The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-05
HE d
|SHOR Is TORY
zBill's Is al EHalf-H our.
By ii. LOUIS RAYBoLD

\ Il = Z 3. ~ u
Bill Evans, whistling aloud out
of his happy, care-free young
heart, picked up the letter which
lay on his desk, unfolded it and
read His whistle stopped abb
ruptly. Not only that. but an ex-
preston of utmost horror crept
over his face and his handsome
dark eyes took on a look aim ost
sof fear certainly OF baffled be-
wilderment.
Head propped in his two hands.
he read the letter again. spread
ssouts on his desk, as II a second Pc
sssrusal mi ght alter the situation.
Dear Ri ll-Don't4 think that I
have forgotten you, for all the
s1ong silence. When 1 told you II
did not love you enough to marry
but loved your friend Instead,
again. by the way. II you still
Want me, will marry you In
fact, am taking chance and
Coming out by the next boat,
will dock at Honolulu all
moot as soon as you receive TINS
letter If you don't want me, Bill,
why, i can at leastSgo home again.
ever, Beatrice Shaw.
Beatrice Shaw! Yes. he had
once thought he loved her-had
beenspretty web cut up when she
aSturned him down. But he hadn {
thought Of her for months. Not
had met Eileen Cary TO
whom he was to be married a t
moon tomorrow
sBut noon tomorrow! Why. that
was when the Matsonia would
dock, brining Eileen's aunt 10 the
aSWedding from her home in the
Estates; and also Beatrice. How
sould he explain to Eileen that this
girlf had no claim on him? That
theE old affair-and it had hard
sly been that-was over and done
with years ago.
How could he know that Bea-
frice would revive an affection for
yhiml she had never shown and out
pfs clear sky would descend to
rnin his wedding day? What
nadness allied the girl?
Bill rose and paced the floor OF.
ss the comfort study he shared
with his old friend and present
Yfellow worker at the Inter-1sland
4NaFigation Company with nerv-
Sous, angry strikes. Then a strong
desire surged within him to share
#his trouble with some one. HIS
room-mate was off son an e1cur-
sEsfon to Hilo and would not be
until evening, just in time
SIo take his part in the rehearsal
Sfor8the wedding tomorrow, when
SheswaS to be best man for Bill.
n Should he tell Eileen? Instinct
urged him to wait, yet the longing
toShear her voice was overpower-
ing. Perhaps he wouldn't hear it.
TSmany times more. She was an OBJ.
stinate little thing and Bill felt
lSforlornly that did she ever hear Of
seBatrice and misconstrues the sit
uation, she would be quite capable
sof throwing him down hard. x H.; ;ss;S
He took down the receiver and
cailed the number of her fathers
plantation on the city's outskirts.
That you, Eileen?
ssBusy?"
:;asss..Anxious for tomorrow"
.sHHSuppose-suppo you should
Hear-oh, nothing, dear; / don't
know what I'm saying"
course love you. No,
there never was any one else. On
s mysword OF honor, Eileen"
And yet, as he hung up, Bill
& could see the, Matsonia steaming
ssnearer and nearer, bringing the girl
who apparently thought ne stu
q cared, as, hang it, he evidently
ssmust have seemed to care those
ICONS ago, when spurred by moon
Eight night at a dance at Coronado
he had suggested they be engaged
So long ago had it ben that he
had even forgotten why she had
turned him down. oh, the letter
had mentioned his friend. What
friend 2 To Billy, the whole matter
was as vague as that.
Yet there was nothing vague
about the imminence of the Mat