The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1919-11-29
SHE FINDS HERSELF
BY ALICE KiLLIAN.


.come right in, Cornelia," said Mrs
Connery Hospitality.
Mrs. Connery was rather surprised
at seeing Cornelia Barclay SO soon
after their conversation regarding ex-
emption from military service, and
was very glad to zee that the girl mar
bored no Ill feeling toward her Tor
having spoken so plainly. NOTICING
the male face and heavy eyes OF ner
guest. she asked: "what's the matterf
Aren't you feeling weIT
Cornelia slowly nodded. I'm all
right" she said with an effort, but
Bob-Bob's gone"
Sooner" echoed Mrs. Connery,
swherer
aRockfordi He's In training"
A clad smile illuminated Mrs. Con-
nery's countenance. I'm so glad, Cor
nelia-and you must feel proud You
couldn't help It"
e. II am proud" Cornelia assented.
but" -sobs came fast. I'm 10 one
some"
Mrs. Connery patted her hand COM
fortingly. II know, DEAR" she mur
INJURED.
Cornelia dried her tears. Don't
think I'm hunting sympathy, Mrs. 0
nery." she said. I'm not. but l just
had to talk to someone. and I knew
vou,d understand. When I left here
that afternoon my mind was In a tu-
multi. You had made me see how self
ish I really was, and the question
scared my burning brain. Who am
I that my husband should be exempt
ed from servicef Am I q Stacker? Oh,
You don't know how that word shriv-
els one, when you feel that 1t may be
applied to oneself I'd say. It's
Wall streets war; let the rich do the
fehtingi I'm willing we should fight,
to defend our country. but why send
our boys abroad to be shot by German
shrapnelr"
"You know what kind Of q con-
science I have" Cornelia continued.
aIt never gives me q minutes rest
when I feel that I'm In the wrong, and
I knew that I was all wrong. 1t Isn't
a Wall street war; we are fighting for
a great principle; our boys are going
abroad because we must be protected.
and that is the best and only way
Still, I just couldn't see Bob among
them.
"when I got home after my talk with
you" Cornelia went on, Bob was
waiting for me. I tried to get his
views on the military situation. but
he'd say very little. We went down to
dinner, and at every table all you could
hear was war-wari I couldn't eat
I excused myself and went back up
stairs. Soon Bob followed, and then
we had 1t out.
s1s don't think I ever saw such alb
solute Joy In any mans face as there
was on Bob's when I told him I
thought he'd better waive exemption,
He stared at me stupefied. then. as he
finally grasped my meaning, he drop
ped his head on his hands and sobbed
like a baby"
Cornelia's voice choked.
Little by little he told me Just what
he'd been up against. Downtown all
his friends knew that I had been work
ing for a long time after we married
Also they knew that I had resigned my
position, and blamed him for It. They
thought he was simply hiding behind
my petticoats and evading service. Oh
course, he wanted to know what had
made me change my mind. and
Cornelia giggled, 81 told him that I'd
been listening to an inspired lecture OF
patriotism, and that I wanted him tt
60"
sPoor Bob" said Mrs. Connery sym
pathetically.
"And." continued .Cornelia. "Mr
Baker. his employer. has been wonder
fully kind. Bob said that when b,
told him he was going to Rockford. Mr.
Baker just wrung his hand and said
Ny boy. I'm proud Of you. I Jus
couldn't reconcile your hanging bacl
at a time like this, with your previous
record Poor Bob Wasn't It a sham
that poor, selfish I had placed him II
q position where he had to choose be
tween loyalty to his wife or 10 hi
country and, by being loyal to me
make everyone think he was a COW
ard and did not love the fagf Mrs
Connery. I Just hate myself for m,
| blindness"
"No need Of all that self-abasement
Cornelia," said Mrs. Connery. "BeinI
cheerful and doing your bit will max
the separation easier. and you know
Bob would worry II you regretted hi
going"
II don't regret 1t for one minute,
said Cornelia em~phatically. HE look
simply great In his uniform, and hi
heart II In mis- work. I know Bob vii