The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-07-12
FLAME SPREADS
BY ALICE klLLIAN.

Il suppose I've made lifelong
enemy out of Mrs. Gordon" Cornela
said, sadly. Il really like her very
much, but she is of the frivolous but
terfly 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 MS 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 /
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
neia was no more. / wanted to help;
l 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.
never dreamed you'd take hold the
way you have"
''The Gordons," said Cornelia. shave
a 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
eddy 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-
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
a party, a 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 We're extravagantly
decorated and they tell me that the
chef excelled himself on the supper"
didn't you goa" asked Mrs. Con-
merry.
NO." Cornelia replied. Il didn't!
just couldn't. | 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 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
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.
answered her evasively, but She
wouldn't be put off, so at last / told
her and she almost expired. SO did
|, for the matter of that" Cornelia
acknowledged ruefully, "but stuck to
my guns.
"Do 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.
Gordon? She didn't answer so I
, waited a moment and then said: La
dies, don't you feel that we have a
, 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 loyal? I'm with Mr.. Hoover
} voluntary sacrifices now or war ra-
tons 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" Cornelia drawled "they
) didn't say much, for, you see, theyt
: ell been to the party. However, sew
) eral of them are doing Red Cross
I work now and they never were inter
; ested before"
''But what did Mrs. Gordon say?"
: Nothing at all to me-" Cornelif
. knitted in silence for few moments
But" her eyes danced, 'the awfu
z things she's said about mel One thin.
sure, she'll never invite me to anothe