The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-02-19
CHAPTER xIv-Ccontinued).

Mr.. Wiley sighed. Got a telegram
from Hen McFetridge yesterday. They
played to 8. r. o. at MarshaItown.
And another one from Cedar Rapids
says: Biggest house here since &c.
Janet"-he looked at her with the first
burst of enthusiasm she had seen this
morning-"Aurelie's a winner!"
The roma OF 80 was hooking or to
the hills. Wiley, / wouldn't publish
all the things you do about her in the
press notices and things. And 1t
doesn't do you n good In your new
career She had hesitated and looked
full at him. Uncle Michigan had gone
back to scratching his garden bed.
The town says again she paused
at his r~esentful wonder.
The town says whatT' Iar.
That you must be rather in love
with Aurelie." GE @~
He was on his feet before her.
"Janetl They say thatY"
We'll, you've run on in such enthus-
tasm about her. or course it's just
your way
says. The town made an oStcast OF
me much as It did of Surelie In the
old days. But by George, yanet-this!"
"She is the sort you would love.
Wiley. ( With all her courage, the
brave fight, as o say she Is making
she is of the s~uperlatiyely fem
mime sort-or at least what you men
stupidity imagine Ii the really feminine.
Appealing to your absurd chivalry, as
you call II; but actually your vanity
clinging to you and so giving you an
enlarged ems of your strength, your
wisdom, your indispensableness to
womankind! Come now"-she smiled
good hur1oredly-"isn't that the type
OF woman you 1 X best?"
u A-a~l -. Il L..-k ..-I.. -
had begun with a touch OF bitterness
which her common sense subdued.
The parasite? Not the woman who
can help-and who dares demand!
You men are all primitive In your ideas
OF women, Wiley"
Janet" he answered slowly, you
don't understand. A child, misplaced,
hurt, proud, struggling for the bit of
good h sees-that Is what I saw in
Aurelie. l don't deny her appeal. I've
felt like taking her in my arms and
saying: Why, our lear kid, you
ought not to be, in this business,
knocking about cheap hotels and In
such shows. You ought to have a
home--a shelter-s0me one"
That Is just it." She smiled imper-
sonally, and briefly. Well, no matter,
Wiley. Only I wondered why the blue
birds were calling to you this morning.
and not congress. 1t Is spring, Wiley
But Mi. Curran was put out and
angry. He did % want her to divert
the matter with her serenly measuring
smile, "Janet!" he cried again. II
don't love her-no, mol"
"No-no! Merely attracted. AS you
are TO bookposter girls and the mag
azine cover gfrls!" She laughed now.
ooh, well, the eternal 'masculine!"
Then she turned to him stubbornly:
but you are coming through this
fght-this campaign-this mans work
for US all"
Yes" he answered quietly. II will.
And you've hurt me, Janet. But per-
haps you were intending to-"
She left him with another banter. He
Il a feeling that h was guessing
shrewdly al the struggle dimly grow
Ing in his mind; he vas trying to
grasp her larger standards, her victor
lous self as a woman OF the time, and
his yielding to the common thrall of
men in this chit of a girl. And he
gave 1t up as a bad job, and turned TO
his work. But he observed that he did
work the rest OF the day. savagely and
with effect. He would not listen to the
.bluebfrds.
Bluebirds and spring ushered in full
June. With his shop and his, outer &C.
~tivities he was busted, but not too
busy to read the scrawly letters from
Aurerie which Uncle Mich brought.
Things had happened. The McFetridge
had transformed the
northwest and then booked into a Chi
cago stock house, Then 1t lost the
money garnered on one-night stands.
The city did ne seem to recognize last
years winner Of the beauty contest
The Chronicle, having worked its sub
scription lists as far as might be on
the exploitation, was rather Indifferent
to Miss Lindstrom. Other reviews were
Morris Feldman said 1t
was Mr.. Hanbury's rotten" play. But
every one cheerfuIly admitted that,
young Mr.. Hamburg, Of the Du-
buque Register.
All this between lines of Aurelie's
letters. She was undapnt-
She was expanding vivaciGusly,
throwing herself into work, living every
minute. Her first glimpse Of a city
her. She bewildered Uncle
Michigan with her adventures.
That Limb Of a girl" commented
Aunt Abby, she ought to be home. 1t
isn't doing g. her a mite Of good Wiley"
Where is Aurelie's homer
She ought to be gathered UP and
taken care Oft"
Yes" Mr.: curran sighed. Il think
80 too, now"
The next they heard was of a
WTaHSIe 1--WE Jne McF eIT1QgeS n
Morris .Feldman. Then Mr.. Feldman
was out" and the house was dark
and she was boarding with Miss Nor
man who was a perfect dear" Then
company reorganized with q lot of
scenery and a new play
the angels had procured. Then |
they had a summer booking and Au-
relic vas to be leading lady!" Out
In the west again somewhere! So Au-
relic put 1t.
Mr.. Curran was struck dumb. Au-
relic a leading lady!", He could not
kick his job press that day. That
he unused, must just be running
that show and the twins and every
Done goin' to occupy the land!"
chuckled Uncle Michigan.
One afternoon when the sugar trees
the town were summer-heavy, and
he uplands came the faint click
click OF the first mowers. and the
young corn was high across the black
MIR. Curran, looking up from
his press, saw the Van Hart surrey at
nis door. 1t held two euit casss and a
the like OF which in jowl and
Eggs Rome, Ia, had never before seen.
nd a broad shouldered young man
vas descending. Mr.. Curran threw
hr,Arf9 m f',o yyi,,A onl aa}yal hSu