The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-08-04
WHAT She COULD DO
j! 1@Ha s p5
BY DOROTHY BLACKMORE.

KIND OF business. Ali 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 can't even use a typewriter in
telligently 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 day. She worked her
self into a 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 Emer-
| 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 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 multi
tude of people, but knew she would
be a failure as home-maker.
Jack smiled at trifle wistfully and
picked up the dainty little letter.
''Hon. Secretary, Dear Madam" he
read, 81 am one of the old-fashioned,
ultra-feminine type of girls. Is there
anything you could suggest my doing
to help the government war service?
l can do absolutely nothing except
keep house, since 1 have been perfect
~ trained for that purpose. | would
be glad to keep house for some of you
fortunate women who are out in the
busy world; that I can do. Very sin
!, cerely. Della Thorne."
Diana Mershon wondered, as her
brother read this letter. if 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 /!
Diana had already voiced her decision
I'VE both need an intelligent person
to take our household in charge, dont
We DIP"
She smiled a bit wistfully as she
gazed at her brother.
Poor old Jack, know / have made
s rather a mess of homemaking. |
Della Thorne can make an orderl!
Q home for US she will be doing he
y part in the Woman's Emergenc.
o corps. l want a real home as mucl
as you, but / don't seem to know jus
: how to manage it"
you can do everything else 81
well, Dr." he said fondly. Here yo1
o are about to help another poor sou
u who is fioundering about in the world
By Jove, you're a brick!" Jack Mel
shon never quite knew whether it wa
admiration for his sister or relief Il
t the prospect OF having an old-fast
IS toned woman in his household tina
n drew forth his enthusiasm on this OF
is caSion.
When Della arrived at the head
l quarters of the corps in answer t
1T Diana Mershon's letter, she fel
k strangely elated. She had hungered S
" long to be of some service tc som
n one that she entered Miss Mershon'
line nd
e. song in her heart.
~ 81 feel that you are doing this a
ct most out of charity" Della said t
Miss Mershon, when arrangements fc
IT her to take charge of the big, untid,
VS. kept home had been made.
lie mo, / have not Diana assure
lg her frankly my brother ST
10 glanced over at Jack who was tryin
re his best not to stare at the new +
re cruit-"requires a real home. If yc
can transform the four walls of tn
house into real home for my brotht
and me believe you will be doing {
in great a good for the country as ar
lg business woman could do"
1e 81 feel sure I can do that" Del
IS, agreed shyly, but with look of co
ne fdence in her earnest eyes.
1g A month later Jack and Diana we
40 about their daily tasks free and rel
y vigorated. Gradually the four wal
of of the Mershon house became hon
at indeed, and Della was directly respo
re sible for the metamorphosis. She b;
re- been given the opportunity to exc
1t else her one talent and she had ST
er. ceeded even beyond her expectatio
tn "How shall we ever do witho
en- herr" Diana said to Jack one d.
IN while they we're still at the ofic
Sc What will. become of US when 81
lat leaves us?''
There was loSk of positive tt
ror in her eyes and her voice W