The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-21
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Difference
BY Martha Nee Williams

Everybody knew Miss Jessie
Kapper for a person Of the highest
principles; what was not so well
known was that hr thrift which
was alike hereditary and habItu.,,
, forbade use Of the principles for
every day. She spoke eioquently OF
the large vision, world humanity.
harmony with cosmIs law, aboyo
al. the crying need Of the uplItT
She was further more than gen
erous OF her time and her breath
for all manner OF causes that
might serve Ms pedestals. Not.
outstanding. there were chuckles
from the unregenerate mass over
the washerwoman's verdict: Tilt
amt only that she wants 10 De
heilWether or no sheep-somebody
else must pay 70 rthe bill F."
She looked occasionally well 10
the ways OF the lonsehol
was an invalid. her father away
half the time in Congress That
gave her added prestige. II she
didn't go to Washington with the
general Her mother was excuse
quite sufficient-and daughterly
devotion was thus an added asset.
She paid cash for everything save
her subscriptions to church AMI
charity-for them she set apart the
increment OF her small economies,
She loathed eXtravagance-es
pecially the Carroll Beaton sort.
Carroll also kept house for a rath.
or helpless family--a pretty.
Frightened, incapable mother. and
"a scientific father. who lost him
self in his work. Luckily they
had a fixed income--a fairlsh one
but Carroll wore clothes 1t
panied Mrs. Grundy to see, adj
D mittedly because she could not
' afford better. Yet she bought the
best Of everything In market-not
always the costltest rarlties, hut
the best Of its sort. She kept 4
maid for her mother, and q man
cook, who also looked after the
lawn and the laboratory both, ut
wages that seemed fabulous 10
Allyntown, the while doing her
own sewing, and even making
over her hats. She had little par
ties, too-very simple-cake and
ice cream or tea and sandwiches
In cherry or strawberry time-the
fruit serving IN place OF sweets.
There was dancing, too, OH the
piazza or the grass, to the phonO-
graph that was Mama Beaton's
consolation. New records for IT.,
costly ones at that, further Jared
Miss Kapper's amiablIity. So
badly, indeed. she said outright
10 her gossip, Miss Susan Fife:
III ever anybody needed Il guar-
dian II is Carroll Beaton--unless
she gets one OF some sort. she'll
die on the town"
"She can get a mighty fine one.
any minute she'll say yes Susan
returned smiling slyly.
Miss Kapper brldled. saying
acidly. "You don't really believe
John Huntly has serious inten-
tons? | know he goes there right
along--but us to see the professor,
same as It has always hc"n--
"Nlaybe he's satin the old COW
/, for tho calf'-but have aty
Mouths" from The gossip Miss
1Iapper opened her lips II arcaE.
but shut them with Il snap of tho
jaws on what she had near! to
say. running on after minute to
her fall clOthe. which mean.
making some lew new ones and
making over many that had seen
service. Dyed. re.cut anal re fur
nished they would LOOK new aMa
wear Just us well-anL such say.
ing! Jennie Rritt, rhe little old
maid dressmaker, Ckargcl so mod.
erately even Carroll BALtOn could
: afford her-ii only she would. And
so obligIng-always ready to trrn.
and contrivc, make the most Of
every scrap OF lace or uimninE-
and never send In Il bill I'll The
end OF the quarter. Jennie was an
institution, said Miss Kapper, and
John Huntly'll agree to that" said
Miss Susan. HE goes there every
little while 70 hea. htr tel ahaut
/. his mother-they were little ghls
together. and went 10 the same
school. She gave hin hi first case
when he started lnw.pruc:ica-T
shall always say she'd never a.gona
and sued the Prices or tina. last