Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-02
TIE STORY O. MARIAN SWAMI
By NAPG4N2kZ X>IZlE

never being able to find anything by
wife's directions, he'd clumsily up
set the wardrobe, vainly searching
for old linen rags, stored away by
Mrs. Devine, for just such time as
this! Only she'd never expected to
be burned by a fifteen-year old
stoves collapse!
Finally, after locating the bundle,
I had to carry it to the bedroom my
self, for Mr.. Devine had returned to
his wife!
CHAPTER XIV.
The merest nod was all I gave
as the charge looked up
as l entered the room.
Good morning! I find my patient
| in high spirits this morning for
which I'm glad. They tell me you
not only can nurse, but you can
cook as well, and I saw you cleaning
yards, SO 1 guess It's as we'll I for
got to ask Miss Josie to send out
the knitting" and his eyes glinted
i humorously.
Mine glinted dangerously.
My lips opened to retort something
hateful, but the sight of Mr.. and
Mrs. Devine's peaceful faces that
beamed on me in gratitude, the faint
recollection of my visions of service
born but yesterday. all flooded over
| me, causing a faint swelling in my
| throat, and 1 shut my lips, the cut
ting words drowned out by a feeling
akin to tears, and 1 fastened from
| the room and entered the kitchen,
where I stood, looking from the door
way to world-at-peace just beyond.
| The harvest fields, the sunshine-all
| this was peace, but thousands of
miles away was war! And, the man
| in the other room had never heard
| the call; never felt the need of his
| services over there. Yes, my knit
| ting he persisted in harping about.
At least it wasn't fair.
Somebody, someway, I'd show him
| it wasn't fair. Soon, I heard his
car chug-chugging, and I stepped
across the room to watch it disap-
| pear over the hills and far away
That afternoon, went into town and
got some clothes. ] bought some
white aprons, long ago. I knew there
were none in the Rutlands stores,
like mine. 1 dragged forth some
service dresses. BY a little chang
ing nobody here would ever dream
about the Red Cross. You see, many
would turn against me for always,
and the things 1 want to do I could
| never do, if they knew!
It's like throwing the red into the
bulls eye even to mention the great
Red Cross.
And it's because, in their simple
ignorance, they do not know!
They swallow all the lies that
come their way, but grain of truth
they spitefully reject.
Recently, A crowd was here for
dinner. Kindly neighbors assisted me
in preparing the meal, and 1t was
bountiful and good.
AT the table two older men were
conversing on the things "They
said" All about the Red Cross and
it's work. I happened to know it
was malicious propaganda invented
for a purpose. They couldn't tell
themselves where the malicious story
started. They'd beard it and greed
lily reto1d it, with many mods and
agreeing mods.
l feebly tried to make them see
the truth.
In vain.
They were older than I. I was
taught to respect my elders.
IL
in that crowd. knew and believed the
truth! And, that to say too much
would only bring distrust and vilest
suspicion upon myself. So I grew
silent.
But my food choked me.
no longer could eat.
1t hurt me just like that. Then,
deep wave of pity swept over me
for the ones who did not know!
The ones who fed on lies, to the ex-
clusion Of truth. And, 1 thanked
God I was not one Of them, after
all. Because I would have missed
much in life that had enriched my
days.
1t was, and is still, a new expert
ence. Many Of these kindly souls
would not know America" from
"Star-Spangled Banner" Patriotism?
What is that?
I've heard some rapid-fire takers.
They ought to be in Germany, but
they wouldn't know how to start to
get there! And, yet, I like these
folks; and their simple manner of
living is an education to me!