The Lamar register., 1916-04-05
fHER PROFESSIONAL CALI
BY EMERSON PHILLIPS.

VvVVTvVTFTTTTT
IF were you" went on Myra ODER.
ly. the town gossip, shrilly. Il 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
a new place and set themselves up as
judges OF the other people? What do
they know about you or Charleen, Mrs.
Trent? Not thing! And II Charleen
here wants to have a beau now and
then and go to a dance when she's
asked I'm sure II isn't any business OF
that long-faced Methodist trustee
across the street nor his kill-ioy wife
nor the bookworm son either. And
if"
Myra was interrupted by the post.
mans ring. and, having unburdened
herself of all she had come laden with
and uselessly exerted all her ingenu-
ity to extract an Invitation to dine.
she made her adieus and departed.
Il wish,' said Mrs. Trent YEARLY.
that Myra would stay away"
oh, don't listen to her silly gos-
sip. mother" laughed Charleen.
Its not all talk, dear. can feel
the Crawfords' disapproval in the air.
Mrs. Crawford has no time for parties
or theaters or anything more frivol-
GUS than her clubs. And Mr.. Craw-
ford told your father he thought card
players worse than inebriates."
And their son." added Charleen.
thinks your daughter is a foolish
creature too silly to notice because
she dances and goes to parties. That
is the real trouble. Isn't 1t, mother"
But in spite OF her outward indif-
ference. Charleen was piqued at the
treatment of John Crawford, the more
so. perhaps. because she was accus-
toned to homage from all men. She
might have been any one Of a dozen
Mrs. So and-Sos in town, but instead
she had chosen to give her life to
more serious profession even than
matrimony. She had. in fact, spent
three years in training in a city hos
pital. and Charleen's gayety and beau
ty had never deserted her while dis
charging her duties as a nurse.
The Crawfords had moved into town
just after Charleen's arrival. and in
the midst OF all the dances and parties
in her honor.
So Charleen had danced and dined,
ridden horseback and motored. and
was generally happy-except for John
Crawford She had met him twice
OF " Of
He was very handsome. It was con-
coded. and gossip had 1t that the
Crawfords were rich.
Charleen. dressing for dinner. and.
incidentally, a dance later. was enjoy
ing the late afternoon sky through her
curtain when she saw a man ride up
to the Crawfords. dismount and hitch
the horse to a tree. A moment later,
John Crawford in riding clothes came
out, mounted and trotted of.
II wonder why the liveryman sent
him Grim-he has such a nasty tenn
per ! don't believe my neighbor
knows that think it's wicked for
Mr.. Smollett to send him Grim. It's
a lovely evening to ride.
She put the forms back into her
slippers. pulled out her riding boots
and clothes and took up the telephone
on her table.
In ten minutes. she was ready for
her ride and TinSle, her favorite little
mare. was at the door. Then she
mounted and galloped toward the sun
set
Half a mile out Of town. where the
road forked. she turned to the right.
Finally she came upon him sitting
upon a stone in the narrow road.
Grim tied to a sapling projecting out
OF the bank above. When John saw
her he removed his piDe and lifted