The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-01-27
BLUE OR YELLOW?
BY AGNES c. sRoeAN

And we VIII have blue rug In the
guest room," said Janey, because
mother loves blue, and she will be
coming to visit us a lot"
The young man opposite moved un-
comfortably In his chair.
''Now, Janey," he remarked, You
have decided upon everything in our
prospective home, without giving me
a look In. I kept quiet, while you ar
ranged the living room in fancy, and
fitted out your dining room; nor did
I say a word when you left no place
for my hobbies or studies. But my
mother will come to visit US too. and
she happens to have a preference for
yellow
ITS been almost an obsession with
her-a CHEEKY sunshiny room. I've
heard her dream over it often, and
coax dad in her difident way for a
new rug or a set of curtains, and he,
reading and smoking over his paper.
put all her dreams to flight with a
casual refusal old rug good enough
he'd say, or What do we want with
new fixtures when Jim is leaving for
a home of his own and mother would
smilingly submit.
poor mother, putting always my
wishes before her own. So / made
little plan, it was the very night that
you said yes, Janey, and 1 was swing
ing along under the stars, and glory
ing over our home, and said TO N.Y.
self, mother will have her yellow
cheer-room there, and she can come
to it as often as she wants. So, little
lady" big Jim moved closer and
placed his hand over Janey's. you'll
give IN on this, won't you. and come
out to choose a yellow rug?" The girl
withdrew her hand
@My mother" she returned evenly,
'has always loved blue. And she al
ways had to buy furnishings which
happened to be cheapest at the time,
or more serviceable, so her own
particular room is "a conglomeratfon.
She managed, and scrimped, the way
mothers do, to make my room rose
colored. And I'm bringing my rose
covered mahogany to our own house,
Jimmy. After you left me that night,
1 did some planning of my own. 1t
was a blue room that I planned. for
mother to revel in, when she could
steal away for time from father and
his exactions, and-I will go with you,"
ended Janey firmly, ito choose blue
rug tomorrow"
Jim turned from his fiancee without
kissing her Goodnight" he said alb
ruptly, and was gone.
Rebelliously. Janey went to her
mother
sometimes" she said, anger flush
ing her cheeks, 81 feel as if / do not
want to marry Jim He's so terribly
dominating; if 1 allow him to rule me
now, mother, I shan't have the life of a
mouse
The woman bending patiently over
her mending smiled. How does Jim
| try to rule you, DEAR" she enquired.
about our house, Janey excitedly
replied. 81 want blue guest room /;
you know you also like blue, mother
and Jim is obstinately determined on
yellow"
Mrs. Wilfred turned seam, yellow
is bright and pleasing" she noncomit-
tingly returned.
Jim found his mother reading.
"How is our little Janey tonight ~
she asked brightly "Janey," her
somber faced son replied, "has ex-
hibited this evening new phase of
character. And 1 don't like it. She
has showed me that / am to have no
word in the planning of my own home.
Mrs. Gray looked distressed.
"Girls usually like to plan their
houses" she defended. perhaps there
is just one certain thing that Janey
has set her heart on"
When Jim, stubborn In his suffering
determination not to surrender to
what he considered Janey's whim.
absented himself from her presence
for weeks, fancy. too, suffered in
silence. The little house in Already was
neither sought out, nor tenanted !;
while blue room or yellow room, were
not to be thought of bearably-at all.
Janey's mother and Jim's mother con-
suited together, dismayed.
"My dear" said Janey's mother to
her one day, 81 want you to go down
TO Hedstrom's and select blue rug.
Father sees his way now for US to re-
furnish my upper front ROOM"
And "Jim." begged Mrs. Gray diff
fdently, would you mind stopping at
Hedstrom's this noon during your
lunch hour? There is yellow rug
there that l have arranged to buy.
The salesman win show it TO you. I'd
like your judgment before having the
rug sent to the house"
The salesman at Hedstrom's was
becoming impatient with his apathetic
customer. Janey, listless. pale, viewed
indifferently one blue rug after
another; she was wondering how Jim
could so persistently avoid her-and
if he had known this queer longing
ache. which constantly possessed her.
A gruff voice nearby caused the sales
man to turn with start.
Something in yellow" demanded
Jim. His eager eyes met Janey's I'm
lin blue / mean" he amended breath
lessly. I'm interested only in blue
rugs, understand: I have no wish
to ever sea yellow rug again." The
salesman stared: His listless Gus
toner was suddenly close at this queer
young mans elbow. And as for me,
she laughed back softly, you can roll
up all your blue rugs. Mother may
chose her own. Why, all the ixings
I've been making during the past
weeks are Yellow she told Jim. hap