The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-21

TiE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Girl With Two
Sweethearts.
. EtElIAN N. MI1cAELL

the way you have. said her
chum bitterly at wouldn't
take me long 10 decide to say yes
To- one OF them-and leave the
other one for some other girl,
Ellen stared at her churl. But
you rex, I've known both Of them
eYersince I was a child and some
tiInes | think IT'S one and then
again I think It's the other. HeT
blue eyes clouded for o moment
and then she smiled. "But I know
that III know pretty soon%some
way Ecaaitelt that I really love-
ahe paused.
believe that you know right
now and are Just
Ellen looked aggrieyed: Truly,
don't. But, some way ! know
that
Bah!n interrupted her chuni
and slammed out OF the house.
was. Saturday afternoon and
Ellen began preparing for the eve.
ming. Tom always took her TO din
uer downtown on Saturday nights
and then they usually went to q
show or q concert while they were
sim downtown. And so on Satur-
day afternoon Ellen always wash.
cd her hair. and manicured her
nails With extra care for Tom. who
although he never said anything
concerning her personal appear.
anye always had the air OF regard
ing her critically as she stood In
tho front hallway drawing on her
gloves.
She and Tom and David Mcguire
had ail gone to school at the little
red schooihouse which lay equidis.
tant between their three homes.
Tom had gone to the city where
lte had made a definite success in
the bond business which his uncle
had founded some forty years be.
fore, while David Mcguire had
stayediback in Hillstown, where he
worked hard on the farm all sum
mer and siayed all winter at the
little model of the potato-hiller he
was trying 10 perfect enough to
invent.
That evening she was drawing
on her white gloves under the ar
t~ectionate yet critical eyes OF Tom
when David Mcguire was an
nounced. The men greeted each
yother with the friendliness that
their school days warranted; yet,
Ellen thought, there was a reserve
on the part Of each. While they
stood discussing business she had
Q good opportunity ito compare
them.
Tom wore his clothes we'll and
was entirely at case; David how.
ever. was plainly from the coun.
try. His clothes were store clothes
and ELLEN could Just imagine how
old Mr.. Holloway had tried the
coat on for David In front Of the
mirror that stood before the bench
where new shoes were tried on.
She could fairly see him slap David
ON the back: Wish ! could, look
as peart,' he had probably said as
he called old Mrs. Holloway to
view the fit OF the coat that looked
like 1t was made fer Davey."
II was decided mutually that
hey should all dine together and
Ellen found as they drove uptown
in the cat. that Tom had ordered
early in the afternoon that she
still had ample occasion to look. at
the two men together. She thought
ot the two proposals, so like the
men who had made them.
ISL can't give you much now,
honey-except live.M David said
as they had stood under a tree lad
a with cherry blossoms, "but
some day the potato hitler will
work out and then-then-" his
eyes had looked far away over the
tiIls.
TOMS proposal had come while
they stood waiting for a taxicab
atter the theatre: II think q whole
lot of YOU Ellen, and with your
locks and my money we'll just
make b eslittle old town hum -
can give you everything.
Eserythihg-and nothing!
Tonight she would decide. She
felt iustinctiyely. At dinner she
said little Tom did the ordering
easily and she saw that David Nc.
Cure was delighted to be relieved
of the duty. Tom was very careful
about oil: there was nothing left
To- chance for he asked the waiter
about yery item to make sure
thnt each one was good this night.
David was plainly distressed by
the si1Yerware and Ellen found
that he watched her eagerly to soc
which should be picked up first,
Between courses Tom said:
Every study psychology, Daye?"
David shook his head.
tm{muchbinterested in IT. Tom
went on easily, Psychology. men
taI sciences, Freudian theories and
all of that. I believe that a man
can get on faster In the world IL he
knows aigood deal about the work.
ings oflthe minds OF the men with
whom he deals. Take me, for in.
stance. when a fellow comes into
the Office with a bit Sof money to
inYestI can usually tell toia T.
whether he is interested in public
uttlitfes-in industrials or rails.
watch him-that's ADJUST watch
MIN and see where his eyes travel.
After IsAmow that I mention differ.
snt sutnso Of money until I see by