Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-03-15
From Farm
to City
How a Country Boy Became
a Lion In Society.
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

Sam Atkins was FARMER Doy.
Sam had met Jennie Williams at
barn dance, and then and there had
commenced the union Of hearts that
grows stronger quickly when planted
in youthful breasts. Jennie was good
girl, pretty girl and in every respect
worthy of Sam.
One day Sam was running his car
on the road and just about to turn into
the farm gate when he heard another
car coming behind him. Looking back
ward, he saw that 1t contained wo-
man who was grasping the wheel, she
being the only person in the car. She
was approaching turn in the road
just beyond the Atkins farm, and her
eyes were fixed in terror on it. On
the outer curve was slope, which 1t
was evident she dreaded, for as she
passed Sam she was crying: "Over the
bank! Over the bank! Over the bank!"
Sam was off the road so that he
escaped the car, which was evidently
beyond the lady's control. AS soon as
she had passed him he gave chase,
passed her, shut off power in his ma
chine, jumped out and as the other
car went by him jumped on to the
footbOard. Once there, he stopped the
car just as it was about to plunge over
the slope.
Then he saw that the woman driving
it was lady in an immaculate cos
tune, the car being a handsome one
and containing the richest upholstery
and wraps She tainted the moment
the danger had passed and remained
unconscious for half minute. During
this brief interval Sam cast a glance
at his own modest car, which had been
wrecked against a tree, then at the
sumptuous appointments of the one
he had saved.
"Why didn't you shut her OFF," said
Sam.
Il was paralyzed with fear"
do you think you can get on now!"
II wouldn't try it again for the
world. I've been taking lessons. This
is the first time have been out alone"
Sam took the wheel and drove the
lady to her home, magnificent coun-
try place suited to the requirements of
multimillionaire. She invited him
into the house and said to him:
But for you / would now be lying
crushed under my car. Your car has
been wrecked. I will see that new
one is sent you of such make as you
may choose. This is simply to replace
your loss. For saving my life ask any
boon, and if in my power it shall be
granted"
Sam protested that he had done moth
ing that any one else would not have
done under the circumstances and the
lady owed him nothing She persisted
and he said that he had always had g
fancy to mingle for a brief season
among persons of wealth. If the lady
would give him an opportunity to at
tend ball she would have repaid any
debt she might owe him.
She looked him over from head t,
foot, evidently taking in his natura
fitness for taking a place among thu
elite, then went to an escritoire ant
wrote check for $1,000, payable t
bearer, and handed it to him.
1.-THE first thing you will need" sh
said, "is clOthes-I mean clothes TO
daily wear and for evening dress
Draw the money on this check an
dress yourself as a city man. Then 6
to a dancing master and have hill
teach you what he can of etiquette an
anything else you may need to fit you
self to appear in society. AS soon a
he reports to me that you are sufficien
~ equipped for the purpose will Civ
ball at which will introduce you I
society,""
Sam held the check in his han,
doubtful whether to accept or retur
1t. The lady saw what was on b
mind and told him that it would |
unkind and ungenerous in him to L
fuse her the privilege of rewardiI
him for preserving her very eXistenc
So Sam yielded She then wrote IL
name and address of the proprietor
fashionable dancing school and, aft
giving him such a luncheon as he III
never sat down to before, sent him {
to prepare himself for an appearan
in ballroom.
Sam went right away to his swee
heart and told her of his adyentu
and its result. Jennie looked gra'
and told him that he would never
satisfied again with country life, tn
he would aspire to marry some g
whom he would meet in high life 81
all would be over between him al
his country love.
Sam protested with his lips, but n
by his looks. So wrapt in the futu
was he that he scarcely heard VIII
Jennie was saying. They parted, Sa
to so to the city to buy new cloth
and find the dancing master, JenI
to her room to weep.
Now, Jennie was an excellent sea-
stress and was doing some sewing I
a Mrs. Trehorne, wealthy WOMB
who spent her summers at her cou