Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-29
Euening Story
HER FIRST PROFESSIONAL CALL.
By Emerson Phillips.
Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

| paper oyuOlCo'o.J
IF were you," went on Myra ober
ly, the town gossip, shrilly, 81 wouldn't
pay the least attention to what they
say"
The they was accompanied by an
expressive jerk in the direction OF the
new house across the street.
What right have they to move into
new place and set themselves up as
judges of the other people? What do
they know about you or Charleen, MIA
Trent Not thing! And II Charleen
here wants to have beau now ana
then and go to dance when she's ask.
ed, I'm sure it isn't any business OF
that long faced Methodist trustee
across the street nor his kill Joy wife
nor the bookworm son either. And II
Myra was interrupted by the post.
mans ring, and having unburdened
herself of all she had come laden with
and uselessly exerted all her 1ngen'
uity to extract an invitation to d1ne'
she made her adieus and departed.
81 WISH" said Mrs. Trent YEARLY,
chat Myra would stay away
ooh, don't listen to her silly gossip,
mother" laughed Charleen.
Its not all talk, dear. can feel the
Crawford's disapproval in the air Mrs.
Crawford has no time for parties or
theaters or anything more frivolous
than her clubs. And Mr.. Crawford
told your father he thought card play
ers worse than inebriates.'
"And their son." added Charleen'
"thinks YOUR daughter is foolish crea-
ture too silly to notice because she
dances and goes to parties. That IS Inc
real trouble, isn't it, mother? You
wouldn't care a fig what Ma or Pa
Crawford say about us If son john dlo
not turn up his sanctimonlous nose AT
me! I don't care for what he thinks
swapping her fingers.
But in spite of her outward lndlner
ence. Charleen was piqued at the treat
meut Of John Crawford, the more SO,
perhaps, because she was accustomed
to homage from all men. She mlght
have been any one of dozen Mrs. so.
and-So's In town, but instead she had
chosen to give her life to a more ser1'
ous profession even than matr1mony.
she had in fact, spent three years In
training in city hospital, and hao
left behind her trail Of healed oodles
and wounded hearts Tor ln1ernes are
as susceptible as dancing masters anu
Charleen's gayety and beauty nau
never deserted her while dlscharsins
her duties as a nurse.
But her health had suffered and ATT
er graduation her parents Insisted up.
on a wear at home before Launching
upon her professional career. me
Crawfords had moved into town JUST
after Charleen's arrival, and IN the
midst of all the dances and parties IN
her honor. "A good time won't nurt
her" DR.. Clifford declared. "Recrea'1
tion is better than all the phosphates
and iron I could prescribe.
So Charleen had danced and dlneo,
ridden horseback and motored ana was
generally happy-except Tor Jonn
Crawford! She had met him twice.
once at a lecture, again at a dinner.
Greater frivolity he never INDUCED H.
so there was little chance OF their CON-
ing together. ,l ;. an,
coded and gossip had it that the Cra"-
lords were rich. Besides, Johns Jaw
practice, though young, was growing
tremendously. So in spite of his set.
tied taste he was smiled upon by all
the mammals in town.
Charleen, dressing for dinner, ana
incidentally, a dance later, was enjoy
Ing the late afternoon sky through her
curtain when she saw man ride up
to the Crawford's, dismount and h1tcn
the horse to a tree A moment later,
John Crawford in riding clothes came
ont mounted and trotted of.
81 wonder why the liveryman sent
him Grim-he has such nasty tenn
per. I don't believe my neighbor knows
that"
Charleen fixed her hair most wonder.
fully, donned filmy lace lingerie and
stockings of she'll pink silk. She was
taking the trees out Of her slippers
when her eyes fell upon her riding
boots. 81 wonder if he took the upper
road" she said to them. Il think It's
wicked for Mr.. Smollett to send him
Grim. It's lovely evening to ride:
If it were not so late -"she hesitated
land dinner-oh, bother, we eat TOO
much any way and it's sin to waste
an evening like this" ~
She put the forms back into her slip
pers, pulled out her riding boots and