Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-12-17
Wanted
"A Husband
-s-
By KATE EDMoNDS

(S. 1890. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
Had some good fairy suddenly inter-
rogated Janice concerning what she
wanted more than anything else in the
whole world, the instantaneous answer
would have been "a husband" which
perhaps, is not so very surprising after
all for while the response would come
on the heels Of the question, 1t would
lack the saving grace Of being abso-
lutely true. It was not so much
husband for which janice yearned, as
that which husband usually repre-
sents.
janice wanted husband because
she could not find man to serve In
the role Of friend, whose reassuring
arm would chase away all fear when
the dark bridge had to be crossed at
night after work; one who would sym
pathetically listen to the little tale Of
woe about the domlneering forelady in
the department" Somehow 1t seemed
to Janice If she could find husband,
he would be the pal for which. she.
longed.
But in monotonous friendliness ia
nice continued to hemst!tch her days
away, until one day above the din of
the machines electrically growing out
the work, she had heard herself re-
ferred to as "the old maid"
In that moment an idea dawned and
found expression; any plan seemed
feasible to avoid the ridicule of her
fellowworkers
'Tll pretend there is some one. He
lives far away, so can't see him, but
I must write him letters to inspire
him In his work" She treasured her
self. "Why shouldn't II"
Then MS the pretty pieces Of Or
candle came out from beneath her
needle In long rows Of even hem
stitching, the imagined husband Of
Janice was quite complete as to de-
tails, even to a name. II think L
would like the sound Of Mrs. John
Carpenter" and in her minds eye
she saw visiting cards bearing the
words
The days work completed, she re-
traced her steps to the tiny room
called homo and sauntered into the
"parlor" as nonchalantly as she was
able, that no attention might be d.
rected to her perusal of the almanac
which comprised the sole extent Of the
roomlng house library. Opening the
book at List of Towns in the United
States" and turning to a page Of
that section at random she placed her
finger with blind faith and opened her
eyes to find herself pointing to clay
Ranch, Oklahoma"
In the safe seclusion Of her room,
the first letter was lndlted to the crea-,
ton of lonely girls imagination. 1t
was sweet little letter, filled with
the yearning for an understanding
friendship.
When the missive, lacking other
Identification than John Carpenter,
Hay Ranch, Oklahoma" was deposited
in the mail box, Janice felt happier.
Though but the Pigment Of her own
mental creation, she had somebody to,
whom she belonged" Nor was this the
last letter composed. for whenever the
ogre Of loneliness pretended power,
another would be dispatched telling.
my darling husband John" all the de-
tails.
Some months had slipped by and,
early summer had merged into late
fall. At the end of a trying days.
work, Janice returned to the rooming
house too Respondent and depressed
to care about the evenings meal. She
walked slowly down the broad thor
oughfare lined with Its stores, restau-
rants and theaters, the loud billpost-
ers acclaiming the entertainment Of
fered within. Amid the Jostling Of
the unmIndIng crowds, intent upon
scurrying home, Janice was banded
about, unnotlced In the motley assert
ment Of humanity. In her hand she
held, ready for posting, her letter to.
"John Carpenter, Hay Ranch, Okla
bona" In which she had written, IL
long for dear little cottage far away
from the struggles of a big city. It
strain much longer"
Janice turned the corner onto more
secluded street, where some construc-
tion work was being conducted. A
scaffolding, its false foundation fall
ing, gave way with rasplng but too
abrupt warning to permit Janice to
escape the deluge Of things the boards
supported.
Then, save for the fact that she had
been grabbed with preclpitate speed,
she was conscious of no more until
the white walls of hospital room be-
came as apparent reality as the pain
In her body; and the smell common
to medical institutions forced Itself
upon her consciousness.
A nurse, stlffly starched in white
apron cleanliness, greeted her. bet
ter, see. Would you like to see
visltOrT
Janice closed her eyes. "a visitorT
This was n new world indeed. "Who
would visit met" The question came
in n faint, far-away whisper Of utter
hopeessness.
The nurse smiled in professional
fashion. ut is the man who snatched
you actually from death. 1t was at
great risk to his own life" She paused
moment and went on: HE comes
every day to learn Of your progress"
and she added: HE sent you these.
roses"
Janice thought surely she was
dreaming. She shut her eyes tightly.
and opened them upon six feet Of
man, literally towering above the low
cot.
Che ioolxpd mn nj the friendIv