Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-08


as was her mouth. She had just SAT-
down YEARLY to her sewing when
there came tap at the door. 1t was
only her Iandlady. who had come IN
for a chat. but Della inconsiderately
greeted her by fainting.
The poor woman was panic stricken.
Hastily she got the girl to bed and
sent for the doctor.
"H'm!'' he said. shaking bis head at
sight of the girl. she's in for a
siege. Lack Of nourishment and too
great mental and bodily strain have
conspired to bring on a bad fever.
You say she's a college girl? has she
any people? You'd better send for
them"
"I'm afraid her mother can't afford
TO come unless the college people
answered Mrs. Hobbs doubtfully.
'TIl speak to the president" said
the doctor as he left the room. she
must have a better place than this and
a nurse If she's to pull through"
The president was bland and apollo
getfc. He was $50 sorry" but there
seemed nothing to do. The girl was
a scholarship girl. and they had nj
ready done their duty by her. Could
not she be sent to public hospitaI?
The doctor fouuced out of the pres
ident's study without word. AS ne
strobe across the campus a group OF
laughing girls sitting on the steps OF
a building singing in the twilight
caught his eye. He stopped abruptly
and went over to them.
young ladies'" he said. 81 don't
believe you are as heartless as your
president, and I'm going to appeal to
you. There is one of your fellow stu
dents dangerously I'll. without money.
and if she don't get the proper atten-
ton she is going to die. and her death
will be on the head Of this schools
president If she does" he added bit
teriy. 'T know most of you belong TO
wealthy families and think you will
be willing to help this girl. who is
sick only because of lack of proper
nourishment and because, as her land
lady informs me. she has been sitting
up till morning every night trying to
exc out an income. 1t was noble Of
her, of course, to try to get an educh-
ton under such conditions. but it is
likely to be fatal. Her name is Della
Henning, and
EVSiyu EdThS JuHPeN uP hO1 XIV
steps.
.'DeIia!" she cried remorsefully.
"Why. it's ell my fault: Well. l
should say we would help her, doc
tor. Come on, girls! Wen go at
once"'
When DR.. Martin led the group Of
girls into Della's cold little hall room
she was raving with fever. She knew
| Evelyn. though.
"Oh, have you brought them to tell
me I've been picked for the Deltas,
Evelyn?' she cried thickly. 81 knew
you would do 1t! You're so good to
me-"
The girls looked at each other re
morsefully Qt was their first intima
ton that the greasy grind" had such
an ambitionl as she went on: "Oh.
and won't mother be pleased! She
| can't understand why I've failed In
that. and she set her heart on it So"
Girls" said Evelyn, "she must be
moved ont of this at once. Can't she
be carried on her mattress to better
room, doctor?" she asked. Then she
rushed out to telegraph office and
sent for n trained nurse from the city.
in three hours the nurse was in charge
/ Of the sick girl, who had been removed
| to a big room downstairs where there
was Il cozy open fire. and it was the
| nurse herself who had to chase Evelyn
/ Parks and her chumS away later.
/ At the meeting of the Delta Kappas
the next night Evelyn Parks told them
! the whole story.
I'VE have never known what real
nobility and worth were. girls she
| said soberly land we came near los
| ing the grandest girl in school through
| our snobbishness.' When she was
through Della Henning was unani-
mously chosen.
A few weeks later. when the sick
! girl was able to sit up by her FIRE,
/ she wrote q long letter to her mother,
who had not known of her illness.
II have been little sick,'' she wrote.
but still I'm the happlest girl in the
world. My illness has shown me the
| girls rs 1 never knew them before.
and-just think of tim to be a real
Delta Kappa at last. and an officer at
that. Isn't it just too wonderful to be