Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-10-05
Jan Olesen's Awak-
ening
70. 1921, Western Newspaper Union.)
BY MURIEL BLAIR

ing house. with its stuffy hall, its gilt
ton, that sickened him, so that when
the little maid came forward and
asked whom he wished to see he
could hardly utter Minas name.
Jan Olesen, fresh 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.
'You are from my countryY' 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.
II 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-shes 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 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
a mist was swimming. His mind went
back to the day when he, renting a
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 what?
Through the mist broke q scent Of
patchouli. Out Of it he saw a 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.
why, If it isn't JAM" exclaimed
Nina. II guess you didn't know me.
Jan. Well, what are you staring at"
she continued to the girl. Get busy
with your work, whatever 1t is! Amt
she the impudent thing Just
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 Min
nesota farm for mine!
poor Jan! 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
ing came over him again at the sight
of the hall, the scent Of perfume, the
faded tawdriness of it. 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.
I'm to be sent away" she said, her
voice quavering.
Away? Well, but there are better
places"
20, yes. I'm not afraid. But she
said" ''
"She? Who?"
Miss Dalrymple. She said-I can't
tell you-well, that I didn't behave
that l talked to the men here-that
I talked to you yesterday. And she
pays twenty week, so Mrs. Simmons
10 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, "in the state l
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 of? There, don't let
those tears come. No, never mind
your hat; there's a department store
.~.,-I %ha onrpar xuhoro unu coo rot