The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-01-09
When Emily Ran
Away
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD
(Copyrightl

/ (Copyrightl
WH EAVENS above, how sick get
L Of this rideI" and Emily Rich
mond frowned In disgust as the crowd
cd trolley car lurched along the rails.
week In, week out, morning and
night-hanglng on to q strap or
wedged in between others"
Then her brown eyes wfdened and
the frown lifted as the car came to
an abrupt halt at the drawbridge apd
Emily caught a glimpse Of breakwater
and sea and sails on q far horizon.
It 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 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,
gtolid 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-
1ates and a 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!"
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. Just what would hap
pen when the savings Of ten years
were gone she did not inquire.
Then, oddly enough, so inconsequen.
tial a thing as heavy downpour
brought the first tinge of regret to
Emily. Shut indoors through a thrift
ty desire to spare a new suit she had
recklessly lavished half months sal
airy on, she read steadily for several
hours. Then impulsively she threw
the book across the bed.
Love-love-lovel Was there moth
ing else to write about? Wasn't there
anything else worth while?
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
stalwart hero. Absurd though it was,
under the circumstances, Emily's heart
beat trifle faster.
The story progressed, the plot thick
ened and resolved, and at last the he
roine melted into the Peter-like hero's
arms. Emily heaved a tiny sigh. At
that moment, out of the darkness at
her side, a 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 new
er a glance and rushed out into the
rain. Then she drew long breath.
She had heard of strangers attempt
ing such familiarities, but had never
supposed such things could happen to
her. If Peter had been therel But
then 1t was only to lone women that
a thing Of that sort occurred. Sud-
denly Emily's eyes filled. That was
what she was-"a lone woman In a
strange CITY,"
And there came to Emily a longing
for She 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, NOV
ing pictures and unprotectednessi
IL 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 l was unpardonably curious, but
when you realize, it was because l
love you, Emily! Today | followed
you into the theater and after a while