Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-01-10
SIMPLY
HUMAN
By Jessie Ethel Sheswin

|
"Wild and perverse," proclaimed
Rev. Willis Gascoyne. IL must decline
to interfere. The girl is willful. hel
relatives Indifferent. What I might say
to her would only anita gonize her and
do no good"
II think you mlsJudge her." spoke
Bliss Warden warm-heartedIy. "She
Is child of nature, simply human"
The speaker turned away rather I'm
tremendously. while the other
shrugged his shoulders delicately and
resumed The pairing OF his well-kept I'm
common and unpl-a SAINT affairs outside
of his ecclesiastical functions. Why
should he? Was not his sole duty
owing to his devoted flock?
What would become of the charity
circle the Ladies' Aid society. the lawn
entertainments, II he wasted his efforts
on the outside community?
II was all about a girl. n mere waif
on the ocean of life. Leila Trask. She
was the neglected drudge Of the Mer-
rils. a wretched family living at the
edge Of the town. Neither toll nor de.
privation, however, could beat to earth
the CHEEKY, dauntless spirit Of the lone
~ one. She romped with the little ones
whenever free from duty and made
them love her. She rode the widest
horses in the district. tanned them for
their owners. A hoyden who had never
known kiss or n caress. she loved ma
ture and the laughing ways OF life and
was content.
Bliss Warden was city lawyer
come down to Summerdale To visit
friends and incidentally continue his
wooing Of proud, arstocratic Marcia
Burrcll. heiress beauty and social
queen. The day previous he had seen
Leila Trask meet man In the woods.
He knew the man at a glance. He
had impaired his history 10 Rev. VIII
lis Gascoyne. The latter betokened
interest in the story, hut none in the
girl.
"a bright young spirit. with soul
clear as crystal" ruminated Warden
"Surely. If am real man I will not
grudgc the time and effort to save hei
from the wiles Of villain"
So he sought Leila Trask. He found
her digging potatoes in the little patch
back of the mere howell in which she
lived. He nodded to her In friendly
way She smiled back radiantly.
Can I speak with you for few
minutes" he asked, and she moved 10
where he stood. looking up into his
eyes trustingly.
"You are Mr.. Warden she said.
"LIttlc Ned Billings told me how you
wadcd into the creek to save his toy
sailboat You are good man and you
are going to marry Miss Burrell. Oh
how happy she must he. and how lucky
to have all those beautiful gowns and
Jewels"
Her artlcss Innocence appealed to
Bliss Warden more strongly than ever.
81 am going to call you Leila" he
said. "because see you are my friend.
Leila. will you trust me as a brother in
a matter close TO your interest, beliey-
ing that seek only TO save you from
trouble"
She nodded her head hut staring
wonderngly at his earnest. friendly
face.
81 saw you with man near here
yesterday Is he q lOver?"
She flushed up instantly. The rose
bud lips bore a momentary resentfui
expression. Then she lowered her eyes
In confusion.
"He says he wants TO he my beau"
she fiuttercd. "And I never had one.
like other girls, and-and he says he
can get me work in the city so I can
have fine dresses and beautiful room
and he will marry me-"
81 am very sorry to make you fee
grieved Leila" said Warden. "but this
man is q villain. Twice in the city
courts he has been sentenced TO prison
the last time for bigamy"
The girl swayed as II from stun
ming shock. She could not doubt the
words spoken. She burst into tears
with the passionate outbreak.
III you know how long for some
one to speak kind to me. to think or
me, to love me. you would know how
hungry my heart is, Oh don't want |
to see him again. II he Is as you say, |
but oh, must love somebody, some
thing. Oh why am I not like other |
giris-so poor, SO lonely. so despised J.
Warden quoted the distracted spirit |
with gentle words. Then he went his |
way to the village. Within the hour |
the trcachcrous ex-convict was ordered |
10 leave the town within twenty-four
hours, or the city authorities would he |
notified. He skunk away like the cur
he was.
Perhaps Leila was more subdued and ,
serious after that. The revelation con-
corning the man she did not love. hut !
whose false. flashing ways had inter
estcd her. opened her innocent eyes sor-
rowfully to the ways of the world.
Then. TOO. strange peace had stolen 1
over her spirit
IL must love somebody" she whis.
pcred longingly To herself. mo one
need know IL. He is far high above me
and can never be anything to me. but
can love Mr. Warden, and that will all
my poor life"
One day Leila did wonderful act.
Miss. BurreIl. coming In her phaeton
down The road dropped both lines az
one snapped. and the ncttied steed
dashed forward ut breakneck speed.
Miss Burrell screamed and chung to