The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1930-01-31
When Emily Ran
Away
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD
(Copyright.l

oooooooooooooo
tCopyriEht.l
0u EAVENS above, how sick i get
OF this ride!" and Emily Rich
mond frowned In disgust as the crowd
ed trolley car iurched along the rails.
"Week in, week out, morning and
night-hanging on to a strap or
wedged in between Others"
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 skilled typist
That momentary sight of the sound
caught at whatever wanderlust lived
In Emilys city-raised heart.
And this morning when she was on
her way to give a decided mo" to Pc
ter William Oh. to get away from It
all To sail and sail and sail
Deep down somewhere In Emily's
heart a tiny voice whispered, "Why
not?" Why not take her savings and
fare forth into some strange place
and seek adventure Just once before
she grew too old and settled for ro-
nance. Peter wasn't offering her ro-
nance No, indeed. Just ordinary,
stolid matrimony.
And probably she herself did not
realize how much her dread Of see
ing the look In Peters face when she
refused him had to do with her
scheme
That was how 1t happened that on
that particular morning the office OF
Horton < Hastings was minus its 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 a
telephone message or two; buying a
ticket to the neighboring big city; and
finally settling back In the train with
a current magazine. box Of choco-
lates and a shrug Of unconcerned
shoulders. Peter felt sure she was Ill.
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 trunksl"
Life for Emily had become interest
ing at last. A modest room In mod
erately priced hotel; breakfast as late
to choose from; sightseeing tours
through the shops; matinees and con
certs galore inst what would hap
pen when the savings of ten years
were gone she did not inquire
Then. oddly enough, SO k1consequen.
tial thing as heavy downpour
brought the first tinge of regret TO
Emily. Shut indoors through thrift
ty desire to spare new suit she had
recklessly lavished half months sal
ary on. she read steadily for several
hours. Then impulsively she threw
the book across the bed.
Love--love-love! Was there moth
ing else to write about? Wasn't there
anything else worth while9
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 q reminder of Peter in the
stalwart hero. Absurd though II was
under the circumstances. Emily's heart
beat trifie faster.
The story progressed, the plot thick
ened and resolved, and at last the he
rOine melted into the Petex-like hero's
arms. Emily heaved a ting sigh. At
that moment, out of the darkness al
her side. masculine hand took hold
OF her arm.
Like a flash Emily leaped to her
feet, squeezed past the unpardonably
impudent person at her side with nev-
rain. Then she drew long breath
She had neard of strangers attempt
ing such familiarities, but had never
supposed such things could happen to
her If Peter had been there But
then it was only to lone women that
thing Of that sort occurred Sud.
denly Emily's 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 Pe,er working away at his desk
over in the corner and her typewriter
before her. Work and c0mpanionship
why, they were worth more than
shopping tours and loneliness. NOV
ing pictures and unprotectedness
"I---I say, Emily, didn't mean any
thing when l 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 shamefully
Here / am. | hunted up the express.
man who took your trunk and traced
you to the city and found your name
on the hotel register. And, oh, per-
haps was unpardonably curious. but
when you realize, 1t was because
love you, Emily! Today followed
you into the theater and after while
got seat at your side, although
kept my head turned so you would
not recognize me. Then at the. end
yOur sigh WAS fno Tnuah for mo Oh