The Pulaskian., 1917-07-13
MISS CHARITY
By SYLVIA TURNER.


 named her when she first went to the opera house as caretaker and queen of the ''scrub ladies"
 The old theater had fallen into a 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 flrst-class opera company. and sat back in an orchestra chair at rehearsals watching the re- suit.
 It was here that Miss Charity first saw him, slender old gentleman, in light gray suit, wearing pearl Fedora with black band. Remarkably gentle in his way of speech, and courteous in his manner-even to "scrub ladies' When she reached home she told Marie Jocelyn about him, and the child listened gravely.
 "Some day, Eliza" she answered, ''you shall take me to see him, and if I like him, too, I may sing in his com pany.''
 Miss Charity had laughed and petted
 
 might pet her canary or the maltese kitten. It was three years since she had received Marie Joeelyn as a 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 Mme. Jocelyn-"Eloise Jocelyn" on the "a child. It had seemed very natural that when the call came from 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 angel?" Eloise said fervently. Tn one. two, maybe three months 1 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, and no word had ever come back from trance of Eloise Jocelyn. Miss Char ity 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 a flow CT, with her mothers great, dark eyes and blond hair. And how she Loved the old opera housel It had been her playground through the years.
 When the rehearsals were over Marie would steal out on the great darkened stage and imagine herself each. 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 1t happened that one day when the colonel fell asleep after a prolonged rehearsal of Faust" he was wakened by voice singing Sic bells "Flower Song" It was a voice so clear and fresh so thrillingly sweet that 1t seemed as though youth and spring had suddenly burst into song.
 God bless my heart and soulF" gasped the colonel. "Who Is that?"
 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 that Marie Jocelyn meant no harm at all.
 "Harmf" thundered the colonel, rap- turously. q wouldn't have missed it for $1000O, my good woman. Tell her to sing more-try the Jewel Song," my dear."
 Marie Jocelyn took her good fortune very calmly, quite as if it were only her just due. At her name the colonel strengthened his shoulders. Then he told Miss Charity that he would edu- cate Marie for opera and sign ten year contract with her.
 "Oh, but Colonel Moulton," cried the little woman. "How dare l permit the child to sign away the best years of her youth so, without her mothers per- mission? I do not know whether she is dead or alive"
 And you'll waste time waiting to find out" answered the colonel impa- tiently. "The child has voice and a personality She belongs to opera"
 So against Miss Charity's wishes Marie prepared for her career. Pre- pared according to the colonePs ideas and notions. bit old-fashioned, but thorough and shrewd. Her years at languages and instrumental music came in New York, to be followed by three abroad.
 It was while they were still in New York that Mime. Alvani, Maries teach CT, permitted her to sing once for charity. Suddenly as she began to sing the "Chanson de Florian" there came smothered cry from the audi ence.
 "Marie!"
 Always thereafter Miss Charity con tended that if Marie had not been +v,,o o~kse,t cbn ruox,Id boua cfonnpd hQr