The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-05-13
Jan Olesen's Awak-
ening
By MURlEL BLAIR


From the first moment of his open
ing the door Jan OleSen felt presen-
timent OF disaster. There was some
thing In the atmosphere OF the board
ing house. with its stuny hail. its gilt
mirrors. its glaring plush ornamental
ton. that sickened him. 81 that when
the little maid came forward and
asked whom he wished TO see he
could hardly utter Mina's name.
Jan Olesen. freh from the west,
where he had established himself as
a prosperous farmer within three
years after his arrival from Sweden, a
penniless youth. looked in surprise at
the little servants troubled face.
"You are from my country he
| asked In his native tongue, and at the
sound of the words the little fair
haired maid-of-a!l-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 blue sky.
Jan Olesen looked at her in grave
compassion
DO they treat you well here, child?"
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 Think
She's Swedish, too, for all her Ameri-
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 what?
, Through the mist broke scent Of
patchouli. Out of 1t he saw woman
approach, with fashionably done hair
and gaudy dress; and through the
floating clouds he saw slim hand
much bejeweled. stretch forth to his
"Why, if it isn't Jan y exclaimed
Nina. 81 guess you didn't know me
u al yrh cta OF
she continued to the girl. "Get busy
! with your work, whatever 1t is! AIM
, she the impudent thing! Just 6
greenhorn, you know! Come right in
4 Jan, and tell me about yourself ant
! If you've brought back a wad to blow
that stuff you wrote me about gettinj
married and show me a good time il
1 this burg instead. Nix on Min
/ nesota farm for mine!
Il "Poor JAM You haven't learne,
| much in Minnesota, JAM" she sal
' at parting
She had refused to discuss thei
4 marriage; instead, he was to take he
1 to dinner on the next evening. No,
the fabric of ambitions which he ha
| built up was shattered.
But In the loneliness of his ROOF
that night his thoughts gradually bt
\ gan to flow In their accustomed groov
again.
4 He had resolved to tell her ever.
: thing on the following night; all n
A aims and aspirations; to beg her
n come back with him to Minnesot
There, on their lonely farm, the
n would settle, as the old folks had dor
4 In Sweden, they would be happy.
y He fell asleep at last, happy in h
dreams.
y But on the next night the old fee
| ing came over him again at the sig
of the hall, the scent Of perfume, Il
faded tawdrness of it. He hes
tated upon the threshold; he could n
enter.
= And the little maids eyes were r.
from tears.
), "You have been crying, my deal
=, said Olesen.
I'm to be sent away she SAID, n
. voice quavering.
!, away? Well, but there are bett
~ places"
=. 20, yes. I'm not afraid. But s
said"
"She? Who2'
~ Miss Dalrymple. She said--I ca
se tell you--well, that l didn't beha
a. that I talked to the men here--tf
rs ,' I talked to. you yesterday. And s
- pays twenty week, so Mrs, Simmt
-. Is afraid to affront her. And she 81
- that II 1 didn't 60 she would.
For an instant he pondered; tn
a taking the girl by the arm. he
( her to the door.
my dear" he said, "in the stat
come from there are broad acres
I land--land like we have at home, W
4 forests and lakes. And there are
Il Miss Dalrymples there. and won
II are treated differently. Would
| like to come with me to see the pl
l ~, Speakinp Off There. don't