The Ely miner., 1929-07-26
FOUND A
HUSBAND
FOR JANE
&c BY D. J waIshl

&c BY D J waIshl
1ANE KELSEY stood al the kitchen
sink washing the breakfast dishes.
IL was lilac-fime and the breeze
~ 0roughf the scent of them through
the open window This did not, how
ever. make Jane feel any happier: ON
the contrary. IL made her feel worse.
for rhe smell Of the lilacs, which she
loved. reminded her thai another
spring had arrived and with IL another
birrhday-an anniversary which her
srepmother was prone 10 make men,
orable.
For heavens sake, Jane. hurry up
with those dishes! You'll never make
the ten O'Clock train TO town" called
Mrs Kelsey from the doorway.
A plate crashed 70 the floor.
-Jane! What in the world is the
matter with you; Crying? My word!
You'd try the patience of a saint
fine impression you1l make on the
doctor with a pink nose and circles
under your eyes"
Although Jane wanted badly TO
smash every dish that she touched.
she restrained herself. finished her
work and went 70 her room 10 dress.
Mrs. Kelsey followed her there and
watched 70 see that no detail OF her
grooming was less than perfection
This seemed 10 Jane the last straw
and her inward revolt was more viO-
lent than many she had ever felt he
fore.
The situation was as absurd as il
was unique When Jacob Kelsey died
he Jeff MS entire estate in trust. with
the provision that until such a time as
Jane should marry only the income
could ne touched. that TO be used al
the discretion Of Mrs. Kelsey. who. he
knew. was good business woman.
On the occasion of James marriage,
the estate was 10 be divided equally
between the two women. AS II hap
pened much of the property was IN
productive real estate that had tripled
in value since his death Mrs. Kelsey
wanted badly TO sell this and go 10 her
own people in California. Her inren-
tons toward Jane were kindly enough:
she honestly thought that husband
for her would solve rhe problem and
make them both much happier. To
this end she promoted a sort of cam
Jtaign that TO Jane was the acme of
humiliation.
All the way 10 town James mind
II iolved savagely about her really
L igic position. Her srepmother was
s0lufeIy determined 10 marry her
Z She had no means of earning a
ring ano no opportunity TO prepare
herself TO do So for, since marriage
was the one solution. whereby her
stepmOther would gain Jane was pro-
vided with good clothing. hut with no
money. On those occasions when she
was expected 70 carry out some care
fully planned scheme 10 attract GER
tain man, chosen bE Mrs. Kelsey. she
was merely given carfare 10 and from
rhe city The schemes always failed.
Jane was hopeless as a husband hunt
er. 10 fact. by now. she felr that she
mated men-all of them
Life is horrible" she thought as
furious al her OVID incompefency.. her,
inability TO find way out of the d.
lemma. After leaving the station she
unconscioasly followed her usual route
10 the sanitarium-unmarried doctors.
in Mrs. Kelsey's estimation being the
most approachable bachelors for her
campaign. AS Jane drew near the
place her horror of facing Doctor Cur
riss again was as real as If she had
not al last definitely decided that no
matter what became Of her. she would
never again be a party 70 her step
mothers pursuit Of a man. Passing
the entrance, she felt a sudden relief
10 know that she had strength of
mind enough TO disregard the eleven
O'Clock appointment with the doctor.
Even the knowledge that her purse
contained but one coin did not fright
en- her for the moment Somewhere.
somehow. there was a place for her TO
earn rhe right 70 live. else why had
she been brought into the world.
Opening ber bag 70 get her handker-
chief, she saw the sanitarium ticket
with only three Of its twenty numbers
punched. sick feeling swept over
ner as she recalled the circumstance
of its purchase. Mrs. Kelsey had ex-
planned suavely 10 Doctor Gurtiss that
her daughter. though NOT i'll. was not
robust and she felt that the electrical
treatments would be beneficial for her.
Certain family matters had then been
touched upon iightly-their suburban
home her own widowhood James ac-
compliShments. 4 vivid recollection
OF fhe doctors eyes bent upon her. she
knew well. with amusement. still made
her writhe inwardly. Suddenly. as she
walked aimlessy along the avenue. an
idea occurred TO her She turned and
hurried back 70 the Sanitarium
Il know I'm late. DOCTOR" she be-
gan breathleSsly, "but I'll not take a
treatment today. T-I-iust want q
few words with you. please"
Doctor CuTfiss placed a comfortable
chair for her and then seated himself.
He noticed. curiously, how excitement