The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-24
iE DAHL
SHORT STORY
Alice In The Subway
BY Jane Osborn

BY Jane Osborn
II E was the kind OF man who
~ seem to be holding continual
competition for the "prettiest girl
~ or .'the most beautiful girl. In
I this competition he was sole judge
and the. contestants were girls he
CHANGED to meet or to gee any
where. When he went into restau-
rant where women Served he cast
4 his eyes about to find the girl VINO
in his opinino, was the prettlest
Then he took seat at table that
seemed to be in her zone After
dance he could tell you which OF
the girls was the prettfest, wnlch
: the most beautiful. In the offlce OF
a friend he would look about IN
search of the best-looking steno-
era pher. 1t seemed to be a game
that interested him immensely ana
that made even ride in crowded
subway car something of an adyen-
ture. ~
Thus he was engaged one after
noon when the offices of the busl-
ness section had just poured forth
+ their thousands of young women
/ to make their way thomeward. TINS
time, the laurels were AWARDED with
out delay. The girl who stood OPP
posite him in the Iyestibule OF the
subway car was so fresh of face,
sa graceful proportioned, so brown
Of eye and golden of hair that she
won with flying colors. In fact she
was probably the prettiest girl he
had ever seen in a subway train.
In fact she was perhaps the pref
ok .
Then the surprising thing happen
ed The pretty girl, with quick col.
or coming to her checks, stepped
over to him with hand outstretch
ed. - e-rr
5 .You're John; Laurence. aren't
you?" she said with perfect con
eviction 81 haven't seen you for ten
years, I'm sure. Yet I knew you in
a flash"
It was surprising because the girl
didn't look at all like the girl VINO
would respond so quickly to his
look of searching interest
you bet ! am. John Laurence's
my name, all right"
You don't remember me?' she
asked with a little disappointment.
81 remember your Sace - could
& MT forget that he assured. But
NJ for the minute the name has slipp-
II ed me-"
alice" she reminded. 81 used to
Sit infront of you in school. You
used to walk home after school.
too, and carry my books. And l used
to call you Johnny to tease you,
and you used to put the end of my
braid in your ink we'll
$50 did, SO I did. You look just
the same. Let's see how many years
ago was that?''
Ten, wasn't it," she figured.
I've were fifteen then and we're
twenty-five now. That's ten, isn't
it?''
Enormous satisfaction swept over
the man. He was thirtytwo and a
girl who didn't look more than
d twenty thought he was her own
zsage.
Is5s Il guess I look a whole lot older
than you" he flushed.
well, maybe but then I suppose
you have worked pretty hard. |
heard you had graduated from Har-
ward and had gone in business with
your uncle she said, and again the
man swelled with pride. He looked
10 like a Harvard man, did he? Were
not we foolish?" she went on. You
and i used to be such good pals,
s John, and then we quarreled over
# some trifle.'
Eve were more than pals. We're
not WEI" said the man, making a
successful effort, not to overdo the
matter, yet eager to know what
role he was entitled to play.
..Oh, you used to make calf love,
M
u forget all that. But I'd really like
5toSsee you gain. and talk over
school days" She put her hand out.
aCome and see me some time.
live exactly where I did ten years
ago. The neighborhood hasn' t
changed. I am getting out here
n tonight to see a friend"
And there the man stood glued
to the side of the car. Why he
didn't follow the girl out of the
scar he could not tell. When he
came to his senses and tried to fol
low, the subway door slammed in
his face.
That night he took note of the
!. facts on hand. Though he had no
thought at first that the girl was
just getting an excuse to talk to
4 him he was assured, as her face
and manner had assured him that
she was not the kind of girl to do
that sort OF thing. He was sure of
I her story. She had simply mistaken
him for some one else.
All he knew OF her was that she
lived where she had ten years ago
{ that her first name was Alice, and
that she went to school ten years
&sgo with a man named John Laur-
cncc now 25, who had graduated
from Harvard, and bore a striking
resemblance to hif, Jim Kelly. Aft
er all, the clews were not bad. AS
the man thought it over. he be-
ueved that the girl realized her mis-
take before she left. Much as he adj
n1fred his own personal appearance
he could not believe that she could