Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-09-29
Lottie Turns Down
a Millionaire
BY HAZEL SMITH

90. lsZI Western Newspaper Union)
When Lottie danced her brain was
as busy as her toes. Her famous
snake dance had been the rage in
London and New York during the
season. In three months Lottie had
made more money than she had ever
earned during the whole eight years
of her working life.
Lottie had always known that she
could dance. But that money was to
be made In dancing had seemed an
absurd idea-would have seemed so
if anybody had suggested it to her.
The young fellow in the second row
of the stalls, with the foolish, dissl-
pated face, was watching her again.
She knew him, though he did not know
herS in fact, she knew him intimately,
and she reflected on this with little
smile Of amusement which the audi
ence mistook for stage pleasantly.
She had been pestered by him for a
week now.
Seven years before she had been
a saleswoman In Bryant & Jones de-
partment store. 1t was big store
and treated it's employees fairly well.
Still, Lottie had not been happy there.
She had been domestic In her tastes
still was, In fact-and she and Joe
were both looking forward to the time
when they were to be married and live
in their little home, when Lottie would
not go to work any more.
Then young Mr.. Jones-the one
with the foolish face, in the second
row-had seen her and asked who she
was. And he had taken her out to
supper. Mr. Jones had asked her to
marry him.
Can girl love two men at the same
time? Perhaps Lottie really loved
neither. She was very fond of slow.
easy-going Joe, but this was different.
Joe soon discovered where she spent
these evenings. Once he waited for
her outside the restaurant and would
have made scene had not Lottie
managed to calm him. That night
young Mr.. Jones asked Lottie to mar
ry Immediately.
Not unless your mother and father
are willing" said Lottie.
Lottie did not know Joe had shot
himself and injured his spine, when
she accompanied young Mr.. Jones to
his parents house on the avenue. Old
Mr.. Jones shook her hand warmly and
said:
my dear, you are far too capable
young woman to throw yourself
away on foolish boy like Alfred"
Old Mrs. Jones said: "The store
is in my name, and IL Alfred marries
you he will get nothing. And Alfred
could never earn an honest dollar In
his life"
'I'll leave 1t to Alfred" said Lottie,
and walked out
Lottie had stopped dancing now and
was bowling TO an applauding house.
The foolish young man In the second
row was clapping his gloved hands
fatuously. Lottie looked at him de-
risively, and then swept off the stage
and put on her clothes.
At the stage door she saw young
Mr.. Jones, with bouquet In his hand.
Young Mr. Jones planted himself
squarely across her path, and Lottie
gave him box on the ears that sent
him tumbllng to the ground. When
he had picked himself up she said:
you had your chance years ago
and lost 1t. I'm Lottiel"
Young Mr.. Jones looked as though
he was going to. cry again But Lot
tie had already forgotten him. she
was eager to hurry home there might
be news for her.
She got into the taxicab that al
ways waited for her and was driven
rapidly to the modest little hat that
she rented in Harlem.
She went into the living room
and bent over a man who sat reading
in an arm chair, and kissed him. she
had come In so softly that he had not
heard her.
I've got good news, Lottie." he
said. 1.-The doctor thinks I'm getting
better. He says I'll be as strong and
well as ever in six months more
"You dear old joe" said Lottie,
brushing away her tears and kissing
him again.