The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-24
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Marcia's Honey Lamb.
u MARTHA MecuLLocH VIII
LTAms.
IGnURE as you bring that Oh
bald coot here, III 30 on
AAnIkn . lEn.nln nnnAnA ~.

pald coot here, III 80 on
strike" Marcia pouted. NV.
how / hate hint Makes me III Just
o blink Of him gobbling up my
cherry pie"
Maybe we'll gobbIe him up III.
stead Roy answered .hopefullS.
Once he Is full fed. and in a fine
humor, I shan't mind asking him
1900 for Little Tot"
He shan't have her-not for Sc.
0o0-nor twice that" Marcia pro
tested Stoutly. my honey.lamb!
I'd rather see her break her neca
than belong to him. Besides-l
link l know why he's SO bad OF
get her-thinks she's a world.
Ssater IN the pip, and hopes We
laat suspect It"
We'll, however, that may bel,
he shakes $500 OF the long greer
~ niche gets her" from Roy.
He does not" emphatically.
Shes mine, remember! Given 10
me the day after ] married you
not the day before, luckily. Proper
" acquired after. you see, young
nan-so you can't sell one hair OF
erstail unless ] agree"
But, Marca-$500 is a fine price
Tor a gangling two.year.old whose
pedigree nobody knows. nor even is
likely to find out. The stranger
who gave her TO you, because she
couldn't go a yard farther, vanish.
sd-for good reason, no doubt. I
nave thought always he had stolen
the mother. and was too superSti.
hous to kill the foal, or leave It to
statye by the road"
Very likely-but Totty isn't a
gsngling twoyear-old. She's her
own pedigree. Made right from
nose to heel. Not pretty-prettY
colts don't turn out world wonders.
know-didn't / see half q dozen
Of them back at Uncle Dams? He
sold two Of them in spite OF my beg.
ging him not-and says now, !!
only he'd kept them, We would all
Of Us be rich"
soh, you make me tIredir Roy
complained. Whats law against
men and money? We must have
money, or else lose out. You know
as well as ! do. So be reason.
able. 1 wouldn't Cross you II Il
wasn't a matter Of necessity"
Don't worry-you are not 60
ing 70 do IT," Marcia returned pro
yoidngly. when Bald Coot knows
that Iigo with my filfy-"
Why! He'll be hotter than ever
for trading" Roy laughed. "Who
Wouldn't be Marsh-especially aft.
err tasting your cooklng?r
might name several without
s%training my rememberer." Marcia
said witha toss OF her head that
set its tumbled curls framewise
about her rosy face. It vas not
beautiful, but full OF health, youth
and charm. Bald Coot, otherwise
Silas Jones, Esq, felt the charm as
ne ambled to the door OF the rawIy
new frame house. so unfinished y
was barely habitable. for all
Marcia's brave endeavorings With
whitewash and packing box make
shifts, Her threadbase ginghar
faded TO soft dull blue became her
wonderfully, albeit It was none so
clean. She had no ornament be-
You'd the thin wedding ring upon a
|ropghened finger. Altogether she
was a figure not Of poverty, but OF
pinched and decent aspiration.
As such she did not warm the
acallous Jones heart-rather she
stirred in 1t a quicker touch Of
greed Five hundred for that
Young thing would be wicked ex.
trasasance-beter say two at first,
and go on to the quarter as II
through an access of l~iberality. So
II took him all aback to hear stead.
lastly spoken: I'm sorry you've
come back, sir-to get no more
than your trouble for your pains.
ought to have told Roy up and
down Totty wasn't for sale at any
price. AS / didn't-won't you stay
10 dinner with us-just to show
you're not mad with u.s."
With pleesher," Jones respond.
cd Sinking hard. Roy's sullen
face encouraged him more than
the aspect OF things general. Re.
sides, he was sharp set-as an old
csuIpaigner he knew what surprises
inrlSed often In country fare. In
reward OF such faith he deyoured
bew potatoes, early cabbage boiled
10 perfection with a scrag of ham
along with hot cornbread. fresh
hHttermark and crisp. young lettuce,
nraising all effusiyely, and leading
up after the cherry pie, to a re.
neWed Offer Tor the filly.
Three hundred-couldn't think
o. making It less. after the way
they had treated him. Roy's eyes
grew eager. but Marcia's hardened
he had been watching Jones mar.
rowfs searching for an elusive
lIkeness. Suddenly she caught IT.
and akewise caught her breath. He
WIS the filly's giver. or his twIa
either way, there was need to
beware. Hence she shook ner head
more deeisively than ever, saying:
Not for three hundred, nor five
nor even a thousand. Totty's all
the baby I've got-I am not going
10 self her"
Look out you don't lose her
horse critters die mighty easy
somedmes,' Jones all but snarled.
The snarl walked the man in Roy.
ysry civilly he said: "You better
he moving Mr.. Jones. Understand,
what my wife says Is the word
~,Tifh the mark on it'll stand be-
lind her all the way Then, az
| Jones vanished: "Honey-I don't
ser the way OUTPUT we won't be
sorry so long as We can keep to-
gethers
Marcta's eyes were starry. She
could hardly speak for trembling.
rpoy IonaE brought Tottv HERE