The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1917-09-14
MISS CHARITY
BY SYLVIA TURNER.

Miss Charity, that is what they nick
named her when she first went to the
opera house as caretaker and queen of
the "scrub ladies'"
1'he old theater had fallen into q
fOrlorn state that year. Then Colonel
Moulton came on from New York, saw
its possibilities and took the lease
over. He had the place remOdeled,
sent on East for a first-class opera
company, aid sat back in an orchestra
chair at rehearsals watching the re-
suit.
1t was here that Miss Charity first
saw him, Il slender old gentleman, in
/ light gray suit, wearing a pearl Fedora
with black band. Remarkably gentle
I'm his way Of speech, and courteous in
his manner@-even to "scrub ladies'"
| When she reached home she told Marie
Joceyh about him, and the child
listened gravely.
Some day, Eliza" she answered
'you shall take me to see him, and if
! like him, too, may sing in his c0in-
panY.'
Miss Charity had laughed and petted
her, in just about the same way as she
might pet her canary OF the maltese
kitten 1t was three years since she
had received Marie Jocelyn as spe-
cial consignment from Fate. She had
been wardrobe woman at the opera
house then, back in the good days OF
the stock company, and there had been
Nine. JOceiyn--"ElOise JOcelyn" on the
progfahi-with her twelve-year-Old
child. 1t had seemed very natural that
when the call came ff0th France of the
fortune awaiting there for ElOise that
she should leave her little girl with
Miss Charity until her return.
"For have you not been our good
angelo" Eloise said fervently. I'm one,
two, maybe three months l shall re-
turn, and then we shall all be happy
and with much money"
And Miss Charity had believed her.
Besides, she was glad to have Marie
for a while, even a few short months.
But the months had stretched to years,
i and no word had ever come back from
rance Of Eloise Jocelyn. Miss Char
tty never told the child that her mother
might be dead, but simply that she was
detained and would surely return some
day. so Marie had grown like flow
er. with her mothers great, dark eyes
ana blond hair. And how she loved
the old opera house! 1t had been her
J playground through the years.
When the rehearsals were over
Marie would steal out on the great
dnrkened stage and imagine herself
! eaeh of her favOrite characters, speak
Ing the lines as she had learned them
from. listening to the members Of the
company.
Then came the opera company when
Marie was fifteen, and with the added
work she helped Miss Charity after
school hours. SO it happened that one
day when the colonel fell asleep after
4 a prolonged rehearsal of "Faust," he
was wakened by Il voice singing Sic
bel's 'Flower Song" 1t was voice
so clear and fresh so thrillingly sweet
that it seemed as though youth and
spring had suddenly burst into song.
! "God bless my heart and SOUL :
gasped the colonel. "WhO is thatT
= Miss Charity was listening, too
thinking herself the only audience. She
=. hurried down the side aisle to where
he sat, trembling and anxious, explain
> ing in her little hesitating way tina
: Marie Jocelyn meant no harm at all.
"Harm?" thundered the colonel, rap
> turously. 81 wouldn't have missed i
). for $4,000, my good woman. Tell he
o to sing more-try the "Jewel Song
o my dear
Marie JOcelyn took her good fortuna
: very calmly, quite as if 1t were onI'
her Just due. At her name the colone
, straightened his shoulders. Then h
! told Miss Charity that he would edu
= cate Marie for opera and sign a ten
year contract with her.
Il "Oh, but Colonel Moulton," cried tn
LITTLE woman. "HOw dare permit tn
Ie child to sign away the best years
~ her youth So without her mothers PEI
N mission? l do not know whether sh
-. Is dead or alive"
u "And youll waste time waiting I
le find out" answered the colonel impi
IA tiently "The child has a voice ana
personality. She belongs to opera
~ So against Miss Charty's wisht
n Marie prepared for her career. Pr
O, pared according to the cOlonel's idea
and notions q bit Old-fashiOned, bl
" thorough and shrewd Her years
languages and instrumental mus