The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-04-09
CHARLES GIRL
BY MILDRED WHITE.

soon AS DC ILLUS a 6VCN
city. he goes and engages himself to
q girl. Even Charles pa said she
looked like one of them picture act
resses.
Charlie had asked EN- all to the
tbeater. Mr.. and Mrs. Cantwell an
Relle. TO meet his girl. High shoes.
she had IN, an a rose cOlored coat an
a light blue silk skirt peepin' beneath
her dress. How'd Charlie expect to
keen all that up, they wondered? Ii
he'd stayed on takin' care OF his IA
ther,s store when Mr.. Cantwell got
FOO old to tend to 1t, he'd taken up
with a sensible girl in town, an not
brought some one into the family too
good to work.
"Like as not" Belle said, shed be
comm out to visit afterward, and
would sit with those polished finger
nails of hers, expecting to be waited
on" Belle wouldn't do IL. h had
run around enough after Charlie, get
tin him put through college, an now
on top of the news that he was en-
gagged. came word that he'd been draft
ed an accepted into the army, an
very soon he'd have to be leaving FOR
camp. They had almost forgot their
disappointment in this new sor-
row. when Charlie up and wrote that
he'd marry the girl before he went
away.
"She's never had a home" he told
'em. "goin' about from place to place,
an I'd like to leave her safe with
you"
They gasped at that. "Goin' about
from place to place" didn't seem much
of a recommendation. nor no family
neither. and as for Twin with them,
n couldn't be done. mercy knows
ReIle and her mother had enough to
do now. an old Mr.. Cantwell too tired
to speak evenings, as he sat figuring
up." So Belle wrote prompt an told
him, an they guessed 1t made MIN
mad. for he never answered. When
he didn't come out from the city, they
Just knew he was married.
Mrs. CantwelTs eyes were pretty
red from crying one evening, when she
went to answer the door-bell, and there
right into the room walked Charles
girl. She smiled and took of her rose
colored coat with the gray fur col
lar.
1--WE come to stay owe night she
said, "and get acquainted with Char
lies folks"
"You are married to himf" his moth
er asked. The words most killed her.
"No," answered Charles girl. u
wanted to wait, until you knew me
better"
So they took her to the spare room
an she went on talkin' pleasant, an
layin' out her things. That night Mrs.
Cantwell was taken sick sudden.
Belle heard her coughin' an got up
an phoned the doctor, but he was out
of town. Then her mother gettin'
worse and being kinda desperate, she
woke up Mis- Delia-that was Char
lies girl.
"If you'll just sit by mother" she
said, "T1l go out an try TO find u
practical nurse, she hasn't got a
phone"
1t was about two o'clock In the
morning, so Miss Della says: "Walt
until / see her." an In a moment all
businesslike, the way a nurse does, she
was feeling the mothers pulse, gently
touchin' her head. 1--WE been studying
nursing" she says, land / know just
what to do. tn be pneumonia unless
we work quick" an they did. When
Doctor Bronson come in, In the morn
ing, he said the care had pulled Mrs.
CantweIl through.
you're a wonder" he says to Miss
Della. you'll honor your calling.'
Well, all day she went stepping
about in her little white dress and
shoes, things seemed just to grow neat
where she was, she'd pat Mrs. Can't
wells hand soft like, as 1t lay on the
pillow, or smile as she'd smooth her
hair.
Recreation hour" she said In the
afternoon to Belle. 81 must 20 for my
walk"
"You amt going back to the city,"
Belle asked fearful to be left alone.
mo, indeed" Charles girl replied.
"Not It'll your mothers better"
"Would you mind" asked Belle,
stopping at a music pupil Of mine,
tell her 1 can't get out today to give
a lesson" And what do you suppose?
When that Miss Della came back all
glowing from her walk she was laugh
ing.
II gave that music lesson" she said.
"The child didn't want to miss II, and
here's your money"
There didn't seem to be nothing that
actress-looking girl couldn't do. 'It's
the result of my adventurous life" She
told Charles pa. "When ones alone
in the world" she says, and then sud
den her big eyes filled with tears. Mrs.
Cantwell motlOned her over to the
couch where she was lying. "You-
shan't-never be alone In the world
again, little Charles GIRL" she said.