The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Nalnping For PitY
BY MARTHA MecuLLocH.WIL'
s LIAMs.

V9THEE one Is frankly tttys
NV and.something, with no
NV beauty ,parlor mitigations,
NJ appears she might reasonably es-
cape any suspicion Of Tamping even
acugh appearances might be
ainst her. Mrs. Frances Lane
is firmly Of that opinlon-untl
lets disproyed It, In this wise:
She was not impressiye-thin, al.
most whifetty, indeed, with ash
gfeyi shair and skin like aged rose
leaves, she was yet somehow dis.
tinguished - possibly because OF
eyes which contradicted the hair,
retusingato be old or even elderly.
For the rest, she had good taste,
good manners, a modestly suffi-
Client income, rather a pretty wit,
and q very kind heart. Twenty
years q widow, she might several
times have changed her name and
estate TO great worldly advantage.
THAT she had refrained spoke no
exceptional constancy to her dead
Tather q Whimsical Joy In order.
VS. her life strictly according to
her own pleasure.
Her position was SO assured. She
refused to be Sin society'-society
even with the capital letter often
entreated her to come out and play
withSit. Such times as she went,
swathed and fllmy, she never play.
ed wallflower-and II she danced
rarely II was OF choice not neces-
sity. She preferred dinners to
dances for several reasons, but had
vagaries OF choice among them.
The Windsors, for example, sin.
fully rich, old and close friends,
found Il next to impossible to have
her at their big gatherings-be.
cause she knew they would "fea.
turen hcr-and she loathed being
featured. A great man, you see,
had said after encountering her,
"She Is the most amusing person
NJ all New York" After that, she
might have had fine Indirect re.
' tainer from the Windsors to keep
ON being amusing-but the role did
not in the least appeal 20 her.
Power abode with the Windsors
social, political, financial. They
could make or break-and, being
kindly. loved making better than
breaking. So Mrs. Lane, who never
pulled wires for herself, felt no
dompnnction against bringing them
In contact with the young Marshes,
who had come from the provinces,
bringing letters to her from her
husbands people. An engaging
couple-well bred and good to look
ut. Ambitious, too-Jemmy at the
law, with slant toward politics;
Lucilla at her art-a very fine art
Of cookery. They could be helped
by the lWindsors, Mrs. Lane decid-
ed. II they could meet she could
feel happily quite OF responsibility
for them. AT the small dinner she
gave for them, asking only the pc.
Genital patrons, with Judge Benton
sot balance herself, things went SO
beautifully It was with a light heart
she accepted Nine. Windsor's invi.
tation, not to a grand spread, but
toga particular and intimate dinner
tiatsmeant much more.
Judge her dismay when Jenny
appeared in that state OF amorous
inebriety that will make love to a
broomstick provided 1t wears pet.
ticoat. The Marshes were next to
last arriyais--she stood waiting for
her tardy escort, the judge, when
Jenny possessed himself OF her
hand, Kissed It and said, with Ian.
gushing glance. "I've been living
for this all day." She understood
he would ruin everything unless
she threw herself into the breach,
sacrificed her evening and kept the
poor soul from making pretty
spectacle OF himself.
Judge Benton was coming to
claim her-she gave him an en-
treating look, laid her hand upon
jennings arm and steered him safe.
ly toward the feast. There, by dint
Of woman's art, woman's wit, she
managed to keep him decently
quiet and so to maneuyer that after
b dinner he did not leave her.
More than once she sent soul
wfrelesses to Lucilla, bidding her
keep heart. Lucilla was dumb and
dull, She would not Join the pair,
dpwhat Mrs. Lane might, nor show
the least interest in anything or
anybody else. Mrs. Windsor. was
2ess obdurate. She had stared
family with pursed lips throughout
dinner, but when Friend Frances
drew her within range OF Jemmy's
fascinating tongue, made him tell
stories Of back home in voice that
WAS music's own, she thawed Wis.
y N. Enough to mention the opera
NY her box-though quite vague
Even Nightmares end, so did this
dreadful evening. Mrs. Lane, her
face hot at thought of It all, nod.
ded to her image saying: Never
again. am forever done with good
4 deeds; tired of suffering for my
Virtues. AS for the Marshes, l wipe
them on the slate"
She meant It, but Fate has q
trick OF rewriting states. Next day
But one, Lucilla all but forced her
way In, white and drawn Of face,
her eyes red with weeping.
sI-haye-come toto give him
up-to you," she said without pre-
lude. "Ie1m going back-as soon
as possible ] will give him his di.
5ofce-
Explain, please" Mrs. Lane de.
rlanded in her great manner. Lu.
ella wept loudly. "You-you can
face me-and say that-when you
have taken-nore than my li.i-fe,''
she howied. "And I trusted you
Thought you were safe-and old"
Gam" said Nine. Frances. sup.