The Washburn leader., 1911-09-29
A Mere Child
~ MolLIE K. WETHERELL
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation. 1911.

"Pa," said Mrs. Tuttle one day, "lve
been thinking about Dolly a good deal
lately. I'm worried about her."
What's the matter with herr"
why, she's kind Of going downhill
Sne's lost flesh lately and doesn't eat
enough to keep bird alive"
"It may be that she's got to an age
where she needs more society,""
"She has plenty of girl friends"
"Quite likely she'd like to sec some.
thing of young men,"
"What! Barely sixteen and wants to
meet young men! What are you think
Ing of, pa:'
"My mother was married at seven
teen"
That was a long while ago. Girls
don't think about the young men now
before they're twenty and don't marry
much before they're twenty-four or
twenty five. Those who go to college
don't graduate before twenty-five. Be-
sides, Doll is young for her age. I've
been in hopes that my old friend Deb
orah Simmons son Charlie and Doll
might make a match, but she doesn't
seem to take to him"
What makes you think SOP"
why, he came here the other day
with a message from his mother. I
sent Doll down to see him. and. going
down myself later. l saw them sitting
in the parlor bolt upright and so far
upart that wondered how they could
tered as fish just out of water"
Cant you get her used to him?"
Pm going to try I'll invite him to
dinner, and after we are finished we
can leave them alone together"
A fews days later Charlie Simmons
sat opposite Dolly Tuttle ut table. her
father and mother being at opposite
ends The young man endeav0red to
keep up Il conversation. hut Dolly
munched in silence. Indeed. the din
ner was by no means success. After
dinner Mr.. Tuttle said he would smoke
In the library, and Mrs. Tuttle thought
she would keep him company with her
work.
Did you ever see any one so stif in
presence Of young manT" said the
wife "She didn't dare look at him."
''I4e had hard time Of 1t. I'll ad-
nit" replied the husband. when l
was hoy, If girl was as uppish as
That would have dropped her like o
cold potato. I'm afraid my little girl
will be one Of the old maid kind She's
not responsive"
''What'll do with her?"
There's one thing you might try.
There's nothing like contrariness to
produce results. II you were to tell
her that on no account must she fall
in love with Charlie she might do It
Forbidden fruit ia very attractive"
Why. Doll is such a child she
wouldn't know what I meant by fall
ing in love. Besides. l don't intend
that she shah marry before she's at
least twenty What I'm doing this for
is to draw her out of herself and get
her to take more interest in things"
At this point Charlie came into the
room and said he must 60. His moth
Or was alone at home and would feel
uneasy about him. She always wor-
ried when he was out after dark He
said he had enjoyed the evening very
much. but If there had been any Joy
his hosts had seen no evidence of 1t.
"Hc hasn't stayed twenty minutes
after dinner said Mrs. Tuttle.
I'VE can't blame him." replied her
husband. II think you'd better try
something else on Doll. She evidently
don't take to the young mans plan"
But Mrs. Tuttle was not inclined to
give the matter up SO easily. 1t meg
have been that her own contrariness
had something to do with 1t. At any
rate. she concluded to discover what
opposition would do with D0llie. She
called her into her bedroom one morn.
Ing and told her that on no account
should she fall in love with Charlie
Simmons since there were insur-
mountable obstacles to their marriage.
Dollie opened her eyes very wide.
kept them fixed on her mother for
few moments. then turned and walked
ont Of the room without word. y;
Il do believe" said Mrs. Tuttle in
speaking Of the scene to her husband,
that the child didn't understand
what was talking about
1t looked after this as if Mrs. Tuttle
had taken exactly the wrong course
to bring the two young people togeth
er. Charlie did not come near them.
and Dollie never spoke Of him. She
seemed to he going downhill faster
than before She was pale and thin
and seemed to be in a constant state
Of dread. Fer parents begged her to
permit them to send for a physician
to discover If. there was any inherent
weakness in her. but she would not
consent.
Dollie usually kent her room late in
The morning. One morning just be-
fore Mr. Tuttle went to business Mrs.
Tnttle called to him to come upstairs
He found her in their daughters room.
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