The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-09-04
VOLUNTEER RESERVES
By KATHERINE THEYtR HODGES

That Dorothy's spirits were not up
TO concert pitch was plainly evident as
she picked her way in the late after
noon through the crowded city streets.
ut il not a question of To be or not
to be Liberty Bond holder. as Mr.
Young said" she declared with a toss
of her pretty head. There is no Ques-
ton about it, cannot buy even a
htty-dollar Liberty Bond. and that
ends it
The Innocent but disturbing ele-
ment which was responsible for this
outburst was little pasteboard box
which Dorothy's employer had hand
ed to her only few minutes before,
with the result that conscience was
fairly beating a tattoo on her heart
strings. She really wanted TO do
something to help the boys "oyer
there, but how could she? she argued
Yet every time she heard the aggre-
waiting hollow thud Of the empty box
as it swung in the silk bag on her arm,
she thought of sn old but dainty white
silk stocking tucked away back in her
bureau drawer with three crisp ten
dollar bills in its toe.
When two years before Dorothy had
secured position which meant a desk
| and swivel chair In a large Office, II
seemed as If she had reached the PIN
nacle of success as business woman,
but she soon found that eighteen dol
lars a week did not go very far. In
deed, for months the height OF her
ambition had been TO save enough
money for a new blue suit for fall,
and she thought of II every time her
eye caught sight of the bright new
ring on her fnger-bhe would look
so nice beside Rays khaki She had
pinched and squeezed every dime UNI
| I'll the eagle fairly squawked and
now the goal was SO near-oh, she just
couldn't give It up! No. anything but
that! ~ I'D
Extra! Extra! American Army
In Great Smash Extra!" cried the
newsboys up and down the street.
Dorothy shuddered as the words
were suddenly visualized and she saw
on the battlefields OF France our boys,
fighting for love OF Justice and human
| ity. How could they nobly bear their
part in the terrible conflict. were it
| nOt iOt AliC anu VI NnN DC
loved home land.-their confidence
that all loyal Americans are with them
In the saving and giving which will
win the war.
81 might just as we'll face this thing
first as last, for IL begins to look as II
II really were question" the girl de-
+ clared aloud as, reaching her room
I she threw her hat and gloves onto the
table and herself into chair by the
: open Enthusiastically Bolton. are
e you a Stacker. or are you not?' was
e her Indignant demand.
Instantly the rockers of the little
wicker chair squeaked, you are! You
Z are! You are!"
z You sauey thing" laughed Doro
e thy; "but Pm afraid you're speaking
the truth" she added ruefully. She
reached for her bag. drew out the lit
e tie pasteboard box, and turned It owe
Il slowly. Red, white and blue" sh,
murmuFed softly, The coloFs of on
beloved country somehow they meal
more than they ever did before.
Vt Then the words "Woman's Libert
' Loan Committee Of New England.
caught her eye. Surely women wer
g coming into their own in this worn
e she thought Though they may no
q go into the trenches and fight, the
q can work and save and give as we
az the men
O. For a few moments Dorothy sa
a. very still. looking out over the tops G
"A the buildings with their smolin
- chimneys. past the tall elm trees o
le Boston Common, until her eyes reste
X on the gilded dome of the Capitol o
r Beacon Hill 10 her awakenin
thought 1t was as tower of strength
y rejecting the principles of pure De
lg mocracy and liberty for which on
re government stands
Suddenly she started from her chat
90 and a look OF dismay crossed II
III pretty face
n Sacrifice" she exclaimed. ''Whi
have been thinking about! {
course 1t isn't sacrifice TO wear OF
old clothes; it's Just great and 81,
n. rious opportunity 10 do our bit WI
i, 10 be ashamed TO look Ray IN the fat
if | could be so selfish when he Is o
ng fering his life. Fifty dollars seems
IN. good deal, but the thirty l have vi
=. be good start toward 1t, and the re
Ct will be only trifie at time" Clan
up Ing once more at the little box, 81
to begun to hum the lines that met h
90 eye:
First a nickel, then dime,
lls Save the pennies every time -"
be Dorothy stopped suddenly US nc
M. thought cam 10 her Why IL isn't a
i, tuaily giyn he Llaney after ALL" s.
''' said to herselt. les just letting UnC
VS. Sam have the use Of what we save. al
lat in time We'll have II all back with int
n est. Like all really good things
-. works both ways and after the war
''e over can have two suits from wha
dr. save. And maybe. yes maybe" s
Use added, the furnishing OF home
40, two. That can be my bit while r
'"' Is doing hts in France and now
Ion look at the old clothes"
to Tap, tap" sounded on Doroth
me door few minutes later. and /
chum Marion from the next fo
nat armed with her knitting and box
to fudge. came in and hounced down
,ay the little wicker chair
10. y l"W'hat Id the world are you dol
'V' with all those clothes, Dot? Not pat
I'VE ing for home yet, are YOU"
hat Dorothy laughed gaily. NO oh I
ose Just taking stock, as you saleswon
=. call It, You see I'm getting very b
mo- inessike,"
EN- Altogether too much so for my II
TO tied understanding" retorted
ho friend "Come, what's ii all abe
'"e Dorothy"
.ws o.. ~. ......-. ,,..,. -