The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1912-03-28
A Mere Child
By MCLLlE K. WETHE2.Eu
Copyright by American Press Asxo-
citation, 1911.

been thinking about Dolly 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
1T may be that she's got to an age
where she needs more society,"
"She has plenty of girl friends"
81 "Quite likely she'd like to see some
thing Of young men,"
"What! Barely sixteen and wants to
meet young men! What arc you think
Ing of. pa?"
my mother was married at seven.
teen.''
THAT was long while ago. Girls
don't think about the young men now
before they're twenty and don't marry
much before they're twcnty-four or
twenty-five. Those who go to college
don't graduate before twenty-five. Be.
sides, Doll is young for her age. lv,.
been In hopes that my old friend Deb
orah Simmons sen Charlie and Doll
might make match, but she doesn't
seem to take to him.
What makes you think so?'
"Why. he came here the other day
With message from his mother. |
sent Doll down to see him. and. going
down myself late:. l saw them sitting
In the parlor bot upright and so far
apart that wondered how they could
hear each other. Doll looked as flus-
tered as fish just out Of water"
Cant you get her used to him?"
I'm going to try. I'll invite him to
dinner. and after we are finished we
can leave them alone together"
A Jews days later Charlie Simmons
sat opposite Dolly futile at table. he,
father and mother being at opposite
ends. The young man cndcavored to
keep up a conversation. but Dolly
munched in silence Indeed. the din.
ner was by no means success. Ate,
dinner Mr.. Tuttle said he would smoke
in the library. and Mrs. Tuttle thought
she would keep him company with her
work.
did yol ever see any one so stiff in
presence OF young man?'' said til,
wife. "She didn't dare look at him.
"He had hard time of it. III ad
nit" replied the husband. ."Nhen
was boy. If girl was as uppish as
that would have dropped her like a
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 Ike contrarincss 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 is very attractive"
why. Doll is such child she
wouldn't know what meant by fall.
ing in love. Besides. don't intend
that she shall marry before she's at
least twenty. What I'm doing this fol
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 go. His moth.
er was alone at home and would feel
uneasy about him. She always :wor-
ried when lie was out after dark. He
said he had enjoyed the evening very
much. but II there had been any JOY
his hosts had seen no evidence Of it.
HE hasn't stayed twenty minutes
after dinner" said Mrs. futile.
1--WE can't blame him." replied her
husband. Il 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 may
have been that her own contrariness
had something to do with it. At my
rate. she concluded to discover what
opposition would do with Dollie. She
called her into her bedroom one morn.
ing ard 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 a
few moments. then turned and walked
out Of the room without word.
II 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. futile
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 be going downh;ll faster
than before. She was pale and thin
and seemed to be in constant state
of dread. Her parents begged her to
permit them to send for a physician
to discover If the.e was any inherent
weakness in her. but she would not
consent
Dollie usually kept her room late in
the morning. One morning just be-
fore Mr.. Tuttle went to business Mrs.
|ruttle called to him to come UPSTAIRS.
He found her in their dau"hte-'s room.
which was empty. Mrs. futile held u
hit Of paper in her hand. and be-
ni@n smile was on her face.
Read that" she suid. handing the