The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-10-24
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Preseribing Co Paul 7
rsYJANE oeeoRN.
60 lsls. b &c MecluEe

ByJANE OSBORN
1cpyrfeht 1913, by the Mcclure
NeRspGDer Syudicate)
~ SIDE from any considerations
~ Of patrfottsm-and he really was
true patriot as any IN the coun-
ny Paul Dedham I0nged TO 1odn the
eoEogs and 1amented the youthful book
ishness that had mado him too astig-
matte as TO eyesfght to be OF military
itse 10 his country. This secondary
feeling Of discomfort in multi was
frankly due TO the fact that he felt
completely Snubbed-snuboed Ia the
0ncGdotfng circle Of his own family.
s1uhaed BY the young women OF the
community by whom his mother had
once assured him he was regarded as
quite q catch. For the little commun.
ity oe Marden was within short dis.
nee Of an encampment and Marden
doing It's best to create a desir-
able homo atmosphere" for the boys
IN khaki. Meantime men who still
wore gray cheviotA or blue serge, or
pepper and salt bushes suits, were
negilgfble-
You don't mind not having any
sugsF on your baked apple" Paul was
assared sWeetly by his mother ct
breakfast. Eve are making pies for
the canteen this morning and those
pies were so tart that we had to use
an the sugar we had on hand" And
when PauI, his mouth in a pucker,
put his hand out for the sugar bowl
Tor his coffee, his mother passed him
. nice little jug OF corn syrup assur-
Z Ing him that he was going to enjoy
isings that instead OF sugar because
they had used practically their en-
ire quota Of cut sugar and they would
heuceeofth have it only when they
had soldier boys for dinner
FThe boys Just love cake" his SIS
ter assured him, land it does seem
pity TO use any substitute in It" Then
With moisture in her eyes They'll
Be, IA France so soon. the least we
can do IS to let them have our wheat"
and paul gu1ped down a soggy bullet
Of corn muffin and slipped cautiously
the insipid mixture OF his coffee.
oecasionly. however, Paul was asur-
sd he was perfect dear" That was
aftsr ne had signed a check for his
IaoShed for the Red Cross, OF when
he had paid the bill for a hundred
pounds Of candy for a soldier spread
at the canteen. He was a nice boy,
100. sometimes, and was assured that
ne was one by some OF the girls who
lfndF once rather Wed with each other
to meet him on the tennis court or
eoif links. But to earn that title he
had TO sit for an hour or more on
some ones front porch holding hanks
or yarn or winding them from backs
oezchairs, while he was actually de-
serted for man in khaki
NJ you should happen to get any
thing the matter with you," his SIS
ter told him one morning when he
was feeling especially detected over
inc cooks latest attempt at war nnuf-
ffrsEtyfsI do wish you would let DR..
Pratt have try at you-not OF course
frat want you to have anything
Il You should"
And On, Enquiry as to who Dr. Pratt
vas was informed that DR.. Pratt
yyss kate Pratt-that DR. Peters, being
skilled surgeon, had volunteered Tor
the war and that Kate Pratt, his ne1ce
lust from medical college was going to
handle his practice.
And she has quite a lot OF money,
so she is going to give I'll her feeS
10 the Red Cross or to the canteen or
something. That Is confidential. OF
course, but have it on good author
Sty: So 1t would be awful nice II you
IA ret something the matter with you
10 20 to her. She's been quite success
ful.s She set PricfIlaHs elbows leg the
other day and the blessed dog dtdn't
even whfnper, and she fixed one OF
the soldiers ankles at the service club
daace. He was dancing with that Tat
BALDWIN girl and she tripped him and
strained his ankle. and DIR. Pratt fixed
him-but. Of course she didn't charge
10 paul there vas something odious
IN the {dea OF letting a woman doc
tor prescribe for him, but he kept his
opinion to himself and merely made
some comment on Prisc1a's chow. and
hoped that he was much better. Mean
time he had q new worry. He was
wondering how he could get his socks
dSlned For months he had been
neglected, for his mother and sister
knit soldier socks now to the dtsre-
EaSd Of the darninG bag. At first he
thad bought new socks as he needed
them. but now he had accumulated
Ehf6e OF four dozen pairs and It didn't
seem the best solution. E1e was won
derfne whether he could arrange with
some seamgtreSs to mend them with
Mont letting his mother know he did
ut want her 20 feel Offended. OF
course.
So PaaPs spirits sank and his ap-
petite Waned. and before long his mo
thee and sister noticed a tagging note
n his stsp and stoop IN his shoulders
q hIS step and q stoop to his shouldes
TINT had not been there before He
he iected the unSWeetened apples and
tie coGee with corn syrup and they
decided he had no appetite. well,
M g TgIIl be . case for Dr.. Kate
II sister told him, and because Paul
actually becoming alarmed over
81 own detected condition and be-
cSuse there was no other doctor In the
Place P6n1 made special appoint
- &c for continuation and went to see
for n ola Dr.. Peters Office
Rn1I had realized before that there
o1Id 30 difficulties in consulting
oaan 1hYBIctan, but the difficulties