The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-11

a matter still indefinite in date but
sure TO happen.
The two Of them made q fine,
stately pair in the dining room. 1t
was richly furnished-dark carv-
ing, rare rugs, much Furnished sill.
yer and cleaning glass, to say
nothing of q fine antique mantel
and really creditable pictures hung
sparely above, the .wainscot.
Just now It was at its best
candle-lit with a long table running
cat-a-cornered. and all two crowd
ed with eats OF the best. It was de.
corated with fruit-the centeIt
piece a mound Of dollhouse grapes,
cleaning translucent, opaque line,
lin the cross lights
Somehow the grapes fascinated
Grant. He had eaten a hasty, very
greasy luncheon after the morning
lecture. washing 1t down with
thrist-proyoking liquids, and pune
tuated the drinking with olives.
So when the hostess excused her.
self at some urgent reckoning he
set down the heaping platter which
had been thrust into his hands,
plucked a grape, ate 1t with such
satisfactory results he ate on and
on, quite oblivious Of staring eyes
all about. Presently, his thirst
somewhat slaked, The moved tot
ward the farther end Of the long
room, where slightly ambushed by
portieres, he stood examining mar
rowly q picture Just above him.
The portieres masked an open door
that led to the buffers pantry,
where were all the reserve edibles.
Voices came through It, hushed
but distinct. One was a growly
bass, the other a piping treble, al
most a whine. The bass voice said
Mechanically: "You tell~her she's
got to pay; I'm clean tired OF all
this sheenanigan. Them grapes Is
with Of all OF twenty-five dollars!
You hear me! Unless she does pay
right off the reel she'll be a sorry
woman"
mister Jackson. how can you!
With Cousin Anna so good to you
giving you all her business; and
you know that brings you lot
more" from the treble.
"And l do It at loss-hern, l
mean; 10 per cent, off wholesale
she will insist on-and renting my
best fruitses for show off. Tellin'
me the honor bein' here is so much.
Lordl she makes me sick-and all
It stands me In IS betn' laughed at
by the rest here. They know old
Dick jackson amt no social orna.
ament; also and furder that Miss
Anna Maitland's as close as-as
the bark to a tree. Now here's the
word with the bark on It: "rll be
paid fer the dee-vastations OF that
fellow with the one-eyed spectacles,
else bleat out the truth to every
body that comes inside the shop
tomorrow"
Nobody could have eaten all
those beautiful grapes!" pleaded
the treble. The bass growled back:
mo, One Eye couldn't a hilt the
full Of 'em-but with his pickin'
and choosin' he split every bunch
| u got proof-nly head waiter
seen him and took notice. Tell that
ter yer Cousin Ann. Me, I'm
through"
Heavy footsteps followed, with
a chorus OF soft sobbing. Prof.
Grant. slipped outsIde-to see q
slim, small creature In a soft, blue
frock, her face buried In her
hands. tears raining through her
fingers. dropping over a huge plat
ter OF salad and shaking piteously.
Somehow he found courage to take
away the hands, look into drenched
slate-blue eyes and say things that
dried the tears In them. unac-
countably he led the owner Of them
away to the living room. Miss
Maitland found them there an hour
later, quite oblivious Of all the rest
Of the world.
When Prof. Grant brought his
new wife 70 the college town she
had neverA jewel beyond her wed.
ding ring and the simplest possible
trousseau Also slate-blue eyes
that laughed rather than wept. And
they laughed whenever anybody
said "Sour grapes"