Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1917-10-02
HOkEsIcK DORA
BY SCHUYLER rERRILL.

AsNSNSSS2A2&IxsAxASA.ASA2A
I'm honleslck for the west--and for
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.
Il didn't know you felt that way
about it, she said finally. 81 thought
you liked 1t here"
Dora sat up, her black eyes gleam-
ing resentfully.
Like it?" she burst forth. II hate
every minute of every day here in New
York"
Mary smiled grimly. "Why did You
come, thenf'' she asked.
Il never told you why / came here,
did II" she asked finally.
mo, except that you wanted to go
on the stage"
"You know about Jim, don't your
"a little"
swell, l was engaged to marry him
once, Dora continued. HE is only a
farmer--a big rube, we'd call him
here-but he was about the only fellow
Ia ever known, and we grew up to-
gether."
did he have any money!?
He wasn't any millionaire, but he
owned a 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 l thought I'd take that
and see New York;
"How much?'
"Five hundred dollars. Jim said that
ought to put it away so I'd be indie
pendent, and had almost agreed with
him when show came to Glendale
and I 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. I
decided to come to New York and get
job"
"You didn't need job with all that
money In your purse"
Dora smiled wryly.
Il didn't have 1t long" she explained.
'Where'd 1t go?"
"Pickpockets, l guess. After that
l went around to the theaters until |
got taken on in this cherus I've been
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.
Eyes"
"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 IL / once came
here he was through"
"Oh, I seel' Mary Myers, wise in
the ways of the world, smiled grimly.
She was really fond of her strange
little roommate.
swell, you go to bed, honey" she
said soothingly, "and maybe things win
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 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.
eff Jim would only come to me-"
Dora said one evening, I'D tell him
how homesick / 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
ascended the stairs and a 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 fine
time to have visitors, must say, wax
ing the house up at this ungainly
hour"
"That's all right, Mrs. Murphy, III
go right down." Mary shot look at
Dora. zone of the Johnnies wanting
me to go to a party, ] 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 MyersT' he asked abb
ruptly.
'Yes."
"You wrote to meT
Into Mary's face came the light Of
sudden understanding.
''Are you JimY' she asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"Come with me-"
Mary led the way up the darkened
stairway and stood for a moment be-
fore the door Of her room.
'Dora's in there" she whispered
finally. "She don't know you're com
Ing"
AS the man pushed open the door the
girl, sitting in the corner, leaped to her
feet. For moment she gazed wonder.
ingly at the visitor, then her lips
trembled.
"Jimw she said.
The big man framed In the doorway
held out his arms.
Dora" he whispered huskily, 'Tve
come TO take you home"
Copyright. 1917 by the Mcclure Newspa-
Per SyndicateJ