The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-02-06
Plans for Peace
Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
By JANE OSBORN

Some of the more 'leisurely or indO-
lent of the boarders at Miss Kings
always fingered in the wicker chairs
of the sun parlor after breakfast, but
this morning there were more lOiter-
ers than usual, and they were talking
in accents that showed keen interest
And that interest had been aroused by
headlines in the morning papers that
Indicated that the end of the world
war if not in sight, was at least some
thing that one dared dream about.
81 suppose Miss King will have TO
come dow on her board" a little
weazen-faced old lady, noted for her
miserliness, was saying.
"Weu, there's no use my saving any
more pits, 1 suppose" sighed another;
and a third "At least, they won't have
any excuse for sweetening the cram
berry sauce with mOlasses. I didn't
like to object before. It didn't seem
loyal, but now 1 certainly"
Doris May, who had fingered on her
way to her volunteer work at Red
Cross. but who nevertheless was turn
ing her time to account with sock
knitting, had at this point emitted a
little stifed scream that cut short the
last remark and focused the eyes of
the lingererS on her.
Doris, twenty-fOur, and sweet of
face and the youngest member by far
of the King establishment, blushed
with embarrassment. She had not
expected to attract attention and she
did not really want to explain.
81 was just thinking" she explained,
however. 'It suddenly occurred to me
that when the war was over there
would be no more socks to knit and no
more canteens to work for nor con-
servation kitchens TO help with nor
liberty bread to bake-and, well, was
beginning to feel sorry and that made
me scream, l guess. It seemed so
wicked to have anything but the hap
piest feelings that it is all over. 1
truly shall miss the knitting-'
''Well, I am sure I shan't," snapped
one of the sOur-visaged members of
the establishment who had, during the
course of the war, managed to knit
two whole pairs of socks and a sweat
er. I'm quite exhausted l assure
you, and nothing but winter in Flor
ida will undo the damage air this knit
llIS HAS UOnO nerves.
Anyway, you needn't stop knitting"
another one of the company was say
ing. SOLDIERS aren't the only people
who wear socks. I had cook once
an awful creature she was, tOO-and
her husband was a teamster and he
wore knit socks. I know, because she
used to knit the socks in the kitchen
during time that I was paying her to
! work for me-
But I don't know any Transfers"
laughed Doris. fRealIy 1 didn't mean
to say 1 was sorry, because am not.
am so happy to think that it really
is going to end some time, only it will
seem stupid going back to the bridge
parties and teas and things that we
used to spend so much time on be-
fore the war;
Doris went about her work at Red
Cross that day and at canteen that
afternoon with less than usual of her
natural cheeFfulness. She was veXed
with herself to think that she could
have any selfish regrets = when she
knew that in her heart she felt only
the deepest of joy at the news of pos
sible peace.
That evening Capt. Robert Bicknell
came in to the boarding house from
the encampment five miles away where
since his return from France he had
been acting as instructor. He was
seized by the cOterie of those who lin
gered in the drawing room after din
ner.
Somehow it seemed as if his opinion
concerning the outcome of peace talk
would be of more weight since he had
come fresh from a military encamp-
ment. As a matter of fact the fact
that he had come from the encamp-
ment made him especially reticent
about discussing it-that is, before the
rroup of Miss Kings boarders in the
drawing room.
= 1t was to escape this aSSemblage
that he begged Doris to take stroll
down the small town street with him
But people notice so,' protested Do
ris. ''You know how those women
babble, and it was only two nights
ago that you were here before
EYES," agreed the captain" but per
haps there won't be many more nights
I'm not going to annoy you asking yo1
the old question. I guess you made
yOurSeif ABOUT as Clear TO me as auN
girl could. l know you're not the kinC
of girl that will accept a man just he
cause he keeps at her, and I'm no
the kind of man that would want
woman to marry him just because h,
did nag her. But may be leavin;
camp soon, and I just have to tall
things over with you. You told M
you would be interested in me always
and I value your advice. I may be tax
ing a leap in the dark, but I have beer
thinking things over and I know nov
that I can't go on the way things wer
before the war.
''Then 1 was content to be cashie
here in the bank. Honestly, do yo1
know, Doris, when I first saw the pa
per this morning and realized tina
peace was coming perhaps before
get back to France. of course my frs
thought was one of the greatest joy
and then I had the selfish feeling o
regret.
'I seemed to see myself in the BAN