The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-11-03
Wanted
"A Husband
BY KATE EDMoNDS

Neeseeaesseessaesess>esssssesseseeaea&
O. 1850. ~ Mcclure Newspaper syndicats)
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. 1t was not so much
husband for which Janice yearned. as
that which husband usually repre-
SCENTS.
Janice wanted q husband because
she could not find a man to serve In
the role Of friend. whose reassurlng
arm would chase away all fear when
the dark bridge had to be crossed Mt
night after work; one who would sym
pathetically listen to the little tale of
woe about the dOmineering fOrelady In
the department" Somehow 1t seemed
to janice II she could find husband,
he would be the pal for which she
longed.s
But In monotonous friendliness ia
nice continued to hemstitch her days
away, until one day above the din of
the machines electrically growing out
the work.. she had heard herself re-
ferrcd to rs "the old maid"
In that moment an Idea dawned and
found expression; any plan seemed
feasible to avoid the rldlcule Of her
fellOw-wOrkers.
"Tll pretend there Is some one. He
lives far away, so I can't see him. but
! must write him letters to inspire
him In his work" She treasured her
self "Why shouldn't II"
Then as 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 name. II think /
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 10 the tiny room
called home and sauntered into the
"parlor" as nonchalantly as she was
nhle, that no attention might he d.
rected to her perusal of the almanac
which comprised the sole extent Of the
rooming house library. Opening the
book ut "List of Towns In the United
States" and turning to page Of
that section at random, she placed her
finger with blind faith and opened her
eyes 10 find herself pointing to clay
Ranch. Oklahoma"
In the safe secluslon Of her room,
the first letter was indited to the crea-
tion Of a 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 fgment 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
"Nfy 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
scurying home, Janice was banded
about. unnoticed In the motley assert
ment Of humanity. In her hand she
held, ready for posting, her letter to
"John Carpenter. Hay Ranch, Okla
hOma" In which she had written, II
long for dear little cottage far away
from the struggles Of big city. 1t
does not seem that I can stand the
strain much longer"
Janice turned the corner onto more
secluded street, where some construc-
ton work was being conducted. A
scaffolding. its false foundation fail
Ing. gave way with a rasping 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 precipitate speed
she was conscious Of no more until
the white walls Of hospital room be
came as apparent reality as the pair
in her body; and the smell common
to medical institutions forced itselt
upon her consciousness.
A nurse, stiffly starched In white
apron cleanliness. greeted her. "Bet
ter. I see. Would you like to see I
visitor?"
Janice closed her eyes. "A visitor :?
This was a new world indeed. "Wh'
would visit met" The question cam