The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-16
THE DAILY
| SHORT STORY
The Silver q Romance.
tBaf lanra .ReId aIontIgo!.n,eryl

'Iilu iijtlusE e
Money makes all the troublei IN
lifei * sitsweren't for money and
influence; people could do as their
hearts dictate.n
4 was almost like answering,
her ttnspoken thought. Rose loved
the slight dark young man sitting
orposite her. He was q clork
making q moderate salary; he was
not d man who would ever do
great things and, he wasn't espec-
tally handsome: Just a normal,
clean, young fellow who would
make good husband. "'Money.
10 q terrible problem" she an.
swered earnestly.
Harold looked slightly surpris-
I'd He had not guessed that she
would take the situation that way.
without influence II Is almost
impossible TO get ahead, at least
for man In my position: but
there are 50 many things 10 be
considerel-the question Of loyalty
70 ones ideals" no broke off
flushing, aud the girl turned the
conversation cleverly to safer
channels. She too, was undecid-
cd
AZ the door that night Harold
lingered. The moonlight sent a
cool whiteness down upon tho old
fashioned brownstone steps and
turned Roses dark hair silver.
You look wonderful In that sill
rert light cried the guest, but
Rose only laughed aud stepped.
back. She knew that he loved
her but her mind was on the
heights. She longed for the things
that could be bought with gold.
The fairy moonlight was romantic
but the frail silver OF romance
would not pass muster in daylight.
only cleaning gold could buy
what she wanted.
Harold felt the change in her
mental attitude and involuntarilJ.
stittened, After all, a man could
offer no more than his all. At
least that was the way Rose read
his changed face. 1t was as though
Z chill wind had passed between
them. The moment Of lovers had
passed.
When the shabby door Of the,
boarding house had closed be
tween them Rose went slowly up.
STAIRS. The SAVIOUR had vanished
from life. The wealthy old Wild
over who occupied the parlor
suite saw her pass. would you
like TOGO for a spin in the noon
light2n liet asked, guessing that
some shadow had fallen between
the couple who were almost lovers.
MOI" he said sharply as the girl
shook her head. 81 suppose Har-
Odds mercenary ideas have dis
gusted you with men. heard
today that Miller has limited to
him that he will take him into the
FIRM = he .marries the right girl
nleaning, OF course, Edna Miller,
the plain daughter Ola wealthy
family.,s In
Stunned Rose stood, one small
foot poised upon the next step.
Harold and Edna Miller! How
had she been so blind? This ac-
counted for Harold's spreoccupa-
ton. He had been actually hesi-
tating between the girl he loved
and the girl who would bring him
allshe desired from the world.
Youth Is always SELFISH" pur-
sued the igray-haired man, his
square stubborn face looking
wrink1ed and sallow, his cooi,
aged eyes upon the youthful fate
before him, lone can scarcely
blamet Harold for looking out for
himself, After a man has been
married year riches are mighty
nice TO have. OF course / think
him mighty silly TO pass uD a girl
isIeiyou for plain littiu girl like
Es1ay but"
q am very sleepy" burst out
Rose tfurtously, CLINT of tears In
ferstornly blue eyes, q"
The other laughed; "You can
scarcely be sleepy at 1880
O'clock he leased; 81 will get out
tilescar and We can race with the
rnoonbeams. The clouds are being
whipped along by the wind, and
y we shall have rain before long"
Rose made no pretense Of listen
ing further. Her mind was filled
with Harold: Harold whom she
had fancied bound to her by iron
iinks. Harold whom she could
choose Or Angrily she stamp
ed her foot upon the worn stair
carpet She had been toying
prettily with Harold while he had
been trying to decide whether or
rot he could give UP all for lore.
She had never looked at marriage
from the mans point OF view.
Marriage to Harold meant the div
isiing OF a salary that was not
more than adequate for one. 1t
meant the giving up OF his liberty.
Instead of.giying up a position IS
stenographer for the pleasant
duties OF a homo life, as Rose
WOULD do, it meant that lie must
work harder, must provide for the
titture. Instead Of having only
ito responsibility OF getting a
riorth's room rent ahead that he
must spend SO shrcwdly that they
would save for the homs they
,sarld ultimately need.
;..sse ] thought the ctylc: Law
y 1stll me-, sto"m2d Rose. when
y J.5t:ad reached t." havtn Or l.rr
fos thought thai { would be
wy noble to give I'D tho Ideas nt
ifpsfty froeks ,ait' II car .. Iuy own
10 marry a clerk aud start out in a
tlree-fponn nat. Ash I'd think OF.
marrying for money. -"
Weeping bitterly she flung herself