Meade County news., 1918-06-06
FLAME SPREADS
BY ALICE KILLIAN.


enemy out of Mrs. Gordon" Cornelia
said, sadly. II really like her very
much, but she is of the frivolous, but
terfy type of woman and she does not
realize that we are face to face with
very serious condition in this coun-
try"
"'Serious condition." repeated
Mrs. Connery. 1T is all of that"
"You know. began Cornelia, "that
this war was worrying me just as lit
tie as it is troubling Mrs. Gordon until
Bob enlisted and l became interested
in Red Cross work. OF course went
TO the station to see Bob off when he
left for Rockford and the moment
saw that seething mass of khaki-clad
men, all so eager to be of service to
their country, something seemed to
die within me-the old frivolous Cor
nelia was no more. l wanted to help !;
l wanted to feel that l was II part Of
this great movement. Well, I've done
my little bit each day, but it seems so
small when you realize how much is
needed"
you've done good work, Cornelia. 1
never dreamed you'd take hold the
way you have"
"The Gordons," said Cornelia. "have
suite of rooms opposite ours. They
are really q charming couple, but Mrs.
Gordon is very self-centered, and she
will not read about nor listen. to any
thing pertaining to the war. When
ever anyone approaches her regarding
claps her hands over her ears distract
edly and refuses to listen. She says
that 1t unnerves her to hear about the
suffering on the other side; that she
doesn't believe conditions as described
are possible, and that all such reports
are circulated merely to excite our
sympathy. No." Cornelia smiled at
Mrs. COnnery's quick gesture of pro-
rest, II know what you're thinking,
but you're wrong. She's loyal Amer
Ican, but Rip Van Winkle had nothing
on her so far as being asleep is con-
cerned.
"This Mrs. Gordon decided to give
party, formal affair, inviting fifty
couples. She had wonderful prizes
for those who wanted to play bridge,
with big and costly orchestra to fur
nish music for dancing. The parlors
and dining room were eXtravagantly
decorated and they tell me that the
chef excelled himself on the supper"
"Didn't you go?" asked Mrs. Con-
merry. i
"No," Cornelia replied. II didn't!
/ just couldn't. 1 got to thinking. If
I'd close my eyes it would seem to me
that an endless chain of weeping mites
would pass before me with little arms
outstretched. Oh, yes, know it was
just case of pure nerves, but 1 can't
hear about people being hungry with
out being upset, so l sent my regrets.
Thereafter 1 didn't see anything Of
Mrs. Gordon until the knitting clubs
meeting She was present-and by the
way, she wasn't knitting for the SOL
diers either, but was making q dream
of sweater for herself out of orange
yarn. OF course, everybody was talk
ing about the party, and she very
pointedly asked me why l wasn't there.
l answered her evasively, but she
wouldn't be put off, so at last 1 told
her and she almost expired. So did
1, for the matter of that" Cornella
acknowledged ruefully, "but stuck to
my guns.
ado you realize, Cornelia,' Mrs.
Gordon asked me sarcastically, that
my husband has bought $1,000 worth
of liberty bondsT
"'Then your husband has surely
done his Bit answered. But how
about you? Are you doing yours, Mrs.
GordonT She didn't answer, so /
waited moment and then said: La
dies, don't you feel that we have q
personal interest in this war? Women
and children are suffering untold hOr-
rors. We are asked to deny ourselves
just luXWies, not necessities, that
these unfortunates may be taken care
of. Is giving elaborate parties really
being loyal? I'm with Mr.. Hoover
voluntary sacrifices now or war ra-
tions later. If we can't realize our
country's peril, we should be made to
do so.'"
"What did they say?" Mrs. Connery
questioned eagerly.
'Well," Cornella drawled, "they
didn't say much, for, you see, they'd
all been to the party. However, sew
eral of them are doing Red Cross
work now and they never were inter-
ested before"
"But what did Mrs. Gordon sayT
Nothing at all to pe." Cornelia
knitted in silence for few moments.
But" her eyes danced, "the awful
things she's said~ahout mel sOne thing
sure, she'll never invite me to another
portv ~