The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-06-11
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
trrfiy 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. at is all of that"
You know" began Cornelia, that
this war was worrying me just as lit
tie as 1t is troubling Mrs Gordon until
Bob enlisted and L became interested
In Red Cross work. OF course l went
to the station to see Bob off when he
left for Rockford and the moment I
saw that seething mass of khaki-clad
men, oil so eager to be of service to
their country, something seemed to
die within me--the old frivolous Cor
nela was no more. L wanted to help;
1 wanted to feel that was 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. I
never dreamed you'd take hold the
way you have"
"The Gordons," said Cornelia. "have
suite of rooms opposite ours. They
are really 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
relief work of any sort, she always
| claps her hands over her ears distract
edly and refuses to listen. She SAYS
that 1t unnerV2s 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 Mt
Mrs. Connery's quick gesture of pro-
test, II know what you're thinking,
but you're wrong. She's loyal Amer
lean, but Rip Van Wrinkle had nothing
on her so far as being asleep is CON
cerned.
This Mrs. Gordon decided to give
n party, formal affair, inviting fifty
couples. She had wonderful prizes
Tor those who wanted to play bridge,
with big and costly orchestra to fur
nish music for dancing. The parlors
ana 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.
"No," Cornelia replied. 'I didn't I
/ 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, l know it was
just case of pure nerves, but / can't
near about people being hungry with
out being upset, so l sent my regrets.
Therenfter | 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 n 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 wasn't there.
L answered her evasively, but she
wouldn't be put off, so ut last 1 told
her and she almost expired. So did
L, for the matter OF that" Cornelia
acknowledged ruefully, ''but / stuck to
my guns.
"DO you realize, Cornella,' Mrs.
Gordon asked me sarcasticully, 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, 80 /
waited moment and then said: La
dies. don't you feel that we have o
personal interest in this war? Women
and children are suffering untold hor-
rors. We are asked to deny ourselves
just luXuries, not necessities, that
these unfOrtunates may be taken care
of. Is giving elaborate parties really
being loyal2 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.
SWELL" COrnelia drawled, sthey
didn't say muth 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" b
''But what did Mrs. Gordon say?"
Nothing Mt all to me-" Cornelia
knitted in silence for few moments.
But" her eyes danced, athe awful
things she's said about me One thing
sure. she'll never Invite me to another
I 80,