The Raymer enterprise., 1917-06-07
TWO WOMEp AND PETER
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

Its BIT Of u bore-sister expect.
ing us to have this chum Of hers down
TO recuperntc. Some anemic society
moth who'll turn up her whitewashed
nose at us and our country ways. Mel
lie will kick up row, too, ! sup
pose"
Nellie was Peters bctrothcd and
lived on the next farm.
MY dear Peter" his mother remon.
strated gently, 1--WE may be all wrong
about Miss Pattison. Bertha Is not the
kind to mike friends Of a snob. !
would feel badly to think l had re-
fused 10 hnYr the girl down to restore
her health"
Peters gloomy eyes turned suddenly
aifectionnte.
You're right little mother" he
said; "you make me ashamed Of my.
self. Well have Miss pattlson down
for few weeks. You love to make
Long Island roses grow In pale cheeks
with your milk nud eggs"
Mrs. Morrow sent a kindly invita-.
tion to Lgaiu Jane PattIsnn via her
daughter. On the day Of the girls
arrival Peter drove to the station TO
meet her. The train had pulled In
when he drew rein.
This is really good Of you, Mr., Nor.
row." said soft voice at his elbow,
She had recognized the bronze giant
from Berthu's description.
He turned to meet the pale. smiling
face of Lydia Pattlson. II was not
pretty face, but It was distinguished
and earnest. He led the way townrd
the trup. II was not until she stood
quietly beside him and smiled up into
his face That Peter realized she want
ed assistance.
My stiff knee" she said depre-
catingly, "makes lots Of trouble for
other folks. I am not very agile"
I'm so sorry" Peter said with
quick emotion. II had not observed
your lhmnness." He lifted her bod
lily into the trap and tucked her com
fortubly In. "Not nervous about driy-
Ing. are your This animal Is bit
frIsky for want Of work"
''No. | am not BIT nervous" she
answered. i've been through So many
big dangers and seen so much henrt-
rendlnE aEnny That Il boltlHg horse and
few broken bones would seem mere
bagntelle."
zone would almost think You had
been on the firing line" Peter said
Il have" she replied tersely.
"Youl" Peter Jcrlcd about.
"Just returned ten days ago.
volunteered In one Of the relief ships
that went 10 Belgium. I've been con.
stantly about the trenches and hos
pitfalls until my health gave out. I've
come home for n rest"
"Rut-your lnjury-lameness. Did 1t
not happen there?'
"Oh. dear no." Lydia smiled ave
had my ailiction since childhood. My
dear father spent thousands trying to
cure me. but Tin intended To 60 through
life manned It's the law Of eompen-
sution. have hnd everything | want
in life, being an only child, except
physical perfection. However" she
went on softly, II feel thrice blessed
since seeing the tortured bodies and
devastated homes that II has been my
lot To see"
Two weeks at Shady Grove farm. I'M
der lis strenuous and inspiring intlu-
euce Ut Lydn Jane Pattis0n, worked
wonderful change. Also II had
brought about change In Nellie
Baker.
Il wish Lydia Jane Pattson had
stayed where she belongedp' p she said
to Peter. "She's done nothing but up
set our peace and comfort. Advanced
theories are all nonsense. We were
nil quite contcntcd with our own mode
Of existencem
That's Just 1t. We've simply ex.
listed. I'm nothing hut a great, ram-
pered, shlrklng brutcl Eve never lift
ed my hnnd 10 help fellow creature
| wanted to punch my own head
through the mirror this mornIngF
Nellie stared opcn.eycd nj the dis.
play Of energy In her erstwhllc phleg
matte lover.
''If You mention that woman's name
again to me Fll-rll scream! It's Miss
Pattlsnn this and Miss Pattlsan that.
Tn sick of her very name"
Nellie ilouneed up, flung Peters love
ly ring on the floor and with flaming
cheeks turned on her heel and left the
astonlshed Peter gazing after her.
Talk about feline claws" he NUT
tered, and left the ring where 1t had
fallen.
He sat for quite ten minutes think
Ing very hnrd II was not SO much
Of Nellie. he was thinking ms Of his
mother and one other woman. II was
the other woman who stepped softly
over the threshold while Peter was
still thinking.
Mr. Morrow" she said, while the
eyer-ready smile struggled for Its ac.
cust0med place on her lIps. Il have
told your dear mother that my rest
is over and am going back to the fir,
ing line. want to leave tonight
at five-if you will drive me to the