The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-07
THE DAILY
ssEI0R 4 |: DRY
-surni1ersan Winters
BY JANE OSBORN

MafyinE Dawes arrived in Oak
Lawns on the 4 O'Clock train from
the city on November / AS usual
he was not q day. late. He hailed a
waiting station taxi to1conyey him
and an assortment of bags and
boxes that had arrived by an
earlier train out the old Cedar
2 swamp road. He stopped at the
postofice on the way for the keys
that were always left with thu
postmaster on October 81 and as
often called for by Marvin Dave,
on the following day.
you don't happen to know a
woman that wants to work as
cook or housekeeper," asked Mar
tin Of the postmaster. 1.-THE Jap l
had SO many years iAs gone to
San Francisco and left me in o
lurch.,
Why don't you get another
Jap? was the postmaster's not
too civil answer. 'HThey always
said yon we're SO partial to ZEN"
Marvin Dawes laughed. well.
l was, he admitted. "But the fact
Is, j had q feeling that the old
place Worid he a little more cheer
ful II there was a woman in the
Kitchen 1 thought perhaps you
might hear Of some one who'd like
the place. II you do let me know. p"
And 80 Marvin was OFF to the old
homestead on Cedar swamp road.
One Of the boxes he had
brought mp from the station con-
tanned the essentials for a quickly
made supper, which Marvin pre-
pared for himself with no very
great sliil or enjoyment. The next
day arrived the faithful Pat with
Maryin,st two saddle horses. 1t was
4 standing agreement between
Marvin Dawes and Patrick Shean
that on or closely following every
November first he, Pat should re-
port for duty until the following
May fret During the six warmer
months Pat always found work
elsewhere, but he would mover
consent TO a permanent position
that would make It impossible fol-
him to return to Marvin with the
coming OF November.
Pats work consisted In taking
care 1.-THE two horses, one Of
whom Marvin kept for himself
Z and another for occasional guests
This and work about the old place
kept him only comfortably busy
Asa cook Pat possessed neither
variety nor skill, but he good ma
tpredly consented to fill in the
breech left by the departure Of
the Jap. The postmaster either
could OF would not secure sue,
cessor.
GAS usual, !" Marvin told Pat the
day OF the latter's arrival, "thc
place has been set in frlghtfuI
Confusion. They do II out Of spite
Issuppose. They set to work T.
turn the house into a summer cot
tage. The screens are still in
Those flimsy white curtains have
been left in place Of the heavy
winter drapery, The porch !:
,cluttered with a lot Of new wicker
chairs and things. There's a new
refrfgerator IN the kitchen, and
youfve seen, suppose, that
they've added a sleeping porch tc
one OF the bedrooms upstair6
You'll have to help, me put the
place back in condition for win
ter. It's absurd to think OF the
piace as a summer house. Because
Of fcourse It isn't. 1t wasn't bull
10 rthat sort Of thing.
And Pat with a chuckle agreed.
Pat knew as well as did Marvin
Dawes the conditions on which
Marvin held the right to occupy tbs
old house in winter,
MarTin's grandfather before hi
death had been reluctant to leaYt
: the old homestead, an exceptional
1y3weiis built house OF twenty roomi
Rnd more, with several acres o
well planted lawns and groves, t
either OF his daughters. These
daughters had become estranget
through the business qquarrels o.
their husbands and certainly woult
not Wish to share the old place. 81
he had stipulated in his will thai
his daughter Lucy should havC
the entire use OF the place from
Nay 1 to the last day Of October
while Dlsrice should have It from
November first TO the last day o
q .