Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-12-23
A ROOM
TO RENT
By Abraham R. Groh

To the girl away from home no time
Is so lonely as Sunday afternoons.
Ellen Sibley had come to the city
three months ago. This Sunday at
ternoon she had her regular weekly
spell of "the blues"
This afternoon she had the weekly
paper from her old home town. She
knew everybody there, and she de-
lighted in reading each homely little
item
What dull place she had always
thought the village to be! How she
had longed to get away to the city
where she could have an opportunity
to do something. She had not been
satisfied to live the life of the village
She wanted to be in the midst of the
glamour and excitement of the city.
But now she saw the city as it was,
and her heart longed for the village
with it's peace and quiet, it's plain,
honest, affectionate people who had
always taken kindly interest in her.
One item opened long train of
memories in her mind. 1t was to the
effect that John Rogers had taken
charge of the lumber yard. The paper
said good many nice things about
John, as country weeklies have hab-
it of doing, and prophesied that he
would be the head of a great business
some day.
Through the mind of Ellen Sibley
went memories of days spent in the
society OF John Rogers. She remem-
bered his honest face, his manly de-
meanor on all occasions. In COM
parison with the city men he, to say
| the least, did not suffer. She remem-
bered, too, the summer evening when
she had refused to be his wife. And
as this came back to her the girl
dropped her head in her arms and
| wept.
Gentleman to see We, Miss Sibley."
1t was the voice of her landlady, good
Mrs. O'Flaherty.
ITO see mel" exclaimed the girl,
trying to control her voice, and glad
Mrs. O'Flaherty was on the other side
of the door.
yes, miss. He says is name is
Rogers"
"Oh, yes, why-tell him I'll be
down."
The girl scarcely knew what she
said For moment she was too
surprised to move. Then she huI-
ried to make her toilet. In the act
of putting on her newest dress, she
paused, and then took from the closet
one which she had brought with her
to the city. 1t was dress John Rog.
ers had always liked. She put it on
She arranged her hair in the way he
had often admired.
The excitement of the sudden and
unexpected visit brought a higher
color to her cheeks. When she was
ready to go down, she was a vision OF
feminine loneliness, such as made
John Rogers catch his breath when he
saw her in the frame of the door
way.
They shook hands rather formally
Ellen had planned to be so self-pos.
sessed, but her heart was beating like
a trip hammer, and it was John who
relieved the situation.
II just happened to be up in the
city, and thought I'd come around to
see how you are getting along he
said.
'Oh, I'm doing very WE'LL" she re-
piled, "and it's very kind of you to
care, john
"Care!" he cried. ELLEN, you know
that have always cared-cared more
than you will ever know"
well, but that is all past now, Mr.
Rogers" she said.
Mr. Rogers!" he exclaimed. "Since
when have become Mr.. Rogers?"
She smiled at him, the same old
tantalizing smile which had driven
him nearly distracted with love OF
her. But he was no boy now, and he
rose and came to her. She was fright.
ened at the look on his face.
ELLEN, dear, can't leave you here
You are going to marry me-" he said
She was so surprised she did not no.
tice at first that she was in his arms.
But she knew she was ineffably
happy. Still, appearances must be
kept up.
How dare you!" she cried, and
made feeble attempt to release her.
SELF
But John Rogers only smiled as he
held her tighter and then kissed her.
Next day Mrs. O'Flaherty put out a
sign stating that she had room to
rent.
| RuroI..,.