The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-15

viii q you don't VI teh and them
III came back. ] won't Be long.
I'm sure, but please don leave tho
child until l Come back. Thank
you 50 much. "a so much rathee
trust a rnidleased man with a
child Of his own than one Of those
foolish young mothers"
"But-but he Isn't mlddle.aged, ("
protested the very much embarTass.
ed niece: but the aunt did not heed
her, and feeling perfect confidence
in her new acquaintance, she sailed
out Of the waiting room toward the
elevator. Annabelle took a seat
rather shyly beside her newly ap.
pointed guardian.
Aunt clarice Is very nearsight
ed" she said. "she seemed q
think you were as old as she is."
Then there was pause. isn't
your little boy cunning? How old
is he?"
Three" replied Tom, suddenly
feeling a wave Of deep emharrass.
ment as the very pretty eyes Of
the young woman beside him met
his. They waited fifteen minutes
for Bobby's turn, and then Anna.
belle followed him into the barber
shop and sat beside Tom while
Tom gave the barber directions con.
corning Bobby's haircut.
Then they returned 10 the wait.
ing room and waited fifteen min.
utes more for Annabell's turn an
then Bobby and Tom went into thu
shop with her to wait until she was
properly bobbed and singed and
waved according to instructions,
Its very becoming" Tom told
his charge, when the process was
over. II never liked bobbed hair
on girls very much, hut 1T locke
great on you"
Doesn't your wife wear bobbed
hair, Mr."
Tom. And then: my wife? Why,
I haven't any wife"
"But Bobby's mother-Is she
dead?" Her eyes were wide VITA
youthful curiosity.
Tom laughed His mother Is nv
sister. Why, I'm Just youngster:
only been ont of college year. But
speaking Of bobbed hair, when I do
marry I think I'd like wife with
bobbed hair: that Is, II tie In fash.
ion by that time"
They we're back in the waiting
room and had :aken their seats to
await the return OF the nearsighted
aunt, Mrs. Weston. In ten minutes
came a telephone message, by
means Of paging, saying that Mrs.
Weston had had to go to ner dress.
makers. She had forgotten that
she had an appointment, and would
the gentleman be so good as to take
a taxi and bring the niece down e.
the Coolidge Hotel, where the aunt
would meet the niece for tea. The
aunt hoped It wouldn't be out Of
the way for him.
Thpn Tom remembered that llc
had arranged with his sister to
meet her at the Ardmore at tea
time. She was 10 be downtown and
would take Bobby of. her brother ,
hands then. So Tom managed TO
telephone TO his sister asking he
to change the rendezvous from the
Ardmore to the Coolidge, which tile
sister very willingly did, as the
Coolidge was the smartest hotel n
town.
On the way from Strings to tbs
Coolidge Toms taxi~was. caught in
a traffic Jam. sothe and his two
charges were ten minutes late.
than the time mentioned by Mlz.
Weston and Toms sister. Blu.
somehow the delay did not seem to
ruffle the spirits OF the occupants
Of the taxi. Just to be in a taxi
was sufficient novelty for Bobby,
who watched the crowdInE motors
eagerly from the window, And
Tom and Annajelie found diver
sion in discussing recent football
games and in laughing together
over the aunt's mistake in taking
Tom for mature family man.
They felt like old friends when
they entered the palm room at thn
Coolidge where they were to meet.