The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-29
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Leander's Courtship.
. cLARlseA MAcKIE.

tlock Of chickens in the middle OF
the road; narrowly missing a COLI.
sion With a load Of hay, and final.
" coming TO q standstill before the
tnug white cottage OF Capt. Dan
Bruce Even now, when It had
rested from Its perilous trip. the
automobile was 10th to be silent.
1t srored Historically, 50 that It
aronsed the ire OF Capt. Dan who
tfotted swiftly around the shell
bordered path to the front gate.
What you bringing that gfggling
old craft around here for, Lean.
der2g he complained. II was feed.
ing my hens and they'll all scudded
ON and It'll take a lot more Of bait
70 catch 'em again
Leander grinned, showing hl:5
Ftrong; white teeth. He was young
and brown and lean and lazy, and
was poor. He had acquired the old
car through a series OF accidents
Din alIof which the car had lgured)
and his casual acquaintance with
a junk dealer. Now the car was
the official bus that ran TO the rail-
road station, aud Leander had the
contract TO cary the mail. And, iE
an almost imperceptible degree, LIE.
auder was improving. He was say.
ing money and thinking OF getting
married.
He confided this last detertnina.
ton 70 Capt. Dan this mild winter
afternoon.
"Married?" the captain lifted hi.
head quickly and regarded Leander
from his keen, frosty blue eye;
that seemed the color OF the blue
seasShe had sailed, laced with white
foam His color was fresh and
rttddy, and his lean cheeks were
clean shayen, with a strong line OF
taw and q good, humorous mouth.
MARKEDLY he repeated again
f1eised out any one as yet, Lean.
Perhaps. said Leander, eau.
doisly. You can laugh, Dan.
maybe you're thinking OF getting
married YOURSELF"
passenit change my luck" nut.
tered the bachelor captain, his blue
eyes fixed on the distant horizon.
You said, you wanted my helm.
What can I DOR
Tell her-I-well, / haven't go,
the nerve, Dan. Maybe you could,
Hot have the gift Of speechmaklng,
and never corrted a girl In nv
ne he hung his head sheepish.
The captain glared at him. What
40 You want to marry for II you're
scairt Of wimmen?" he demanded.
You keep out of It, Leander."
wish / could" sighed Lean.
der but, honest, Dan, l ought to
got married. And besides 1t might
he wei for the business. Mex.
wear could buy a real motor bus,
and that means success for me-"
WhatSdoes she say about 3t?"
Rrhe captain eyed him with dis.
fayor This cold FLOODED financial
atttude did. mt appeal to a man
Who had remained single for the
loHe of one woman.
haven't said anything to her
nota word. But she's been In
\ tie bus sometimes, and she's n
assent lttte body. If you could
her:-then l could do the
4 sneered the captain an
Iii see her. What
eatlier. headed girl do you want
me ask?"
m fcatherhead, Dan.
She's sensible, I'm talking about
Lucy Wayne. Will you do 1t, or
Won; you?" He climbed into tho
little car. Then climbed out again
and cranked 1t; climbed in again
md lighted a pipe, and all this
while Captain Dan had not an
swefede He had stood there lean
ing on the gate. his lips clamped
grfflly about the stem of his pipe,
his blue eyes far away and unsee-
ing
What way?" Leander was i'm
patient
"I3l do It Leander," promised
the captain, his gaze fickerlng
back toLeander, and then away to
the horizon again. ""She shall
have a chance"
That's what I thought" muir
nsired Ieander. smugly. tits a
box Of cigars for you, Dan, after
ward. he promised over his
shoulder
"EScrse mel" calculated the
captain as the car ratified away,
Many minutes he stood there, his
thoughts busy with his past in
which Lucy Wayne had a part.
and even now with their gardens
Joining they did little more than
pass the time OF day when they
met.
a voiee suddenly cut the silence
OF the afternoon.
why don't you come and give
me Leander Hutchins's message?"
asked the low, pleasant tones OF
Lucy, who was leaning over the
snow-drsted hedge between their
yards She was fair and fresh
looking with big brown eyes that
were inclined to be mischIevous,
and q sweet little face that retus-
ed to grow old as, the years fed
over her bonny brown head. 81
want oshear what he had TO say"
The captain came to the hedge.
Lucy he wants to marry you"
NJ announced abruptly.
oh Lucy was really surprIs-
ed. ~ thought perhaps he waited
TO borrow money to so into the
automobile business"
II said / would ask you've
done n growled the captain.
knocking ont his pipe and putting
Il into his pocket of his blue pilot
4-.t,t Ea JvaS JaaG,I.m