South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-05
The End of the
Feud


Gray had long been enemies. The
feud had not started over any dis
pute about territorial boundaries
! although their lots adjoined, nor
had il been handed down from an
other generation over a difference
in politics. although old Henri
wardwell and Elias Gray had never
been able TO hit 1t off an the tariff
nor the Monroe doctrine.
No. the doctor and Miss Erminie
had a difference all their own,
which started when Miss Erminie
was sick one time and the doctor
had insisted on her taking cod
liver oil TO build her up, and she
had insisted upon refusing II as well
as the egnoggs ne prescribed in CON
junction with the other. Miss Err
mimic had always hated eggs, and
she couldn't bear milk. and she
simply couldn't swallow cod-liver
oil.
You've just got 10, Erminie," the
doctor had declared. You're nerN-
Gus and anaemic and everything
you ought not TO be. and I'm not
going TO stand by and let you die
IF 1 do. it's my own affair."
Not while I'm your doctor.
III die anyway. If 1 had TO take
those awful doses I'd be dead in two
days So I'm going to die comfort
ably"
NO, you're not going to die at all.
AS long as I'm your doctor you'll
have to do as I say
And what if | don't?"
He spread his hands and shrugged
slightly.
You wash your hands of me.
suppose" she had replied.
What else can I do?"
We'll. there are other doctors in
town, Tom wardwell You don't
have 10 waste your time on me.
Good morning"
Now, Erminie. 1 didn't say that"
But she would not reply nor look at
him again, so he picked up his hat
and left.
Erminie began to pick up sus-
piciously after that. She pvt on
pounds of flesh, her eyes frightened,
the bloom came back to her cheeks.
and her lips no longer looked like
parchment. But what she kept
locked in her closet no one could
have told but the local apothecary,
and why she suddenly became such
good customer OF the Farm and
Dairy Produce Company no one
knew save Sarah, the maid.
But when she had tonsilitis she
sent for old DR.. Bradner. That was
the only time she had been really
i'll in the two years since the trou-
BILE. But that was enough.
Dr. Wardwen lifted his hat when
brought face to face with his COM
bative neighbor. and Miss Err
mimic bowed stihly. But never a
word passed between them.
She was away all of the second
summer and returned in September.
The days were hot and oppressive
and she sat out on the porch a great
deal OF the time. knitting on gray
or khaki colored yarns, meant for
the snappy months ahead when the
boys across the water would need
them. She had about completed
her second set-a sleeveless sweater.
knitted helmet, scarf and pair
of wristlets. Into the soft. even
stitches went many loving thoughts
of young men she knew. who were
going away. At the same time her
heart beat strongly with true, loyal
patriotism and a Godspeed for those
SO manfully doing their duty. She
wondered who would wear the
things she was making.
The afternoon paper was flung up
on the porch, landing at her feet.
she stopped eagerly and picked ii
up. anxiously scanning the names
OF those TO go. And then in a sec
ton by itself she read Noted Local
Physician Commissioned. To leave
for France in four weeks. Dr.
Thomas Wardwell called TO the col
ors" There wasn't much more
merely a confirmation Of the head
ing.
The paper fell at her feet un-
needed. Her eyes stared before her
into space; her knitting slipped of
her knee. she new nOw-she'd
known all along-that she was
mean and contemplate and had
given way W pCNAg CpANN
hoping all the time that he would
make the overture for peace. She
| realized, too, that what she had
done and hurt him beyond repair
and yet she had expected him TO BIZ
the one to bridge the gulf.
And he was going to war-to helI
save men and souls-out there per
haps in No Mans Land from
whence few come back. And she
would be left at home to nurse hel
pitiful spite. on, how she hateC
herself!
Just then a paper blew over GU
Of the Doctors yard-a brown wrap
ping paper which had come on Z
postal package. IL bore his name
address and cancelled stamps 4
lay spread below her. Then Mis-
Erminie suddenly had an inspira
ton. The last wooden set was jus
finished and she determined that DR.
Wardwell should wear the things
without an idea OF the donor
She flew indoors with the paper
deftly wrapped the pieces and TIED
them securely with Tho no ma auf