The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-27
THE d Ill Y
SHORT STORY
Gallatin's News.
ny MlLL q. AMEe

~ aI.fla " WILL " avn
~ ALLAT1N brought back to
Templeton the news that Fred
Ballard had got those Tulsa
pn8wells OF his by marrying u
MHquaw. Gallatin aud Ballard had
nothing in common In Templeton;'
} moved in quite different circles.
Judging from what Gailat!n said to
Mary Holden at the Kimmer house
"Wednesday dance they had had
nothing In comon in Oklahoma.
1.-THE fellow was no crony. OF
mine, either here or there, so !
don't mind tattllng. OF course, l
wouldn't tell the story TO any
friend OF his, but you probably
never heard OF him TIL he went
away and struck the oil. I"
you may tell it to me quite safe
ly,S remarked Mary, indlfferently.
According to Gallatin, Ballard
was one Of a party OF prospectors
that guessed out pool OF oil under
d quarter section owned by q
drunken Cherokee. They found tho
ibdian fighting snakes in his shack
and being fed teaspoonful doses OF
Iamacia ginger by his stolld, moon
faced daughter. The others left
Ballard to make deal with the
Cherokee as soon as he came out
Of his 1im.jams. Instead OF which
Ballard rushed the girl of to Tulsa
Sat evening and married her. leav-
ing the old man alone with his
makes. When they got back the
next day the Cherokee had gone to
the Happy Hunting Ground and
8allard's wife was the owner OF u
Epupie Of million dollars worth OF
ihnarkable fine oil land. Sweet
way to get your money-what ~
commented Gallatin. mice coun-
Try, that, lovely ethicsl"
you're not going back?" inquir-
sdyMary.
No. Only the blackguards suo-
coed out there. Besides. it's rot
ten hole for a fellows wife," 1t
was a boldly significant look that
fGallatin bent on the girl, and no
pressed her fingers as he took her
hand to lead her out on the floor,
for the music had begun again.
But Mary, declaring the orches.
tEa's selection simply dreadful.
sent Gallatin off to dance with neg
tected little Edith Prince. Then
finding her wrap, she went out on
theSlong yeranda to be alone in the
crisp, starllt night.
So that was the sort Of man Fred
ballard was, after all! Gallatln
could have had no reson to in-
vent or ombellish the story, for
neither he nor any Of her friends
was aware that she was even ac-
quainted with Fred. oh, well, what
had she known about him, really?
Only he had seemed so genuine, so
dependably fine and honorable.
And-yes, she might as well admit
st--she had loved him. Thank God
she had kept her love secret,
eVen from himl
$50 ran the girls thoughts BIT
Utterly.
Ballard had been rather. a no.
sSbody In Templeton, from the view.
!point Of her set-just an under-ex-
ocntive in her fathers factory. But
their eyes had met one day last
spring. and since then-well, she
had had her dream. What a cad
he must bel Yet how secretly proud
of him she had been, when on the
one occasion when he had caHde
onsher he had said so manfully:
Miss Holden, l am going away
to try to make some money. II
succeed shall come back and try
10 make you love me-"
She had been perilously near to
saying something then that she
would have been sorry for now.
What she did say, however was;
THAT Is your right, Mr.. Ballard. Z"
He had never written. There had
been sort OF tacit understanding
that he should not. But word had
come back that he had prospered
Immensely In her secret heart
she had been looking for his re-
turn.
And now!
a taxi rolled UP to the curb
fifty feet away. Even while its oc-
ciipant was paying the driver Mary
recognized him and shrank back
into the deepest shadows. Gallatin,
searching for Mary, met Ballard
face to face under the electric
globe in front of the entrance. Il
was strange, MARY thought. that
GaHatin after what he had said,
should greet Ballard so cffusiSely:
stranger yet that 1t should be Bal
bard woh withheld his hand, ignor-
ing that OF the other man.
81 have shaken hands with squaw
imen,n she heard Fred say, but It
was when they stuck" Then she
saw him pass Gallatin by and enter
The hotel. Gailatin stood uncertain.
under the light for a ; moment,
then he too went in and almost i'm
mediately emerged again. hat and
coat on, and hurried away.
For a single instant there came
10 Mary Holden the longing that
Ballard would come to her there
and tell her Gallat'n's tale was d
lie. It did not carry. Why should
Gallatin so libel another man graf
utiously? And how weak and silly
its would be, with Ballard likely TO.
appear at any moment! No. she
didn't want him to come. She
didn't want to see him, over again.
All obe vrartnd nnu, yvoa 70 nrcono