The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-02-05

UP THE SHAFT
BY ELIZABETH DE eoER.
Pe99R9R4ReR9R9

Because Duanne needed vocal lessons,
because her father insisted that she
should receive the best and because his
account in the town bank was very
small, Duane had chosen a tiny, dark
room in the New York "%nineties." Its
only means of light and air was
through a window looking II on an
air shaft. But Duanne laughed, be-
cause She vas that kind.
Because Mason Hill had no father
with a bank account backing him, be-
cause he had just returned from
France with Il 500 bonus in his pocket,
and because he wanted to study art
Mason had chosen n small, dark room
IL the "nineties" looking onto the very
same shaft as Duanne's.
One is hardly surprised, therefore
that the next morning when Duane
thrust Il curly head out of her window
to see what kind of a day it was, Ma
son was doing the same thing, and
they both discovered a tiny blue patch
Of Sky nine stories up.
II thought l was the only n who
NiA1N w NlloN l1oN llC WCNAllSl iSs
Mason called across the shaft, and
Duanne laughed back: "Oh, no. in
deed! If Mr.. Sun won't come in and
say good morning to me, I go out and
say good morning to him."
"Im glad you did" Mason's voice
1.-THE shaft is as lonely as Il soldier in
Francc"-nnd he knew what he was
talking about.
ut is gloomy. isn't it?" Duanne said.
ut was-until you appeared"
They both laughed, grew Drawer, and
continued:
Are YOU studying here?" the man
asked.
Yes; I'm going to be a singer some
day; and YOU"
ooh. lin taking art" This was
said awkwardly, but received cnthusi-
astically.
GLOW interesting. Mr.. -"
MASON Hill-but o needn't re-
member it all," he added meaningly.
"All right, Mason. l won't" Duanne
was surprised at her easy informality ;
"and you may call me Anne"
SO the days-busy, happy, fighting,
discouraging. hopeful days-went by
and every morning Duanne and Mason
looked up the shaft, laughing and talk
ing together. AS their friendship grew
they took long walks, returning some
times, r~osy-cheeked, to Duanne's room,
where they would have a quiet supper,
exchanging happy r~ecollections of the
cup country" days.
At last the inevitable happened.
They fell III love. 1t was a glorious
spring morning, and they were look
ing up the shaft. Duanne called across
to Mason:
"What in the world would we do
without this shaft. Sonnie? (That was
her favorite name for lim.) I'm ac-
tually getting attached to it-sort Of q
sentimental feeling, YOU know"
"In that case l wish l were the
shaft" Mason called back, and Duanne
looked at him questioningly. He
leaned forward and went OF easily:
~ never thought I'd make love in an
Hif SJHhlt, DuC Una Wllil lIn uOlNS,
Ann. I'm crazy about you and I'm try
ing to forget that I haven't q little
house to push you right into as Mrs,
HILL" He stopped for encouragement,
and Duanne fastened to give 1t.
"Well, we don't need a house, 10
WEI"
cam, you mean-that you'd be sat.
isfied with a little apartment until
could work up? DO you, dear?"
Ann was laughing.
eyes, Sonnie, that's just what
mean"
"Ann, dearest, I'm coming right In
and seal the agreement"
There vas a banging Of doors, a clat'
ter of feet down the hall, and Mason
burst In. He came straight to the win.
dow and took Duane in his arms.
"Then it's agreed, dear?" he bent for:
ward to kiss her.
"Wait a minute" Duane whispered.
ION one condition"
"What?"
"That our apartment will have an
air shaft"