The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-08
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
jungle Fever.
BY p. RAY BAKER.
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)

Carrie Crothers wanted to put the
letters after her name, and Austin
Fredericks strongly opposed. OF
course, the right to the initials would
involve course at college; but Carrie
was prepared for that. Austin was not
prepared. He wanted Carrie to settle
down with him, and cook and sweep
and do sundry other household du.
ties.
But Carrie was willing-after she
wrested a career from the world. When
she had proved to herself and every
making her own way she would be
content to give 1t all up and be plain
Mrs. Fredericks, subtracting and dis
carding the IN. D."
But that isn't reasonable, Carrie"
he protested. III you're so determine
ed to do something, why don't you be
teacher? That won't take so long,
and besides-well, anything but WON.
an doctor for me. 1t isn't their place
--rot by long shot. Now, women
make fine teachers, and l rather al.
mire them, and think what fine thing
they are doing in educating the rising
generation. OF course, you know l
want to get married right away, but
l know your disposition enough 10
realize that !ou won't until you learn
some kind of profession. But make
a Little concession to mc Iu1 be a
teacher. Give up this doctor idea.
Women doctors are no gool."
Carrie took umbrage at his attitude.
Women doctors were just as good a.
the men variety, and lot better in
many cases, she commended, stamping
her foot and growing red with anger
DID he mean 10 intimate that she c, uld
not be good physicia! or anything
else she chose to be? Very well, If
that was all the faith he had in her he
m,eht as well take his h.. and coat
and go, and he needn't come back un.
less it was on her terms. She'd show
him whether a woman could be sue
cessful doctor. Maybe some time he'd
get down on his knees and beg for the
services of feminine physician.
Austin was desperate. He realized
Carrie would not yield a point, and
somehow he was bound to admire her
for her ambition.
by George!" he pondered. 81 be.
lieve she will do it at that. But who
wants doctor for a wife? People
would pass me on the street and re.
mark to one another: There goes DR..
Fredertcks' husband That's all |
would count for, because she'd change
her mind about giving up practice,
once she got her degree. can't do it,
that's all. I'll wait few days and see
lf she, won't change her mind, although
I'm almost certain she'll stick to it."
He was hardly prepared for the
swiftness with which things develop
ed. His morning paper two days la
ter made public the fact that Miss
Carrie Crothers, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. F. D. Crothers, $50 Jefferson ave-
nue, left last night for Ann Arbor,
where she will take six years course
in the study of medicine at the Uni
Eersity of Michigan"
Austin was SO detected that he ate
only one Of the two doughnuts fur.
nished him for breakfast at the arm
chair lunch and drank only half the
coffee. He went around in a daze for
three days, and was constantly afraid
that, in his capacity as assistant teller
at the bank, he might cash a cigar
coupon for hundred dollar check or
commit some equally tragic error.
In desperation he wrote her a spe.
lcial delivery letter, which came as near
being of pleading nature as his rath-
er proud spirit would permit.
The answer came the next day on a
postcard:
After six years. No sooner. Wait
or not, as you see fit"
The reply and the manner of reply.
Ing aroused Austin's wrath.
Shes going to show me, is she?
Very well, Ill show her too" he whis.
pered vengefully to himself, and he
went to the bank and resigned, after
drawing out his savings account.
He was determined to go away. He
had no idea what his destination would
be, but 1t would be somewhere out of
1.-The civilized world, where he would
try to forget and at the same time
give Miss Carrie Crothers a good OPP
portuntty to think things over and
come to her senses. At the end of a
year, he decided, he would come back
and see II things were different. 1t
was going to be hard for him, but it
would be harder to stay and take her
insults" as he put 1t in conversation
with his aggrieved self.
By chance he picked up a newspaper
which announced that Thomas Steven.
son, the explorer, was preparing to sail
IN week for Africa on new expedi-
tton.
Arstin's eyes frightened. Here was
his chance. He had accompanied
Stevenson on the latter's first explor.
Ing journey into. the African wtlds.
md he would arrange to go with him
This time. Invoking the aid of the tele.
graph. using as the address the name
Of Steyenson's favorite hotel in New
York, Austin ascertained that he would
be welcome addition to the party.
The young man found the explorer
packing up in his room. There was a
hearty handshake and a brief exchange
Of words, and a,week later Austin
sailed with Stevenson and five others
for Durham, on the southeastern coast
pf the dark continent.
Arriving there they semployedtthree
1ulus and two Hottentots to make no
the remainder of the expedition. and do
the work. Many weeks later found the
party north OF thesT ransyaal.. through
which they had passed., and, shortly
afterward they $began exploring in
earnest.
Austin understoo deweltSbefore going
that It was a-haZardous undertaking
On which he had embarked. for the
IL