The Press., 1918-01-24
SIMPLY
 HUMAN
By Jessie Ethel Sherwin


 Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.
 "Wild and perverse," prnclaimct Rev. Willis GascOync. "I must dccln, to interfere. The girl is wiIlful, he relatives indifferent. What l might sa! to her would only antagOniZc her ant do no good"
 q think you misiudgc her spoke Bliss Warden warm-hoartcdIy. 'Sh, is child of nature, simply human"
 The speaker t;rncd away rather m tremendously, while the othcl shrugged his shoulders delicatrly au, resumed the pairing of his wclI-kcpt fin ger nails. The latter never mingled in common and unpleasant 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, if he wasted his efforts on the outside community?
 It was all about girl, mere waif on the ocean of life, Leila Trask. She was the neglected drudge of the Mcr- rils, wretched family living at the edge of the town. Neither toll nor de privatiOn, however, could beat to rarth the cheery, dauntlesS spirit of the lonC- ly 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. X hOyden who had mover known a kiss or q carcss, she loved na- ture and tho laughing ways of life and was content
 Bliss Warden was n city lawyer, come down to Summerdale to visit friends and incidentally continue his wooing of proud, aristocratic Marcia BurreIl, 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 imparted his history to Rev. Wll- lis Gascoyne. The latter betokcncd interest In the story, but none in the girl.
 "A bright young spirit, with a soul clear as crystal" ruminated Warden. "Surely, if am real man l will not grudge the time and effort to save her from the wiles of villain"
 So, he sought Leila Trask. He found her digging potatoes in the littlc patch back of the mere hovel 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 to where he stood, looking up into his eyes trustingly.
 "You are Mir. Warden" she said. "Little Ned Billings told me how you waded into the creek to save his toy sailboat. You are good man and you are going to marry Miss Burrell. on! how happy she must be, and how lucky to have all those beautiful gowns and jewels"
 Her artless innocence appealed to Bliss Warden more strongly than ever.
 'I am going to call you Ieila,'" he said, because see you are my friend. Leila, will you trust me as a brother In a matter close to your interest, believ- ing that I seek only to save. you from trouble?" :..
 She nodded her head, but staring wonderingly at his earnest, friendly face. ~~..a.... --F 'T saw you with 6 man near here yesterday. Is he loverT
 She flushed up instantly. The rose bud lips bore a momentary resentful expression. Then she lowered her eyes in confusion. ...
 "He says he wants to be my beau," she fiuttered. "And never had one, like other girls, and-and he says he can get me work in the city so can have fine dresses and 6 beautiful room, and he will marry me-"
 ''I am very sorry to make you feel grieved LeIla," said Warden. ''but this man is a villain. Twice in the city courts he has been sentenced to prison, the last time for bigamy,"
 The girl swayed as if from stun ming shock. She could not doubt the words spoken. She burst into tears with the passionate outbreak.
 eff you know how long for some one to speak kind to me, to think of me, to love me, you would know how hungry my heart is! ohi don't want to see him again, If he Is as you say, but oh must love somebody, some thing. Ohi why am not like other girls-so poor, so lonely, so despised v
 Warden quleted the distracted spirit with gentle words. Then he went his way to the village. Within the hour the treacherous ex.convict was ordered