The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-14
Tile DAILY
SHORT STORY
By aIARTHIa3 srCuLLocH
WILLIAMS
!, Useful BrnteN

d. b .HI. Il . ii - 4. e. j.
!, a tricky Wind blew up tie
strse piiindering golden naples
and settling fleets Of fairy argosies
asshil through the sun1it distance.
Mischte enough, one would think,
butltrtcksy ~ ID miss on, chances:
This one caight Clare fairly mid
ship, whipping Sher skirts so close
about her that stepping was I'm.
possible. In the effort to loosen
the clingilg things she let go the
sheaf OF blossoms SO lately raw
ished from Miss Penny'S garden.
The next minute dahIias asters,
loose=leafe fed heavy headed roses,
Jewel colored jzsnnias, cosmos Of
rainbow htieg ever blooming
hone ysuckle sprays, all fell at her
feet TO be- scattered by the wick.
ed wind all along che pavement.
Lucky I'm here; know you
want me 70 well, say things for
you, 7 Top Rainey said behind her.
Impro per1y he was sorrol Top
his half q sufficient reason for tho
name. you ought TO have beeh
wiser than to refuse tne yester-
day. Top went on serenely. "You
surely understand l can use Ian
gpage more forcIbly than any
other beau you've GOT" q
THANK yon for nothing. l can
do my own swearing In PINCH"
Clare flung back. "Run home, or
may have TO begin
erhereis;a time for ali things.
lhts isn't one for running home
Straight off, Y" Top gaid rather dis,
iointedly He was half bent, pick
ingup flowers Lucky for you I'm
4 Christian doing good to them
that espitefully use me. II l were
GO home i tell you!" Claire
sail. so low he knew she was muir
derous almost. II tears came she
would be quite so. Banter fled
from him in a twlnkling he re.
! tideyed the last blossom, huddled
the mass delicately in his arm and
said 9in4a voice OF profound sc-
spect:: lI'll take these on TO the
church, Miss Darcy. Who shall I
give them to--Mrs. Angel or Miss
Gtay?"
Y don't care what you DO.
Claire burst out. wheeling TO run
away, hut In the act checked her.
self, sigh.ng "oh, nelther-Mlss
Penny hates both garden oltshone
their 9
'sAll for sweet charity" Top
buhbIed then relapslng into hts
nigh manner: ''ln that case hadn't
Won better overlook hating me for
half an hour or SO, and see that
your p1underings are rightly be-.
stowed2'
sECome on" Claire said reckless
II darting past him. He went on
but 40 soberly she was soon
Yards ahead. AZ the next coracf
The stopped short saying vicioas
~; 5lysen't you rid culous enough.
without playing footman? Keep
up Il YOU insist upon coming wItn
oh, certalnly--you invite me-"
Top returned With q slow lowering
{ mile. Once beside her he-toached
edsr bare hand very, very lightly,
saying !. half. under his breath:
.sWho'd think anything so little and
soft could knock out clean a big
hulking brutegt
s.Dear me. Are you a brute? I
never though you'd admit it," Glare
said folly. but with a hint OF thaw.
ing underneath. Top nodded, say.
ing thpughtfully: "Brutes after all
have their uses. Consider the ole.
plant. But for him, raging tigers,
roaring lions, leppards and things
might rule the World. Consider too
the catncl-the only thing before
autos. that knew-the way across de.
serts, not stopping to hunt water.
Bears, too--what was Wall street
without en-? Bulls are not worth
SHINING at the present price OF
hides
sshut Ip!' from Clare.
Top went on serencly: "And ey.
an real linen now and again justify
their e1istence--if only by con.
go