The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-11-28

parlson. When She and Tom Went to
the theater, which was rarely enough,
they sat In the upper gallery and d.
vided their attention between the
boxes and the stage, the play and the
wonderfully gowned women on the
floor below.
And what was that Jennie Mills had
said? With her figure she might wear
such gowns, eat such luncheons every
day-be the real thing
She worked during.the afternoon like
girl in daze Customers found
fault with her, and the floorwalker
echoed their complaints. She was
tired and irritable when she started
for home. 1t was raining, cold, vino
driven northeastern, and she had no
umbrella. AS she ran across the street
to the subway entrance she was al
! most knocked down by a hanson
whose fares consisted Of fur clad wo-
man and silk hated man, who swore
| roundly as he saw the girls narrow es-
| cape. Nellie's hand trembled with
nervousness and anger as she bought
her ticket. With her figure and face
she might be sitting in a hanson some
day instead of lodging one. But there
was Tom. Oh, dear! Why had she
been SO hasty? She had been warned
plenty times enough about marrying
IN haste and repenting at leisure. To
be sure, she had known Tom six years.
A man stepped on her foot in the
crowded train, and she drew in the
injured member with scowl that was
scant reward for the mans apology.
1t was dreadful to have to ride twice
day in this mob.
The man seated next to her drew
away from her, and she turned to see
that he was endeavoring to protect a
tissue paper covered parcel from the
crush of swaying strap hangers In
front Of him.
"Say, look out, will you?" he said
sharply to the long limbed youth who
threatened the parcel as the car stop
ped suddenly. Then he turned to Nell
lie, with an apologize smile:
II don't mind the crowding SO much
usually, but these flowers are for my
wife, and by CORY, I'm going to get
'em home safe if 1 have to fight for
emf
Nellie looked at him in surprise. Els
hands were work worn, his clothes
clean, but well worn, his tie distinctly
rusty. But his happiness was infec-
tious
''Tomorrow's our wedding anniver-
sary. Amt it fine that 1t comes on
Thanksgiving day this year? tell
you it makes me think how much more
than ordinary l have to be thankful
for. My wife's just back from the
hospital, safe and well, thank God,
and we're celebrating double tomor-
row. / tell you, young woman, it's
fierce to live three weeks alone with
the woman you've loved thirty years
lying twiXt life and death ten blocks
away. I used to get SO nervous some
nights I'd go and walk up and down
in front Of the hospital where l could
watch the light in her ward So
thought we'd celebrate special this
year. and bought her some flowers
real flowers out of a real store, not
those bargain lunches on the corner
And | got maidenhair fern stead of
the Poston kind. She always did love
maidenhair. And got her a new dish
too-one Of those. bonbon dishes wo-
!ren are crazy about It's glass with
gold grapes on it, just as tiny and fine!
[ cot it at q good store, too, and bet
that violet box they. packed it in will
tlc'z'a her to death. Funny how some
wo:.en set store by little things like
that This IS my station. I wonder if
can get through without breaking
the STEMS
Nellie looked after him with perplex-
ed eyes. Thirty years-and this man
with the rusty tie, the oft cleaned suit
and the obviously slender purse was
buying flowers from a real store for
the woman he loved. The man on the
other side rose to leave the car, drop
ping his paper. Nellie picked it up.
Somehow she did not want to think
Big black headlines caught her eye
+" Countess Sues Her Husband
For Divorce. Cruelty Beaten. Her
Pride Rebels"
II And the countess had a lovely fig
ure and charming face and ate ex-
quisite lunches every day in the year!
Nellie laid aside the paper and star
ed straight ahead until the guard call
ed her station; then she went forth in
to the storm, with shudder. She
came back to grim realities. It was
cold and rainy-and five blocks to her
home. Suddenly by the glare Of pea
nut vendors oil light she saw sturdy
form step forth from the gloom A
strong arm drew her into the nearest
doorway, and a hearty voice said:
''Never dreamed could make it,
Had to run from the shop to your
house and then here, but something
Just told me you wouldn't have your
raincoat or rubbers."
Tom was putting on her rubbers.
Then he held the raincoat for her, fas-
tened it at the throat with his own
bungling fingers, smiling all the while
into her tired face.