Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-20
Euening Story
THE MAN IN THE STORM.

THE MAN IN THE STORM.
BY oliver Gray.
Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
Janet, dear, won't you please come
to the hotel with us and stay all night?
We've stayed out so late at shows and
things we can't let you go SO far alone
now"
"No, Sally, thanks just the same.
I'll take the subway and be home in
no time. I live so near to the car, you
know"
1T isn't near-it's several blocks
and you shan't go alone. Henry will
certainly go with you"
Henry certainly will not. You two
are so tired doing New York now you
walk as if you were on pegs, and
Henry's eyes look like holes burned in
paper for want of sleep. We girls get
accustomed to going around alone and
you needn't think I'm martyr. No,
can't go to the hotel, either. You'll
and doing at Z. I've lesson at 9 and
l have over an hours practice first"
well. little sister, all right" acqui-
esced Sally. you are too Independent
for comfort, though, sometimes. This
musical career in the first place is all
Janet laid her hand over her sisters
mouth. Flush! Here we are at the
station. Now good night"
Her car was almost full of people
going home from theater and supper.
She thought of the one little all-night
car back home in her native town,
making its lonely half hour trips along
Main street and seldom taking on a
single passenger.
She had been just long enough in
the metropolis to get over the wonder
of 1t, then over the disgust of it-for
there is always reaction-and to take
the philosophical view that is best She
had seen all of it's wonders, a few OF
its horrors, a great deal of its merry
making and lot of it's extravaganza
Her music and little else really inter
ested her. She had her wagon hitched
to the star Of a musical career and she
was willing to work and sacrifice ev'
erything for it's sake.
Hartley Howard had insisted that
his love for her counted for more than
music and it had been a long, hard
fight to convince herself that he was
wrong. She had asked her sister
about him that night so indifferently
that even Sally's sharp eyes were de-
ceived
Hes doing pretty well. Janet" she
had answered. "They say he's going
with Mary Porter, but don't know
for sure. Maybe he is. thought met
him with her one evening at movie
Think how funny it will be some day,
sister, when you're away up in grand
opera and just home from the courts
of Europe to have Hartley present you
to Mary, fat and forty, and with q
family of six to cook and sew for!
You'll be languishing around in bead
ed dresses and ropes Of pearls big
enough to hang washing on, with
two men on the box Of your limousine
and a maid to take care Of your
poodle" She had meant it kindly, for
she thought Janet was looking a bit
white and peaked. but her words had
brought no answering smile.
ut seems a good piece ahead" sigh
ed Janet. I'm afraid the poodle isn't
born yet and the men and the maid
are still in kindergarten"
She thought it all over now in the
car and she was very close to the line
which separates will from weakness
Was she getting homesick? Then she
thought Of the European courts and o.
darning stockings and cooking. The
brave color came back to her cheeks
and she sat very erect. She had chos
en- career and she was going to make
good.
The train stopped at her station ant
she got of. Others got off other car:
and went up the steps of the subway
exit to scatter at the top In different
directions A fine sleet had started t.
fall and the wind which was blowing
gale sent the fine. icy particles into
ner eyes. She turned up her fur col
lar frightened her veil and burrowins
her face into her muff, started up the
street.
At the same time a man started at
ter her. At first Janet paid little atten
ton TO him, but as she left the lights
behind and plunged into the darkness
ahead she felt uneasy. She walked fas
ter but the man soon overlook her
walking beside her and suiting his stel
to hers. Janet kept straight ahead
never so much as glancing aside. Bu
she knew that he. too, had his heat
down against the wind and the colla1
of his greA overcoat was almost touch
ing his hat.
IF you're afraid I shall be glad Il
take you home" he said finally. hi:
voice coming in fitful jerks as the vino
caught It.
mo, thank you. I'm not afraid sale
Janet firmly as she could with hel
teeth chattering.
"But I'm going to the ferry and ri
Just walk with you. If you don't mind.
No answer, but he was not discourag
ed. He kept right beside her.
Tin not accustomed to being ou
,, so late." She decided it was best t.
let him know that she was proper
law abiding person. II was with some
friends from the west and wouldn't LEI
them bring me home" She thought b,