The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-06
DAILY
ST iORT s:TORY
Capture,
81 Rose MEREDITH.


md the long sllken fringe which
bordered the wide sleeves had pre-
studded her To decide upon the gar.
inent, Billy had admired its graca-
full lines-he had played with the
fringe as he talked Of their giori.
Gus future together - they had
laughed like children over the yari-
Gus things that the tringes en-.
shared, autumn leaves, wisps OF
flying paper, once a downy feath.
or from some passing bird. Ana
then, afterward, when foolish
Misunderstanding had cIouded
eyerything, Elizabeth had pulled on
her ring-hts ring-and dropped IL
into his reluctant hand. The ring
fell aud, dropping, the delicate set
ting, caught on the wretched fringe!
He had laughed grimly as he set
about its dlslodgement.
Il hate the old thIng!" she halt
sobbed, as she brought 1t from the
wardrobe and tossed 1t about her
shoulders. The day was cold and
her suit was rather light in weight
for the advancing season.
Outside, the wind was moaning
among the bare branches, and as
she walked briskly toward the troll
ley car the heart Of the little mll;
SIC teacher felt bleak and bare as
the empty nests in the swaying
trees.
AS the car moved on, Elizabeth
Thought OF the uninteresttng pupil
slie was going TO teach-Annie
Smith. Child who had insisted
upon learning to play Hearts and
Fflowers"-and there had been
many, many lessons, but Annie
still stumbled over the same pas
sages until Elizabeth was ready
toscry with vexation. Today, Annie
was more exasperating than usual:
shefhad limited that her mother was
not pleased with her progress, ana
she had stumbled and fallen weep.
ing over the dreaded passage in the
old tavorite,
TO her own surprise Elizabeth
eomforted the child-for awhile she
forgot her own loneliness and pain,
while she brought smile to wet
bgie eyes and sullen lips. Let US
Try again. she suggested gently,
and to their mutual surprise thcy
had tried again and conquered. II
was a glad little face that was
lifted to Bllzabeth's sad one, when
the hour was ended.
"You have made me glad again"
smiled Annie Smith.
Elizabeth thought OF those words
.,B she waited for the. car that wa
to fake her home. Would anything
ever make her. glad again2 She
knew that, behind her own. little
air of btavado, she carried an ach-
Ing heart that never could be glad
again without Billy Drake. She
brushed away hot tears aud entered
the car with dash OF autumn red
- her checks. Some one moved
Nbng to make room for her,
strong hand steadEed her as the car
luTchel forward.
hank 4gau,; she turned md
&Dtited Mechanically al Billy
Drake; resuming his seat beside
herl The wrap settled lnnocently
about her slender form. Billy was
replacing his hat, and, with a dear
Familiar gesture. was quite uncoE'
sciolisly smoothing the back Of his
sleek head. She saw it all - sho
know it-she felt him so near, and
all the while she sat straight and
small. looking straight ahead out
of brown pnnsy eyes. ANY one ST.
ding beside her might have Thought
herfloyely face naughty and relent'
lessi
The flat.wheeled car clattered
merrily en- It's way and Elizabeth
noted with a hsartsick pang that
they were near Queen street, her
stopping place. Billy wa9 prob
ably going home-he lived a mile
beyong Queen street, and when
would she meet him again, even
ylaccident?
oueenl" beloved the conductor,
as the car. rocked to standstlll.
Elizabeth arose, swept the folds
Of her blue wrap about her and
started for. the door. She felt a
sickening tug at the long fringe OIL
her right sleeve. She would not
look around, A wave OF pink col.
ofed her face as she felt a slight
weight on her sleeve-what was the
wretched fringe doing now? Had 1t
caught in some ones umbrella, OF
pockethook? Billy Drake had sat
on her right-she would not LOOT;
around for there. was a tItterinE
laugh behind her. Some one else
was getting of directly behind her
rStep lively, there.' sang out the
mbtornian jovially, as the car
rocked away on It's flatSwheeled
career.
elizabeth whirled around and
Confronted Billy brakes amused
and. at the same time, apologetic
smile.
u am sorry, ElIz-NIIss Russell
couldn't help it, you can ses
that"
Help what?' she asked frostily.
At the same instant she looked
down and saw-saw the fringe OF
her right sleeve wound impishly
around one Of the buttons OF his
oyercoat. In this way had she in
nocently ensnared him In the car
had led him down the aisle and here
he Swasi
What an intolerable position.
sI,didn't expect to get on here, :
he apologized; ~ was going to
! King street"
u am very sorry" she said stiff.
" and then IN q sudden burst OF
yexation she added, "Why didn't
yoh& cut 1t on? Break 1t of. Now
! It's a wretched thingi" She
puiied vigorously at the silken tan.
- s.fsT ~ lf,y1cs4tad tI,rnod,