Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-08-05
Jan Olesen's Awak-
ening
II - 80 $50 -
By MURIEL BLAIR


Ing hOuse. with its stGffy hall, IL glt
mirrors. It's glarfng plush Ornamental
unn. that sickened him, 80 that when
the little maid came forwards ana
asked swhOm ne wished 10 see ne
could hardly utter AIna's name
jan Olesen. fresh from the west,
where he had established himself as
a prosperous farmer within three
years after his arrival from Sweden, a
pennuesz youth. looked IL surprise al
The little servants troubled facs.
you are from my country ne
asked IN his native tongue. and at the
sound Of the words the little fair
haired maid-of-aII-wOrk broke down
and cried
II haven't heard the old speech
for 50 long she said, and then began
smiling through her tears as the sun
smiles out Of a blue sky.
Jan OIesen looked at her in grave
compassion.
DO they treat you well here. childY
he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. Some
Of the bOarders do" she answered
Theatrical folks are mostly kind
But Miss DaIrympIe-she's a 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 thinks
she's Swedish. too. for all her Ameri-
can airs and English name"
Olesen clutehed at the wall 10 save
himself from falling. Before his eyes
a mist was swimming. His mind went
back to the day when he. renting q
cheap hall bedroom almost in the next
city block, had met Nina Jensen. She
was just such a 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 whatE
Through the mist broke a scent %
patchOuIi. Out Of it he saw a wOman
approach, with fashionably done hair
and gaudy dress: and through the
aoating clouds he saw a slim hand
much bejeweled, stretch forth to his
why. II IT isn't Jan" exclaimed
Nina. Il guess you didn't know me,
Jan. Well, what are you staring at?
she continued to the girl. Get busy
with Your work, whatever it Is, AiD't
she the impudent thingl Just a
greenhorn, you knowI Come right in
Jan. and tell me about yourself and
If you've brought back a wad TO blow
In IN New York. And say, Jan. can
that stuff you wrote me about getting
married and show me a good time In
this burg instead. Nix on q Min
nesota farm for minel
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.
But on the next night the old feel
Of the hall. the scent Of perfume, the
faded tawdriness Of 1t. He hest
tated upon the threshold; he could not
enter.
And the little maids eyes were red
from tears.
'You have been crying, my DEAR"
said Olesen.
"Tm to be sent away" she said, her
voice quayering.
away? Well. but there are better
places"
20. yes. I'm not afraid. But she
said"
"She? WhoT"
Miss Dalrymple. She said-I can't
tell you-W ell, that l didn't behave
that / talked to the men here-that
/ talked to you yesterday. And she
pays twenty a week, so Mrs. Simmons
is afraid to affront her. And she said
that If l didn't go she would.
For an instant he pondered; then,
taking the girl by the arm, he led
her to the door.
my dear" he said, Gin the state I
come from there are broad acres Of
land-land like we have at home. with
forests and lakes. And there are no
Miss Dalrymples there, and women
are. treated differently. Would you
like to come with me to see the place
I'm speaking Oft There, don't Jet
those tears come. No, never mind
your hat; there's a department store