Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-07-25

FLAME SPREADS
By ALICE kILLIAN.


II suppose I've made a lifelong
enemy out of Mrs. Gordon" Cornelia
said, sadly. II really like her very
much, but she is of the frivolous. but-
terfly type of woman and she does net
realize that we are face to face with
a very serious condition in this coun-
try"
"'serious condition. y" repeated
Mrs. Connery. cit is all of that
"You know" began Corneia, chat
this war was worrying me just as lit
tie as it is troubling Mrs, Gordon until
Bob enlisted and | became interested
in Red Cross work. OF course / went
to the station to see Bob of when he
left for Rockford and the MON
saw that seething mass Of khalii-eia1
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. wanted to help
l wanted to feel that ] was Il part 81
this great movement. Wen, I've done
my little bit each day, but 1t Seems SO
small when you realize how much rs
needed"
You've done good work, Cornclia. !
never dreamed you'd take hold the
way you have"
'fThe G8rdans,n said Cofneiia. 'haye
q suite Of rooms opposite ours. TREY
are really charming couple, but'Girs.
Gordon lis very self-centered, and Ae
viii not read about nor listen 10 any
thing pertaining to the war; VII T.
ever anyone approaches her regard 4
relief work Of any sor9 she alNags
claps her hands over her ears distr "a
eddy and refuses to listen. She 81 )
that it unnerYes her to hear about o. :
suffering on the other side; that s e
doesn't believe conditions as described
are possible, and that all such repo $
are circulated merely to excite ouc
sympathy. No" C0rnelia smiled ut
Mrs. Connery's quick gesture &c pro-
test, 4 know what you're m 4,
but you're wrong. She's a loyal An Y
lean, but Rip Van Wrinkle had nothlpe
on her 50 -far as being asleep is c. A.
cerned.
This Mrs Gordon decided to give
a party, a formal affair, inviting fly
couples. She had wonderful prizes
for those who wanted to play bridge,
with a big and costly orchestra to fur
nish music for dancing. The parlors
and dining room were extravagantly
decorated and they tell me that tho
chef exceIled himself on the supper
Didn't YOU go?" asked Mrs. Con
merry.
NO" Cornelia replied. 81 didn't
I just couldn't. 1 got to thinking. il
I'd close my eyes it would seem to inc
that an endless chain of weeping mites
would pass before me with little arms
outstretched. Oh, yes, l know it WIS
just case of pure nerves, but I can't
hear about people being hungry with
out being upset, so | sent my regrets
Thereafter l 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 a dream
yarn. OF course, everybody was talk-
ing about the party, and she very
pointedly asked me why wasn't there
| answered her evasively, but she
wouldn't be put off, so at last I tolC
her and she almost expired. SO did
!, for the matter of that" Cornelia
acknowledged ruefully, "but l stuck t.
my guns.
"'Do you realize, Cornelia,' Mrs
Gordon asked me sarcastically, that
my husband has bought $1,000 worth
| of liberty bonds?'
"'Then your husband has surely
done his Bit answered. But how
| about you? Are you doing yours, Mrs
| Gordon? She didn't answer, so
| waited moment and then said: La
| dies, don't you feel that we have {
| personal interest in this war? WomeI
and children are suffering untold hor
| rOrS. We are asked to deny ourselves
| just Injuries, not necessities, thai
| these unfortunates may be taken care
of. Is giving elaborate parties really
being loyal? Pm with Mr.. Hoover
voluntary sacrifices now or war ra
lions later. If we can't realize oul
country's peril, we should be made t.
do So"
'tWhat did they say?" Mrs. Conner,
questioned eagerly.
We'll" Cornelia drawled, 'the,
didn't say much, for, you see, they't
all been to the party. However, sew
eral of them are doing Red Cros
work now and they never were inter
ested before"
But what did Mrs. Gordon say?'
Nothing at all to me-" Cornell:
knitted in silence for a few moments
But" her eyes danced, "the awfu
things she's said about mel One thin,
sure, she'll never invite me to anotheI
party!"
Cloves.