Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-22
Euening Story
DOING NEW YORK.
BY Louise oliver.

DOING NEW YORK.
BY Louise Oliver.
Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure News
Y paper Syndicate.)
Tom Crawford jingled the change in
his pocket and looked out at the snow,
the first of the season. He had much
the same thought now that he had had
! when the first yellow buds on the
naples in front of the house were
swelling in the spring. Why was it
that the seasons changed SO fast and
he was still not engaged to Martha?
Any other chap would have been mar
ried to her long ago. but here he was
as uncertain in his mind as ever about
taking the step that would make her
his forever.
Z The whole thing amounted to this:
Tommy was never sure that he want
ed Martha forever until SOME other
fellow came along and threatened to
carry out the program himself. Then
he would rise like a gladiator, take a
!, fall out of the enemy and monopolize
Martha again for while. always
however. steering clear Of the actual
subject of marriage. but maintaining
la proprietorship that he had no right
to.
II think" he said with shrug.
that need a change. A week or two
'of New York will put new life into me.
The girls there will have dash and
style that's diverting after a diet OF
quiet village maidens. Even Martha.
pretty as she is. has about as much
pep as milk toast, and although she's
sweet and restful at times. this isn't
the time of year feel as though |
wanted sedative. I'll just fix things
up today for much needed vacation
and take the train east tonight
So he packed up. fixed things at the
office so he could leave. and called
Martha on the phone to say good by"
isn't it funny" answered Martha,
when she heard the news. Il was just
going to call you and tell you the
same thing. I'm going to New York,
too. Cousin Walters wife sent for me
tomorrow. Wouldn't it be funny il
I'd see you there?"
Now this was Tommy's cue to say.
"Of course you will. if you give me
your address But instead he an
swered hastily: Eyes, wouldn't it: but
I'm afraid won't be so lucky Every
minute will be full to the limit: bust
ness must. be attended to, you know.
But I hope YOU will have fine time,
little girl. and don't quite forget me
while you're doing society"
His tone was tender, but mentally
he was registering sentiment some
thing like this: poor Martha. Her
New York won't be mine. Most likely
she'll he left minding the baby up in
Harlem fiat while Cousin Walters
wife goes shopping. But. anyway.
what else could Martha do in sporty
place like New York? She's a misfit
there sure enough. even if she is the
prettiest girl in this little town.
And with his mind firmly fixed up
on the good time he intended to have
with Brinton from Almany. whom he
the $50 express and forgot all about
Martha
But when he reached the hotel next
morning he fourd q telegram from
Brinton saying that he couldn't be
present at the festivities on account
of a wedding which happened to be
his own and that he and his wife were
going south on their honeymoon
This was damper because he had
always counted on Brinton to steer
him around Brinton knew who every
body was. the latest stage favorites,
the movie stars. which cabaret was
the most popular ~ the minute. and
the latest gasp in dances.
However Tommy had quality OF
character that had hnlped to build his
fortune which was never to say die.
So as he had planned to have a time
in New York. time he would have.
He registered with flourish, engaged
a $40 rsom and started in.
He tried to think of what he and
Brinton had done in the mornings or
their last visit to Manhattan; surely
they had done something 10 choke in
the time. He stood at window in
the lobby watching the crowds hurry
mast What the deuce did every one
find to do? Where was every one go
ing in such rush? What had he and
Brinton done mornings beforeo Then
Re remembered Why sleep. OF course
They never got to bed until 3 or 4.
aud they rose at noon. There were
no mornings Oh. those were good old
times.
Well he hadn't come to New York
to sleep. so he sauntered out and ran
into policeman.
What's worth seeing?" he asked,
the usual question of the uninitiated.
We'll. there's the Metropolitan Mu-
scum and the Bronx Zoo. the Botani-
cal Gardens and the AQUARIUM. You
might go to the top of the Woolworth
building or take boat around the is
land. or go down to Coney. though
there amt much doing down there
this time o. year. II you like to skate,
the Kinks are open"
But Tommy had turned on his heel
True. he had never seen any of these
things. but he hadn't come 500 miles
to see them this time. either.
The dav passed in some way. He
went to the Hippodrome in the after
noon and the opera in the evening.
But La Boheme. bored him and he