Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-07-05
HOMESICK DORA
BY SCHUYLER TERRILI

him."
For a moment Dora Trisdale buried
her curly head among the faded cush-
ions Of the narrow couch. Mary Myers,
sitting opposite, gazed upon her won
deringly.
II didn't know you felt that way
about ii" she said finally. 81 thought
you liked it here"
Dora sat up, her black eyes gleam-
Ing resenffully.
Like it," she burst forth. "I hate
every minute Of every day here in New
York" -
Mary smiled grimly. "Why did you
come, then?" she asked.
II never told you why I came here,
did II" she asked finally.
mo, except that you wanted to go
on the stage"
"You know about Jim, don't you?''
ga little"
"Well, I was engaged to marry him
once" Dora continued. Gle is only a
farmer-a big rube, we'd call him
here-but he was about the only fellow
I'd ever known, and we grew up to.
gether."
did he have any money!
"He wasn't any millionaire, but he
owned big farm and could have given
me a good home. When my mother
died he wanted me to marry him and
settle down, but ma had some life in
surance, and I thought I'd take that
and see New York"
"How much?'
give hundred dollars. Jim said that
[ ought to put it away so I'd be indie
pendent, and I had almost agreed with
him when a show came to Glendale
and went to see it. The company
held reception afterward, and one of
the actresses told me that could make
good on the stage. I believed her, and
in spite of all that Jim could do, ]
decided to come to New York and get
a job"
"You didn't need job with all that
money in your purse"
Dora smiled wryly.
II didn't have it long" she explained.
"Where'd it go?"
"Piekpockets, I guess. After that
l went around to the theaters until
got taken on in this chorus. I've beer
here for six weeks now, and I'm sick
and tired of the whole thing"
"And you're still in love with the
rube?" she asked.
"Yes.'
"Why don't you write and ask him
to come and get your"
"He wouldn't do it. He's stubborn
and he told me that if I once came
here he was through"
ooh, I see!" Mary Myers, wise in
the ways Of the world, smiled grimly
She was really fond Of her strange
little roommate.
well, you go to bed, honey" she
said soothingly, land maybe things will
come out all right"
After Dora's deep breathing had sig.
nified forgetfulness Of the hall bed.
room and everything connected with it
the other girl took a rather scratchy
pen from the center table and ad.
dressed a letter to Mr.. Jim Black, Glen.
dale, Colorado.
A week passed, and the strange light
in Dora's eyes grew brighter. Mary
developed the habit of going home di.
rectly after the evenings performance
She encouraged Dora to talk Of Glen,
dale, and of Jim.
IF Jim would only come to me-
Dora said one evening, "pd tell him
how homesick I am"
1t was after midnight, and the two
girls had just come home from the
"show." The open window brought to
the room myriad sounds of the city,
Suddenly the doorbell rang shrilly,
Dora leaped to her feet.
Someone's forgotten his key again.
she exclaimed irritably. ooh, how
hate this place."
From the lower hall they could hear
the sound Of voices. Then footsteps
assembled the stairs and knock sound.
ed on their door.
"Come in,' Mary called.
The door opened and the landlady
stood before them.
There's a man downstairs wants to
see Mary" she announced. 'It's a fine
time to have visitors, must say, wax.
ing the house up at this ungainly
hour"
That's all right, Mrs. Murphy, TIL
go right down." Mary shot a look at
Dora. zone Of the Johnnies wanting
me to go to party, I guess" she ex-
planned.
But at the foot Of the stairs she met
a man she had never seen. He lowered
over her, and in his eyes was an anx-
ious light.
"Are you Miss Myers?" he asked alb
ruptly.
eyes,"
'You wrote to me?"
Into Mary's face came the light Of a
sudden understanding.
care you Jim?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered.
'Come with me-"
-