The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-10-16
HEART OF EILEEN
BY LOUISE v
.

DICK u llIt DAesEHa hVNhN
help o~verhearing the conversation 60
ing on Just inside the club window.
AT first the words had no meaning,
or her own thoughts were busy with
,ther things. Then she realized that
some one, an often referred to she
was most unpopular with the convers-
ars, and suddenly hearing her own
,eme mentioned she realized that she
lerself was the subject OF this I'M
,leasant discourse.
If was Mrs. Langdon Merrill talking
% her sister, Mrs. Enoch Cuthbert.
lbout her son, Lionel Merrill and Eli
zen herself.
Don't you see It all. Jennie?" said
Mrs. MerrilPs voice. She's come back
)ecause she's tired of nursing. You
NOW that's what both the Wainwright
iris did after their father lost his
noney-trained for nurses. And as
she and Lionel had a sort Of boy and
,irl affair, she thinks she'll take 1t up
low where they left of. | shouldn't
worry about 1t. only the girls a raw
ng. tearing beauty. She's got that
;ort of ethereal look about her that
1ppeaIs to a man. And she knows
t, you can gamble, and she's going to
LAY for big game. But she's not
,oing to marry Lionel Merrill sif I
now anything. just when he was be-
Hnning to take an interest in Mary
gvans-the very thing I've set my
ieart on all my life. I don't know
that the Aberdeens meant by asking
Ier here Why didn't she go to France.
shere she's needed? I've no patience
With nurses who don't go to France"
There was more. but Eileen, decid-
ng she had heard enough, got up and
eft. g
Her Indignation had cooled to a
uiet amusement.
She Joined the Aberdeens at the END
f the terrace, watching a set of ten
is.
'"Thirty-love," explainedsJean Aber-
cen rs Eileen came up. Lion Merrill
nd Mary Evans are winning"
It was the first time Eileen had seen
i'm for V years, and she approved
f what she saw.
"Why didn't Lionel join the armyT'
he asked Jean.
"Whyl !" Jeans eyes were indignant.
Because his mother wouldn't let him.
IS a shame. when he wanted 10 go SO.
The set over. Lionel came up to the
roup on the terrace. "It's little Eileen
acIl again. he said. taking her hand
nd looking searching'y down into her
yes. "And she's come back a very
eautiful lady-but il strikes me, a sad
idy. Well have to have q few par
ies to brighten her up. I see that"
Eileen laughed and shook her head.
It's not a time for parties, Lionel. One
ant feel festive these days."
Mrs. Merrill arrived in time to hear
he remark.
"You're very patriotic. Miss VAIN
wright. One would think your patriot
SIN would carry you across seas"
Eileen's face clouded. 81 wanted to
o." she said simply. my sister and
{ drew lots and she won."
Several days passed in which Lionel
ferrill managed to see Eileen very Of
en-.
Then. one soft evening in June. when
he stars were struggling through a
long pale twilight, he told her he loved
ler.
"Eileen, dear, I love you." he said
suddenly. II can't let you go back to
New York. I can't let you go away
again. my white angel"
She drew away gently. "Lionel. we
must not talk of love. 1t can't be. You
see, I know your mother doesn't APP
man against his mothers wishes. Good
by. dear boy. must go In. And please
don't try to see me again."
Two days later Doctor HARRISON
came downstairs at the Merrills'.
where Mrs. Merrill was anxiously
waiting for him in the hall.
"It's pneumonia, Mrs. Merrill. Lionel
must have a nurse right away. But
there isn't an extra nurse in the state.
but what shall we dor"
"Tm sure / don't know, Mrs. Mer-
rill."
II have it," she exclaimed. "There
4 girl-a nurse visiting near here. Per-
laps she'll come" But her voice was
unwilling.
Mrs. Merrill herself called on the
telephone and stated her case.
I'm sorry" said Eileen. "My rest
$ over. Mrs. Merrill. I must return to
New York today. The babies and
mothers need me. I'm pledged to them
md to the soldiers. If they neeG me
IN this side. / can't take any one else"
"But Lionel needs you, my dear Miss
wainwright. If he were q soldier
would you nurse him?"
"Yes."
"Then, my dear, he'll be a soldier.
lie has always wanted to be one. 1t Is
ny fault he wasn't. II I consent when
ne gets well will you conner"
"Yes, l en- do that without breaking
NY pledge"
"And Miss Wainwright! There Is