Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-23
A PEACE OFFERING
By LOUISE OLIVER.

Gray had long been enemies. The feud had not started over any dispute about territorial boundaries, although their lots adjoined, nor had it been handed down from another generation over difference in politics, although old Henry Wardwell and Elias Gray had never been able to hit it off on the tariff nor the Monroe doctrine.
 No, the doctor and Miss Erminie started when Miss Erminie was sick one time and the doctor had insisted on her taking cod1iver oil to build her up, and she had insisted upon re- fusing it as we'll as the eggnogs he prescribed in conjunction with the other. Miss Erminie had always hated eggs, and she couldn't bear milk, and she simply couldn't swallow cod-liver oil.
 "You've just got to, Erminie," the doctor had declared. "You're nervous and anaemic and everything you ought not to be, and I'm not going to stand by and let you die." ''f I do, it's my own affair" "Not while I'm your doctor"
 ''I1l die anyway. If 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 say"
 "And what if don't?"
 He spread his hands and shrugged slightly.
 "You wash your hands of me, SUD- pose" she had replied.
 "What else can do?''
 "Well, there are other doctors in town, Tom Wardwell. You don't have to waste your time on me- Good morn ing"
 "Now, Erminie, didn't say that" But she would not reply nor look at him again, so he picked up his hat and left.
 Erninie began to pick up suspicious ly after that. She put 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 be- came 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 Doctor Bradner. That was the 1 only time she had been really ilr in the two years since the trouble. But that was enough.
 l Doctor Wardwell lifted his hat 4 when brought face to face with his cumulative neighbor, and Miss Erminie bowed stiffly. But never word passed between them.
 She was away all Of the second l summer and returned in September. The days were hot and oppressive and I she sat out on the, porch 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, a scarf and pair of wristlets. ! The afternoon paper was flung ur on the porch, landing at her feet. She stopped eagerly and picked it up. anxiously scanning the names of those to go. And then in section by itself she read: "Noted Local Physician Commissioned. To Leave for France in Four Weeks. Dr. Thomas Wardwell Called to the Colors." There wasn't much more, merely a confirmation of the heading.
 The paper fell at her feet unheeded Her eyes stared before her into space her knitting slipped off her knee. She knew now-she'd known all along that she was mean and contemptible and had childishly given way to petty spite, hoping all the time that he would make the overture for peace
 She realized, too, that what she hat done had hurt him beyond repair, and ! yet she had expected him to be the one to bridge the gulf. ] Just then paper blew over out ol the doctors yard-a brown wrapping paper which had come on a postal package. It bore his name, address i and cancelled stamps as it lay spread | below her. Then Miss Erminie sud
 denly had an inspiration. The las
 woolen set was just finished and sht
 determined that Doctor Wardwel
 should wear the things without al
 idea of the donor.
 She flew indoors with the paper
 deftly wrapped the pieces and tiet
 them securely, with the name and ad
 dress in full view. Then she ran ovel
 and laid it in the doctors vestibule
 He'd think the postman had brough
 1t, when he returned from his calls. III But not so. Just as she turned, tn
 door opened and a strong arm drev
 her into the hall.
 "Erminie!" The doctors voic ! ~A ~l@s,