Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1921-08-05
A GOOD IMPULSE
BY MoLLlE MATHER.
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S@, 1921. Western Newspaper unIonD


ly come up from the hot beach to rest
before dressing for dinner. Neither
was 1t Natalie's fault that the corner
Of the yeranda had jutting wall
making q second secluded corner near
by. Here sat two rocking old ladies.
ut Is too bad" old Mrs. Gunther said,
that Natalie Brooks hasn't thought
in the world beyond her own good
looks and good times. That girl seems
to just dance through the world, and
somebody, usually, pays the piper"
"Well," old Mrs. Dean submitted,
"Natalie's father made his pile before
he died, and as her mother lives even
a more luxurious life than her daugh-
ter, no one appears to suffer from her
lrresponsibility- herself"
The women arose and moved away.
"Self centered?" Yes, she had been
always. Natalie could see that, but
everything conspired to make her so.
The very friends who admired and
planned for her pleasure; at least she
told herself defendingly, she was not
unappreciative of happiness, butt
seemed that one must pass on happi-
ness If one would not later find lonely
hours" Natalie her dark eyes wide
and serious, considered the question.
1t seemed reasonable, one who did not
share what one had was selfish, and
selfish persons were not apt to be
continually sought. She must share
her happiness, then-in some way
strange that this had not occurred to
her before. She turned impulsivey
to beckon to white-faced girl who
came YEARLY up the walk.
Where do you live when you are
at home, FredaY said the newly awak-
ered Natalie, when you are not work
ing at the hotel as waitress"
Freda's pathetic blue eyes gazed
N'onderingly. 81 live" answered Freda,
'in crowded part Of the city that
you would not know, where many fam
lilies crowd in tenements. The visit
Ing doctor found me this place to work
during August, because my health was
SO poor. He was very kind. But in
September have to go back-the no
tel then closes"
Freda half turned away.
ut must be nice" she added shyly,
ito do as one pleases."
Natalie jumped to her feet.
70 civ
she said.
II want to pass on some of my good
fortune" Natalie explained. "And
did not know how to go about 1t. This
is really my first good impulse. You
must let me help to make your wish
come true" 1t was doubtful as weeks
passed, which of the two, mistress or
maid, were beneficiary. For so Freda
became, and in her rapidly returning
strength was gratefully willing to re-
turn the kindness daily given. Nata-
lie, again an unwilling eavesdropper,
heard herself discussed. "She is beau
tiful and has undoubted charm"
Wayne Southwick, the admired bach
elor was saying, "but most society
women are like that-no heart or sta
bllty beneath. l fight shy-don't
want to run the risk Of taking unto
myself a wife of that class"
Natalie, with hot cheeks, made her
way back to the hotel. So, because
of her money they judged her. Re
bellious tears rose to her eyes; the
young house doctor of the hotel gave
her second glance as she paused in
the lighted doorway.
Natalie felt all at once strange and
sick. She approached the young doc
tor.
II am ILL., I think" she told him
weakly; will you see me?'
Nodding CURLY, he led the way to n
white fitted Office, and he frowned as
he took her temperature and pulse,
"Better get to bed at once he adj
vised her briefly.
1t was Mrs. Gunther who first sound
ed the alarm. She had noticed Miss
Brooks coming from the tumble-down
vi ihS StN1Ati way uSo'
That house now, to the horror of the
guests, bore smallpox sign. The doc
tor was called to the city during the
day that Natalie developed a rash
After the chambermaid discovered this
fact the young woman Of fortune,
might in her illness have been u pau
per, for all the attention she received,
Natalie, fevered in her great isolation
room, looked up to see Freda bending
over her. Don't fret" Freda COM
fortcd, 81 shall stay to care for YOU
[; and the doctor when he comes"
Outside the door, later, she told the
returned physician about her patient
"She is always trying TO share hap
pincss," FredO said, 80 she carried
food and clothing to those people who
are now sick. Every day she wishes
to talk to you about helping me on to
the nurses profession, Please"
begged the grateful Freda, "let us, you
and l, make her well of this dread dis
ease"
When the doctor looked up from the
patients hlotched face, he actually
laughed.
DREAD disease" he laughed; "this
is chicken pox. 1t Is prevalent in