Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1921-12-09
MISS EMILY
BY BERTHA RICE.
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! lWtNlNfHlghl' Sne llNu good SChhei
too, and admitted that life was be
coming increasingly stale.
1t was the Father Of His COmrry'B
birthday, therefore holiday, Miss
EmiIy hated holidays, the time tor
family get-togethcrs. firing OF re
! Election, she decided to tnke a walk.
Katie Kommon, Il rosy, frccklcd
muid Of twenty walked IistIcssly
down Pedigree avenue, on which was
the home of Miss Van Dustin. She
had 10 place to so and no compan.
ions, A holiday WIS such n useless
gift.
II was mild, sunny day, and she
| took Il seat IN the little park that ter
minated the avenue. SClf-plty usunlly
ends In tears. Being alone she Cr.ud
mrestrulncdly.
"Whal Is The mattcrf"
I'm Katie Kommon, and I'm gen.
cral in Mrs Coates family"
"a gcneralT"
"Ncssum. General maid"
"oh! Haven't you any friends In
the city?"
"No'm. I'm stranger, and don't
know anybody. I want chum to go
around with, like other girls
'We're both In the same boat, Katie.
want chum, too. Come home with
me, and Wen finish this tiresome hol-
lday together"
! Katie looked at the beautifully.
gowned lady beside her In nstonish-
| mcnt rs she stammered, "Why, II
couldn't"
"Oh, yes, you can. Come"
They soon reached the Van Dustin
| residence. Admitting with a latch
key Miss Emily led the way to her
den, which was arranged for ten.
Now, Katie" she said, as she made
the tea, tell me where your home
ISL"
an Maine. Father Is dead, and
/ I'm the oldest Of five. l send money
home to help out"
And you've no friends here2"
Nom. It's awful lonely. Sundays
anu uIt NlS NNlst. VI llhN
to belong to n club or something"
Katie, let's start club of two,
said Emily. There's sunny, front
room on the second floor that we'll
use for a cubroom. 1t shall be open
to lonely girls, on Sundays and holi.
days"
"Wherell you find girls?"
'Ill find them. VIII you come next
Sunday? Wen have music, talks and
, eats to start with"
"Oh, I'd love to-"
The Sunday newspapers carried the
following advertisement:
wanted, dozen lonely girls, the
lonelier the better. Apply at q Ped
igree avenue on Sunday"
Loneliness and curiosity, both, in
duced ten girls to investigate and
they found a cordial welcome. Over
the tea and cakes Miss Van Dustin
explained her project
And that was the beginning of the
holiday club, and-of something else.
Among those who read the adver-
tiSement was Mrs. Cornelia brewster
Van Dustin, possessor Of the bluest of
blue blood, society leader, and aunt to
Miss Emily. She was shocked, horrl-
fed wrathful.
She summoned a family council,
and ordered that Emily be ostraczed
If she refused to abandon her plebeian
club. Some demurred. but none dared
oppose. The ultimatum was dellv-
cred by Aunt Cornela over the tele-
phone.
"Oh fudge" said Miss Emily, drop
ping the receiver.
But she felt hurt, however when,
fortnight later, Mrs. Van Dustin
gave brilliant social affair to which
her niece was not invited.
A week later conspicuous sign in
black and white hung from the sec
ond-stOry window Of the Van Dustin
ancestral home. 1t announced, "A
Holiday Club for Working Girls. Come
In"
The sign arrested the attention Of
a man who was walking down Pedi-
gree avenue. He was about forty,
tall, and fine lookin',' so Katie said.
He hcsitated a moment, then crossed
the street and rang the bell of No. 81.
The man assembled the stairs, and
entered the room without knocking.
He had walked half the distance to
the piano, where Miss Emily was
seated, when she turned.
Robert" she exclaimed in confu-
sion. Then, "Win you be seated, Mr..
Sherrold?' she prImly invited.
EMILY" said her caller, ignoring
her invitation, what does that sign
mean?"
"Why do you ask?"
"You know why. We parted be-
cause | couldn't live your rapid, So
cIety life and you wouldn't live the
broader life with me-"
with one stride he reached her and
graspcd her wrists.
Look at me, Emily" he command
ed, land tell me the truth"
Unhlnchingly she faced him. ut