OF their married life. their hardships.
their quarrslsf He recalled the bittsr words
they had hunE At each other. Now. probably.
she was blaming him for this agony!
What creatures man are! He was to learn
soon what Marion's thoughts were during
these slow. wrenching hourA
A sharp cry came from the room almost q
scream. and he heard the nurses soft voice
soothing Marion Is II she were q child. How
many times during these latter months had
he spoken tsnderiy to heri Not onos. He
forgot his eoffes let It grow cold In the cup.
and started TO walk the floor in nervous.
active shame. He wanted to 90 in to her now
and apologize, and yet hs reasoned, even
now. suffering a she was. he was - far
away from her as ever.
The glacier Of time moved The doctor
left him to his thoughts and devices. The
moaning Of his wife conquered the intervals
Of silence. He heard the doctor and the
nurse speak In low tones. He heard them
move about. What mystery was going on In
there? At dawn the nurse appeared for {
moment her face colorless, her eyes drawn
He spoke to her. and she answered sharply
that matters were as we'll as could be ex.
pected. A faint odor Of chloroform came to
him. but the suppressed cries of Marion did
not cease even with this. Seven o'clock
struck. He heard the carts and trucks
tumble through the streets. A woman's
voice noated up from below and some laugh
ter. Another half hour passed and he was
conscious that for several minutes no sound
had issued from his wifes room.
He started up. Perhaps she had died. The
thought came to him like q blow. Then he
heard a note unlike any others in the world.
1t was gaspinE little note. then a series Of
notes. squeaky. short, like some weak voice
trying to cry. And then he heard another
voice. deep, inefrable:
Doctor. give me my baby"
He heard the doctor laugh and after .
while the bedroom door opened.
Mr.. Warner said the nurse softly. your
wife wants you"
Warner entered the room, now in a murky
half light. He went to the bed and knelt
there, and Marion lifted a weak hand which
touched his brow
ITS = little boy, Paul" whispered Mar
ion. 20. Paul. it's the littlest thing in all
the world"
Warner could not answer. His throat was
distended. He could hardly get his breath
He took Marion's hand and pressed 1t. and
then the nurse led him back and showed him
the child. sleeping already, in . clothes bas-
ket
He looks like you. Mr. Warner" said the
nurse.
Warner stared at the brown bit of human.
ity. Scarce ten minutes old. the face like
% much dark putty. shapsisss. the head like
great egg.
viii It Liver" asked Warner finally, try.
ing to hide the disappointment in his soul.
"of course he'll nve." said the nurse
You'd better get some sleep. Mr.. Warner
Warner went out and found the doctor,
drinking the cold coffee. smoking q cigar.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11

heoks b . bookseller nsr OafunhAa unfvvP-
Ety and received another MY dollars. He
took his slshty-dvs dollars homo and with n
. sneer At mankind IN hh soul. He traced.
With that mind Of hb made furenste IN phile-
sophical ciassrooms, the causes and effects
sst tn motion b. ths acfnal COST Of having .
child His watch, his booaz. HIS job. and
beyond that, ths necessity Il people dying
that undertakers might thrfvs. should be In
terested IN nsws of death, the equipment for
death. and . reasou for the ex1stsnoe Of q
weekly Journal which NV him . livelihood
and made Il possible to gfvs Marion Doctor
. nursa. to pay The druggist Warner nw
htmsslf doomed b. fxts to the eternal carly.
ing Of . hod. and In that hod was Marion
hfs child, Doctors, nurses druEEists, Eroeers,
butchers. the entire class who stood in hh
path and sa3d:
This II . toll rosdNthis Life You must
pay 10 marchfs
n was three O'Clock IN the morning when
the nurse woke him She was q large, stout
faced woman In whose mind there existed no
thoughts IS TO the Why's and wherefores Of
life. To hsr, two and two made four. and
that vas an end Of It To her, Marion was .
woman suffering an agony that could Be
partly relieved, and It was hsr business to
relieve It Had Warner palavered Of meta
physics, she would have interrupted to send
him out for absorbent cotton. She had no
particular -isrns- to spin out into scin.il-
ladng threads. She had hard work to do,
and she did It. She had her living to make.
and In making It she took from life what
she could. without curses, with thanks for
what abe got and enough grumbling at pune
tilious doctors to ease the humanness of her
soul
Warner awoks and heard low moan from
Marion's room
Mr.. Warner win you please run over and
bring DR.. sycling Tell him 1 said to be here
In an hom.-
-I-do you thtnk-f- Warner began
Yea. by eight o'clock. Now. run along"
Warner hurried out, somewhat ahashed by
this woman's cool tone Of authority He
reached the homo of DR.. sycltng. . small
single brick house. It was silent and sum-
put there by a man who knows the depth of
sleep and sweetness Of It at three in the
morning. A delay. and then the doctor ap.
peared, clad in a bath robe.
20. Mr.. Warner? suppose the nurse sent
your I'll be right over"
Warner wanted to ask questions, but the
doctor closed the door, almost abruptly, and
Warner hurried back, feeling somehow that
his size had shrunk, that In this drama he
was carrying a spear, that the speaking parts
belonged to the doctor. the nurse, and to
Marion. A stranger jumping from his bed
At three in the morning for her. nurse,
going without sleep. He entered the apart.
ment and heard again those Tightening
sounds, suppressed. a. II Marion were night.
ing to hide her pain. He walked to and fro.
dssirous Of doing something He straight.
ened his couch. arranged some papers upon
the table. He watched the door, waiting for
the nurse. She came out carrying a basin,
- Miss Weir" he said eagerly. isn't there
something l can do?"
mo" she answered. Would you like
some hot coffesf"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11

To be Continued Tomorrow.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-20
Longest Day TOMORROW VII
Mark Beginning of Summer

fraction OF the human race live will
bask for the longest possible period
In the beauty Of the sunlight. Real
ly autumn starts toward US the min
ute summer arrives for the days be
gin Immediately to shorten.
Tomorrow should be great day
for work. The sun will rise in Chi
cago at 4:24 a. m. and win. CON
tlnte fat hard labor until 7:40.. The
time varies a little in different
places. but wherever reekoned the
sun5will punch the clock early and
continue on the Job as long as any
honest man can desire n y 3 ,;,;,;; n;
sHan works from sun TO sun; Y 4
But womap's work rs never done.''
long psys Then:
So ran the rhyme 10 the old days
before there were. any hour; Laws.
Some Of US can Tememb bers days oi
work on the farm which were I'D,
justAd! as to length to the simmer
solsitce. II the sun did not get up
at. 1924 we did, and thus rebuked
the sun: and We made up for the
slacking of Old Sol in the evening
with a lantern by whose light we
did chores.
j was not reared on a farm but
I had taste OF farm work for three
years and my recollection ls that
tomorrow would make Just about a
good average day as we used to
labor then.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-20
.FAT SUM DEPENBSA0N0RARYMEM
.0NN0TEB00EEN7RY SPEAKS T90QyNAS
Mrs. De Bolt Tells About
a Recent Visit to
Gettysburg

Mrs. George peBolt, an honorary
member OF the Quota club and Miss
DoFcaA prieharti; president or the
Business and lSroie ssionai Won
ans club, poke interestingly to the
Quota club III its weekly luncheon
held today 1t The tairmont hotel.
Mrs. DeBolt thanked the club upon
having been made an honorary
member and told the club women
some things OF interest pertaining
TO a recent automobile trip III which
che paida visit to the Geltyshurs
battle field, Miss Prtchard ea-
pressed her pleasure at being
guest Of the clab on this occasion
and voiced the hope that the
Quotas would cooperate With the
Business and professional WON
ems club I'M making q better Fair.
mont.
Other guests OF the cub today
were Miss nellie Prichatd, sister
Of Miss Dorcas Priohard, who is
here from New York faIss Visit and
Miss Katherine Beltssooyer h the ! ias AL
ter two having delighted the club
with a brilliantly rendered piano
duet. Mrs. T. n. Courtney. the
club president, presided at tha
meeting and stated thar the next
meeting would be d dimes 20 be
held at $3.50 In the evening AZ The
Fairmont. Fifteen members were
present for the luncheonl
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-20
N
CHURCHES ARE
SLOWING DOWN
Children's Day Exercises
Were Held Yester-
day

With the coming OF the warm
weather the local church activities
are slowing down. This week with
the exception of the financial cam.
paign Of the Central Christian
church and the Trinity Colored
church campaign, which was start
ed last evening for S1,500, there
are few church meetings.
The members of the Central
Christian church will meet In their
church on Wednesday evening and
will hear the reports on their cam.
paign for $500. There will be a
special entertainment by the young
people and refreshments will be
served.
The 81, 500 which will be raised
by the members Of the Trinity
church will be used for church ex.
tension work. The campaign was
launched yesterday evening at the
church by the addresses OF several
white citizens who urged the mem.
bers to comply with their pastors
wishes.
Rev. and Mrs. r. J. Meyer. Of
Grace Lutheran church, are leay.
ing today for Wheeling todayswhere
they will attend the State Lutheran
Women's Missionary convention
which starts there tomorrow. a
number OF others will accompany
Rev. Meyer. They are. Miss Clara
Lehman, Mrs. G. II. Bloom, second
vice president Of the state associa.
tion, Mrs. CA. Pilson; secretary
Of the state association, Katherine
Hinebaugh and Mildred TruoE.
Mrs Meyer will be on the conyen.
ton program and win appear Wed.
tnesday afternoon. Tuesday, Wed.
nesday and Thursday are the days
Of the convention.
Many Of the churches held their
Childrens' Day isxercIses yesterday,
Continued on page fsaEl
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-20
MEETINGS TONIGHT
AT THE Y. N. c. A.
Industrial Supervisors and
Radio Operators to
Gather

Meeting of Importance to be held
at the Y. NJ. c. a. this evening are
the closing banquet Of the year for
the Industrial Supervisors Club
and their ladies and the meetings
OF the Monongahela Valley Radio
Association.
There will be absolutely no busi-
ness at all at the Supervisors ban
quet, the whole program being
made for entertainment solely
Movies will be !Nshown, talks
humorous in nature will be heard
and Physical Director Bintz will do
his little stunt Rith his Illuminated
Indian clubs. A local orchestra will
furnish music during the meal The
menu will be one OF the best ever
served at the "Y". 17.
y At the Radio Association meet
ing the final plans for receiving the
news of the Dempsey Carpenter
fight will be made. q tsssS'fs -, )
Physical Director BIntz announc-
ed today that all men and women
who wanted TO join the "Y" swim
ming classes could still do 80. II
they registered either tonight or
tomorrow evening. Nearly all of
those who started in at the begin
ming are now swimming.
Registration for he Boys "Y"
Camp are coming in fast now
There are only 10 more days left
In which the boys can register. All
the equipment for the camp has ar
rived and 1t Is the best that can be
had. The boys will have cots to
sleep on and will have boats at
their camp. tits reported that the
fishing at Browning Lake where
the camp will be situated Is excel
lent. Mountain Trout and Black
Bass are plentiful.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-20
tBy Associated Pre.sl

s1sTERsv1LLE, June 2O-scorcs
of persons were driven from thcir
homes and property damage esti-
mated at 100000 was caused by
cloud bursts in three counties back
from the Ohio river Saturday night
according TO reports which reached
here today.
Growing crops II was stated were
ruined and many oil wells dam
aged.
The section affected by the storm
is In Wetzel, Doddridgc and Tyler
counties. AS details filtered into
this place over telephone lines to-
day they told OF the heaviest<raIn-
fall ever known in that part of West
Virginia.
At Jaclsonburg the gasoline re-
filming plant of the Kanawha OIL
company was wrecked by a flood.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-20
.ASKENf

SING SING priisoner, fishing
~ through the bars, hooks big
carp. Guards throw the prison gates
open, 10 help him catch it. OF
counsel
They wouldn't be human if tf,ey
didn't Here's a situation which
sius6fies the poet who said touch
ofnatnre makes The whole, worle,kin.,
Rich man, poor man, besgat. thief
all such distinctions arc forgotten
when a manfhas hooked a fshl
Nor could any prisoner think Of
running away while he had a big
fish on his line. And after landing
a big fish he couldn't abandon It.
AK any angler in Faimont.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-20
By The K Way:
Daily column given to current
events and frank comment.
WISE WILLIAM

HE June wedding epidemic i.
L always accompanied by muel
ahiee for brides aud Uooms.
The problem Of how TO be hap.
PLY married Is as old as the institution
Of marriage. and las exercised The
best minds in all ages.
William Penn, one Of III. wii.es,
of men wrote the best advice on ,he
subject, ESQ years ago. He said:
Never marry but for love;
but see that thou lowest what
is lovely.
Between man and wife
nothing ought to rule but love
"As love ought to bring
them together. SO It is the best
way TO keep them together"
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-20
Streams in Wetzel, Doddridge and Tyler Counties
Ruined Crops, Upset Oil Tanks and
Flooded Gas Stations
PROPERTY DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT 100000
Six Inches of Rain Reported to Have Fallen in the
Buffalo and Indian Creek
Watersheds

Tho damage here was estimated -
$4,000. The Hastings station,
gas control ot,the Hope Natural Gas
company was flooded Tor several
hours. -
The storm broke at the junction
OF the three counties converting two
ordinary small streams into raging
currents. Farmiands along Buffalo
creek which trayerses Wetxel coun.
ty we're flooded and in some places
there was much damage 70 resi-.
dences. Indian creek went even
higher and damage there is said to
be very heavy.
pine Grove a village directly n
the path OF the flood escaped With
comparatively littleSl loss m ether
sections many Oh tanks filled vita
oil we're overturned
The precipitation in Buffalo and
Indian creeks was said 70 haye been
aimost>G inches