The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-08-03
EMILY
BY n. LOUIS RAYBoLD

Heavens above how sick get OF
this ride!" and Emily Richmond
| frowned In disgust as the crowded troll
ley car lurched along the rails. "Week
in, week out, morning and night
hanging on strap or wedged in be-
tween others as weary as myself of
| the daily, deadly round of monotony u
Then her brown eyes widened and
the frown lifted as the car came to
an abrupt halt at the drawbridge and
Emily caught glimpse Of breakwater
and sea and sails on far horizon. 1t
was always that way on the ride to
and from the office where Emily
earned good money as a skilled typist.
That momentary sight of the sound
caught at whatever wanderlust lived
in Emily's city-raised heart.
And this morning when she was on
her way to give q decided mo" to Pc
ter Williams proposal that she share
his salary as assistant manager Of
Horton & Hastings, the company
whose employees they both were, the
distant blue waters particularly ap-
pealed. Oh, to get away from it all |
to sail and sail and said
Deep down somewhere In Emily's
not?"
The humping of the trolley car over
the bridge reused Emily to more than
mere dallying with the interesting
proposition. "Tll do it - she all but
cried aloud. "Ill do that very thing! !"
That was how 1t happened that on
that particular morning the Office Of
Horton & Hastings was minus It's star
typist. Nor did any of the puzzled
force picture Emily as she actually
was-hurrying first of all to the bank
and then to the station; sending tele-
phone message or two; buying ticket
to the neighbOring big city; and,
finally settling back in the train with
current magazine, box of choco-
lates and shrug Of unconcerned
shoulders. Peter felt sure she was I'LL
and kept impatient tabs on the clock
until the noon hour arrived and he
could telephone In privacy to Emily's
boarding house.
Then when he did he turned white.
miss Richmond" said Emily's land
lady acidly, "had sent an expressman
for her trunks, with never word at
the breakfast table about her plans!"
Life for Emily had become interest
ing at last. A modest room in mod
erately priced hotel: breakfast as late
as she pleased, and varied menu to
choose from; sightseeing tours
through the shops; matinees and con-
certs galore.
Then. oddly enough, so inconsequen-
tlal thing as a heavy downpOur
brought the first twinge Of regret to
Emily. Shut indoors through thrifty
desire to spare new suit she had
recklessly lavished half months sal
ary on, she read steadily for several
hours. Then impulslvely she threw
the book across the bed.
Love-love-love Was there moth
ing else to write about? Wasn't there
anything else worth while in the
world?
An hour later, and Emily, driven by
sheer boredom out into the storm, took
refuge from. the penetrating chill of
sleety rain In huge moving picture
palace. Settling down in the all but
absolute darkness, she gave herself up
TO watching, at first half-heartedly
then with more interest the picture on
the screen. Strange to say, there was
Just a reminder of Peter in the stall
wart hero. Absurd though 1t was, un.
der the circumstances Emilys heart
beat trifie faster.
The story progressed, the plot thick
ened and resolved and at last the
heroine melted into the Peter-like
heros arms. Emily heaved tiny sigh. |
At that moment, out of the dark
ness at her side, masculine hand |
took hold of her arm.
Like flash Emily leaped to her |
feet, squeezed past the unpardonably |
impudent person Mt her side with |
never q glance, and rushed out In the |
rain. Then she drew a long breath.
She had heard Of strangers attempting |
such famillarities, but had never sup
p'oSo oueh hupPCh W HcT. |
II Peter could have been there! But |
then II was only to lone women that a |
thing OF that sort occurred. Suddenly |
Enilys eyes filed That was what
she was-"a lone woman in q strange
city"
And there came to Emily longing
for the dingy old office, with Jim the
office boy loungIng outside the rail,
and Peter working away at his desk |
over In the corner, and her typewriter
before her. Work and companionship |
why. they were worth more than
shopping tours and loneliness. moving
pictures and unprotectedness
FL say, Emily, l. didn't mean
when ! touched you In there"
"Peter!" Emily could not believe
her ears nor yet her eyes, although |
surely this man at her side was the
man she hadn't wanted to marry.
"Yes, dear" said Peter shame
facedly. Here | am, | hunted III |