The Lamar register., 1915-09-08
WHAT She COULD DO
BY DOROTHY sLAcKMoRE.

wished she had been trained in some
kind of business All the women in
England seemed to be capable OF
doing some work in the great war
crisis, and all the Americans living
in London were doing their utmost
to help. yet Della Thorne could do
nothing.
Twenty thousand women have
registered themselves as capable of
helping in some capacity or another,
and / cant even use typewriter In
diligently or figure sufficiently well
to sell ribbons behind a counter"
Della thrust this appalling fact be-
fore her own mental outlook a hun
dred times a day. She worked her
self into fervor OF resentment
against the system Of development,
or lack of development, that sur
rounded the idle rich. For Della was
one of the idle rich.
A letter which reached the honor
able secretary of the Woman's Elmer
gency corps was the outcome of De-
las frantic desire to do something
and to become a part OF the great
struggling nation.
The honorable secretary. Miss
Diana Mershon. tossed the letter to
her brother. who sat working labo-
riously over the days correspondence.
Had Jack Mershon possessed half OF
the robust supply of health with which
his handsome sister was endowed. he
would have been in the continental
trenches with his comrades.
There is a girl after your own
heart, Jack" laughed Diana. Diana
Mershon was an avowed suffragette,
a successful organizer. and she could
make a telling speech before a multi
tude of people. but knew she would
be a failure as a home-maker.
Jack smiled at trihe wistfully and
picked up the dainty little letter.
Hon. Secretary. Dear Madam" he
read. Il am one of the old-fashioned,
ultra-feminine type of girls. Is there
anything you could suggest my doing
to help the government war servicef
| can do absolutely nothing except
keep house, since | have been perfect
ly trained for that purpose. l would
be glad to keep house for some OF you
fortunate women who are out in the
busy world; that can do. Very sin
cerely. Della Thorne."
Diana Mershon wondered. as her
brother read this letter. IL the thought
it had inspired In her own mind would
be suggested to him also. When he
looked up she knew that It had.
Bully ideal" he exclaimed. as II
Diana had already voiced her decision.
I'VE both need an intelligent person
to take our household in charge. don't
We DIP"
She smiled a bit wistfully as she
gazed at her brother.
Poor old Jack, know have made
rather mess of homemaking. II
Della Thorne can make an orderly
home for US she will be doing her
part in the Woman's Emergency
corps. | want a real home as much
as you. but don't seem to know Just
how to manage IT,"
You can do everything else so
well, d." he said fondly. Here you
are about to help another poor soul
who is fioundering about in the world.
By Jove. you're a brick!" Jack Mer-
shon never quite knew whether 1t was
admiration for his sister or relief in
the prospect OF having an old-fash-
Toned woman in his household that
drew forth his enthusiasm on this oc-
casion.
When Della arrived at the head
quarters of the corps in answer to
Diana Mershon's letter, she felt
strangely elated. She had hungered so
long to be Of some service to some
one that she entered Miss Mershon's
office with a smile on her lips and a
song in her heart.
q feel that you are doing this al
most out OF charity" Della said to
Miss Mershon, when arrangements for
her to take charge of the big. untidy-
kept home had been made.
mo. I have not" Diana assured
her frankly. my brother she
glanced over at Jack who was trying
his best not to stare at the new re-
requires a real home. II you
can transform the four walls OF this
house into a real home for my brother
and me l believe you will be doing as
great a good for the country as any
business woman could do"
81 feel sure I can do that" Della
agreed shyly, but with look OF con-
fidence in her earnest eyes.
A month later Jack and Diana went