Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-05-20
Jan Olesen's AwaA-
ening
BY MURIEL. BLAIR

+
From the first moment OF his open.
ing the door Jan Olesen felt d presen-
timent of disaster. There was some
thing In the atmosphere Of the board
ing house, with It's stuffy hall. its gilt
mirrors, les gIaring plush ornaments
tion, that sickened him. so that when
the little maid came forward and
asked whom he wished to see he
could hardly utter Mina's name.
Jan Olesen, frssh from the west.
where he had established himself as
prosperous farmer within three
years after his arrival from Sweden. a
penniless youth. looked In surprise at
the little servants troubled face.
"Yon are from my country?" he
asked In his native tongue, and at the
sound Of the words the little fair.
haired maid-of-all-work broke down
and cried.
IL haven't heard the old speech
for so long," she said, and then began
smiling through her tears as the sun
smiles out of a blue sky.
Jan Olesen looked at her In grave
compassion.
do they treat you well here. childr
he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. "Some
OF the boarders do" she answered
Theatrical folks are mostly kind.
But Miss Dalrymple- she's terror.
She's leading lady in the Red Slipper
chorus, you know-and, say" she add
ed, breaking into the easily acquired
slang Of America, what do you think9
She's Swedish. too. for all her Ameri-s
can airs and English name"
Olesen clutched at the wall to save
himself from falling. Before his eyes
mist was swimming. His mind went
back to the day when he, renting
cheap hall bedroom almost in the next
city block, had met Nina Jensen. She
was just such little maid as this,
newly arrived from the old country.
He remembered her shy smile, her
engaging frankness. And they had be-
come engaged, and he had gone west
to make his fortune. Now after three
years he had returned-to what2
Through the mist broke scent Of
patchouli. Out of 1t he saw q woman
approach, with fashionably done hair
and gaudy dress; and through the
floating clouds he saw a slim hand,
much bejeweled, stretch forth to his.
'tWhy, if It isn't Jan'' exclaimed
Nina. Il guess you didn't know me,
Jan. Well, what are you staring atT'
she continued to the girl. sect busy
with year work, whatever it isl Amt
she the impudent thingl just a
greenhorn. you know Come right In,
Jan, and tell me about yourself and
II you've brought back wad to blow
in in New York. And say, Jan, can
that stuff you wrote me about getting
married and show me good time In
| this burg instead. Nix on a Min
nesota farm for mine
"Poor JAM You haven't learned
much In Minnesota, JAM" she said
at parting.
She had refused to discuss their
marriage; instead, he was to take her
TO dinner on the next evening. Now
the fabric of ambitions which he had
built up was shattered.
But In the loneliness of his room
that night his thoughts gradually be-
gan to flow In their accustomed groove
again.
He had resolved to tell her every.
thing on the following night; all his
aims and aspirations; to beg her to
come back with him to Minnesota
There, on their lonely farm, they
would settle, as the old folks had done
in Sweden, they would be happy.
He fell asleep at last. happy in his
dreams.
i But on the next night the old feel
Ing came over him again at the sigh
Of the hall. the scent Of perfume, tht
faded tawdriness of 1t. He hest
tated upon the threshold; he could no
enter.
! And the little maids eyes were re-
from tears.
"You have been crying, my dear,
said Olesen.
"rm to be sent away" she said, he
voice quavering.
Away Well. but there are bette
places"
VI yes. In not a1EAlu+ Dul sA
! said"
"shef Who7"
''Mies Da1rymple. She said--I can
tell you-well, that / didn't behav
that talked to the men here-ths
talked to y0n yesterday. And sh
pays twenty a week, SO Mrs. simmon
Is afraid to affront her. And abe sal
that Ii I didn't 60 she would.
FOR m instant he pOndered; theI
! taking the girl BY the arm. he le
her to the door.
my dear" he said. 'sin the state
: come from there are broad acres |
: land--land like we have Mt home. vii
. forests and lakes. And there are 4
> Miss Dalrymples there, and wome
are treated differently. Weuld 20
/ lire 20 come with me to see the plat