Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-10
Euening Story
A GUTTER.
copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
By Henry D. Morehouse.

"Wen, if you, say you can't there
isn't any use of talking any more
about it. The shape the work is ir
now, don't suppose you would MIND
If l left tonight, would your
I, why, no. Joe; If you wish to quit
tonight. it's all right. You can ar
range to go any time you like. But
I'm sorry. I'm sorry to lose you and
I'm sorry I can't pay you more mon
ey. but I've told you how things stand
Have you made any plans?"
mo; none whatever l,....
+ "Well, if you ever want to come
back to work for me I'd be glad to
have you. You're good man and
think you are worth more than
would be able to pay you here. wish
you luck" %0t.1.. .-.,..-.. "a,
Thanks" said Joe. "Ill not forget
what you've said" :.
The men shook hands and Joe left
the Office.
He bought an evening paper and
climbed the stairs of the elevated.
Seated in the train, he began to look
through the Help Wanted" columns,
then turned back a page or two and
listlessly began to read short story.
1t was the story of man of IS, tired
of the city and broke, who had left
town one day, and after travelling
many miles had hired out as farm
hand, and in short time rented q
farm, married, made money and
learned to despise the city and all its
work in the happiness and content
ment of the life he was living.
Joe folded the paper and looked
about him in the train.
What a weary looking throng sur
rounded him, packed as closely as
they could sit or stand! 1t was the
same sort of crowd he had travelled
with always, but he looked at 1t with
a new interest, and what he saw gave
him an idea, hazy, indefinite, but the
more he thought Of 1t the more it
grew to have substance in his mind.
The bell rang and Marion ran to the
door, fastening cuff button in a
fresh waist as she went. Marion was
q stenographer downtown, working
for boss who suited his convent
ence about debating his letters; so
quite often, as happened tonight, she
was late reaching home and had bare.
ly time to finish cold dinner after
the rest of the family and hastily
change her dress. E#
Joe had telephoned her few days
before that he wanted to see her that
evening. This was nothing unusual
for he had been coming to see her
once or twice week for long time.
but this time he had said he had
something important to tell her
Although he never had said SO, Mar
ion thought she had pretty clear
idea of what his feelings were toward
her. Any woman can tell that about
a man.
Instead. of Joe at the door, as she
expected, she met a messenger boy
who handed her note. Opening 1t
in the hall she read:
Dear Marion: I decided a few mo-
ments ago not to come to see you, but
thought would rather write. I am
going to chuck it-leaving town to-
night at eleven. I haven't any clear
notion of where am going or what I
am going to do. only know for GER
tain that I must get away. I have
had hopes for many months-hopes Of
which l dare not tell-but it isn't any
use. I've worked three years on this
job and I'm not getting anywhere. I
hardly make enough to support myself
and when asked the boss for raise
he wanted to know why he should pay
me more when he could get any num-
Der Of men to work for what I get.
Besides, he said, the business would
not warrant it. Several weeks ago,
a distant relatives died and I found
I had been left an income of just one
dollar day. resigned my position
yesterday and am taking train for
some place in the woods up north. I
wanted to say goodbye to you, but I
will let this be my goodbye. joe"
Marion sat long time with the let
ter in her lap beneath her folded
hands. Injured to disappointment az
she was through the many that had
come into her life, she felt this to be
the hardest she had ever known She
had not known until now how much
she cared or what hopes and dreams
had been hers for many months. Joe
evidently considered himself a fail.
urea gutter and was willing to 40