The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-11-15
THE DAILY
59IQRT STORY
a Cbance for Annie
~ RoaE MEREplTH.

introduced Roger TO Lucille Bar
ton, the now miIIiner, who hsu
Shad a birthday party In heT rooms
land invited all the girls in the shop
and their men friends.
Shes pretty" isn't she?" askod
AMMO as they vent home Al miu'
plsht.
"Pretty?" repeated Roger Gray
&dreamiiy. more than pretty-shes
5eautiful-like a picture"
Annte'B married sister found her
crying herself to sleep that night
and that is the way she learned that
Roger had almost. mot quite, ash,
ed Annie to be his wife. ana mere
was beautiful golden.haired Lueils
come Just in time to stretch out her
long white arms and bar the door
10 happiness agairs quiet niue
D Annie, whose arms were not white,
just plump and pinkish, with little
,scapable tanned hands. whose eyes
AFere hazel and whose hair was SOL
and misty black.
II haven't a chance beside her,
she Is so clever and so handsome;
but she wouldn't make a good wife
for Roger; she paints and powders
and doesn't seem real" sobbed An
ME.
"You should worry. comtorted
Louise. "Tll fix that near.vsmr
lady honey. I've got to think u
up"
"can you, L%ouiso?" asked doubt
ing Annie.
Can II" Louise smiled mystert
ously, "You know what a homely
kid I VASE"
Annie nodded.
well, didn't l walk in and marry
Gene Fraser, the superintendent o.
the whole place. when every other
4 Efrl was fishing for him and each
!, one a Venus compared TO poor me!
81 did. You got a bigger chance than
lair Lucille, the milliner's model
Sleep on that, honey"
Annie slept on It and felt cheer
full the next day. but the next night
her spirits sank again when she
glimpsed Roger walking down the
street with Lucille.
my idea has aprouted." announc.
ed Louise that might. Were golns
on a picnic Saturday afternoon over
to Shingly Beach-everybody invit
ed, including Louise and Roger
Don't cry till it's oil over-.I Just had
to tear Gene away from n friz1y
blonde who didn't know a teaEett!e
from a cnn-opeuer.'
d a hearty laugh came from behind
Mr.. Fraser's evening paper. Some
organizer, Louise, you are" he
chuckled.
Saturday was a pleasant day and
the picnic started off in good shape
I everybody laden down with bas'
ketS end boxes of lunch. The
shore was quite deserted. now that
September was nearing its end, and
Louise volunteered to watch the
lunch baskets while the others went
for a stroll along the beach,
Two hours later the stroliing
/ couples Came back, to find a fran.
tic Louise and no picnic baskets.
l"They disappeared" she walled. II
Just closed my eyes from the sun
shine, It is so bright, and when ]
opened them every box and basket
was gomez"
Asleep at the switch" murmu-ed
one hungry male. !.
Were five miles from the troll,
ley line and the automobiles wont
return for us until T." unused Roger
Gray. Perhaps some OF us could
find a house where we could get
something to eat
tYeh-maye the moons made o;
green cheese, and we Aould eat
that" sneered Jim Murray, who haa
escorted Lucille.
Lucille smiled, but there was o
mean look about her lips. ~ had
the grandest coffee cakes and somf
bananas" she murmured.
"Shall we sit here and starve?'
demanded Roger.
Louise suddenly clapped hel
hands. Saved! I've thought of q
Pplan. The Halls have a cottage
along here somewhere. Well breab
in and make a fire, and II there arc
any eats"
They all trailed after her with
hungry, expectant faces, Annie,
4 pale and quiet and not understand
ing where her chance came II
Strange to relate, a key on Loulso'r
key ring fitted the cottage door.
In ten minutes they were all
WORKING like beavers under Louise's
direction. The men dug clans and
pisked up firewood on the beach.
q Louise set the table in the pretty
lining room, and Annie. plain little
Annie, flew around the Kitchen IN
her element, for Annie was a bnrr
cook, and In an hour they sat down
to q wonderful clam chowder, o
d%ried.apple pie. hot biscuits and
honey and delicious coffee, FOR. the
larder had been strangely well
stocked.
Annie was the queen OF the occa.
1 ION. More than one man looked
j obviously at Roger Gray, and no
hody thought 1t was clever when
Lucille daintily flung up her per.
fumed and powdered hands, and
boosted that she knew nothing
about cooking or housowork and that
the deIIcatessan shop was good
EEnugh for her. She nearly swooned
&s+ the fdea oP peeling nm onion. II