Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-03-09
HER CHANCE \
By JEANNE o. LoIzEAUX
(copyright. 101o. BY Associated Literary Press.l

daughter Dora, or the mother was.
The girls father took his pipe from
his mouth, and answered his wife,.
manlike, with another question. He
would have no nonsense about Dora.
Where's Steve? I thought that
was good as settled? Young Storms.
may be all right. but he'd better stick
to the girls of his own class He may
be playing with Dodie-I won't stand,
for that What makes you think he's
Interested in herr"
We'll, he's brought her home from
the Office half dozen times - and
once when it stormed something aw-
full he stayed to superior remem-
Der, and spent the evening. He
seemed to enjoy himself. 1 don't sec
why he shouldn't be in love with
her, and marry her. She's the pref
test girl anywhere about, and we've
kept her sweet and ladylike. Being
In an Office hasn't seemed to spoil
her bit, and it's been near year
now" The father grunted incredu-
lously. and his wife continued:
"Steve's all right-in his way. He
don't amount to so much. He hasn't
much to begin on
The man interrupted. He's plenty
Of sense and health and good trade,
and no bad habits. She has always
known him-and that counts. He's
better off than was when you
thought"
"You-oh, you were different"
said his wife, softly. There was al
ways something about you. I'm not
sorry took you, If l have had to
work hard. But I'd like to give Dora
a better chance"
She did not say that she had al
ready, with clever casualness,
dropped the information to her old
friend, Steve's mother, that Atwood
Storms seemed to like Dora and
brought her home, though she did
not mention that it had always been
when there was bad storm. and
because he had to come that way
anyhow. The mother had told Steve
and the first little cloud appeared be-
tween the young people.
Doras mother said little thereafter,
but she made up her mind. She
had been only class behind At
Storms father in high school He
was the son of poor parents - his
phenomenal success In the law had
brought him money, but the little
woman did not see that his sons life
was removed in class from that of
her daughter.
Things in the family began to-
Change. The house was rearranged,
new articles appeared, there was less
comfort and more show. The mother
toiled, managed, insisted on better
clothes for Dora. and made them
herself, for she was clever with her
needle Nothing was said to the
children, but Dora began to wonder
If they could afford SO much, and
her mother laughed and told what a
good manager she was getting to be,
hiding her anxiety. The father began
to work overhours at his carpenter
ing.
Within three months from the time
Dora's chance" had been seen by
her mother piano appeared in, the
house, and the girl began taking les
sons, using part of the money she
had hitherto paid toward family ,ex-
penses
Atwood Storms, good amateur
pianist himself, came out one even
ing and played for them ALL Dora
had told about the new instrument,
and he was pleased by her childlike
pleasure-he was very young him
self, not twenty-one. He was gay
and jolly, liking the pretty girl, the
simple family. He came again, and
yet again. and it happened that on
each OF these times Stephen Hollis
came for one of his frequent calls,
saw the young man at the piano,
Dora and the others all about. He
stood moment looking through the
window, and then went away. If
she wanted to throw him over for a
rich mans son-let her, but he
wouldn't show that he cared.
Thereafter Steve remained away.
When by chance he met Dora, he
lifted his hat, and passed unsmiling-
ly by. Dora began to think He had
not taken her anywhere for long
time. Could he be-jealous? 1t made
her heart leap to think he might
care enough for that.
This Steve had been her beau"
from childhood, though there had
been no words of marrying spoken be-
tween them. Then, like sudden light,
her mothers scheme dawned upon
| her. Nothing had been said to the
girl, but she saw now the reason I'M
| derlying the new expense In the
home, the anxious planning, the over.
work! 1t was for her-for her! Her
young cheek blazed with shame.
Could her poor mother have thought
Atwood Storms was really in love
| with his fathers stenographer, lust
because he was reading law in the
Office and saw her daily?
The girl knew his attentions had
been no more than kind, but her in
terest in him was reused. Singularlv
unspoiled heretofore, now new self
1