South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-11

we'll to a table covered with obloEs
pieces OF sgauze and piles Of absorb
ent and non absorbent cotton. Smil-
ing. she held out a chair. III put
you right here and have an insruc-
tor show you how 70 make the pads
We need 5000 Of them as soon as
possible. Trey are 10 be used in
the front lire packets.
Mrs. Maxwell was well establ-
lished in tho one bottom chair be-
fore she realized that right by her
side sat AIrq. Percy Moore, ner
sworn enemy for thc past Two years
They had played together rs emil
dren. gone oV 90 school together
and told each other az their love
affairs. Happily hey had married
men who were friends so TIE cor
dial Relationship bad asI- up Until
the evil day when bC-l -omeu as
pired 10 the r~rcs.deury % the ninth
ward literary society che honor
had gone 20 Mrs. p'rcy @Oore. not
ecaus OF her superior t-a-ctiectual-
ity but II was Whisperet about by
Maxwell enthusiasts tna- the vote
was a direct result Of p fact that
Mrs. Moore was he only woman
in town w rode in a limousine
and kept Uveried servants. Suisse
uent sorrovs in the lives OF each
OF them had failed TO soften their
hardened hearts so that they sat
there in the Red Cross rooms. both
swathed in widows black. the old
anger rising again az sight OF each
other.
A sweet faced girl in a gray head
dress showed Mrs. Maxwell how 20
make the pads that were TO stuanch
the blood OF some gallant young
soldier. "If YOU need me again, 1
will be glad 20 help you" she told
MrB. Maxwell pleasantly before she
moved on 10 a newcomer.
Poor Mrs. Maxwell. whose fingers
had grown over stout like her body,
looked in despair at the first pad
she achieved after the instructor
left her. II was thick at one end
and thin at the other Patiently
she unfolded the gauze and strove
10 pat the cotton into shape. Then
she measured painstakingly with
the little ruler hat had been given
10 her. The pad required two
thirds Of an inch OF absorbent cot
ton and One-third inch non absorb
emit. The ruler proved that she had
been automatically correct in her
estimation. yet when she folded the
gauze around the cotton again, it
still looked bulky and unlike the
three perfect ones hat were ar
ranged i'm a neat pile before the
dainty little Mrs. Percy Moore.
def hands had always accomplished
things SO easily.
Perhaps. said a kindly disposed
worker across the table, Il could
help YOU with your pad. Experience
is the best teacher as we all know.
7 will be so glad 20 show you what
I have learned about them"
Il would be SO grateful said
Mrs. Maxwell. laughing a little un-
certainly 10 hide her embarrass-
ment. Her hands were not quite
steady. that was why she was not
making the pads successfully.
Everybody here is SO willing TO
help each other. went on the gem
crousIy inclined woman on the OPP
posite side of the table. This war
is teaching us kindness and true de-
mocracy." As she talked, she picked
out some uueveu pieces cf cotton
from one end of Mrs. MaNwell's pad
before she folded the gauze around
il. All the things that have
troubled us I'm DAYS gone by seem
so puny. so little i'm the face Of the
worlds great sacrifices now We
are going TO be % superior people
when this war is over. Only the
worth while things will count with
us. All the petty ~jealousies and
strife we have known r going 20
be washed away by the blood Of our
sons"
The dear %Earrulous woman did
not see the thin hands OF Mrs
Percy Moore tighten on the cotton
pad she was making until her
knuckles showed white nor did she
see Mrs Maxwell nervously break a
thread as she started 10 whip the
mandage In place.
Have YOU someone at the 'front.'
asked the good woman. meeting the
eyes Of Mrs. Percy Moore.
MY only son, answered Mrs.
Moore. lis an aviator. sofewhere in
France"
And you?" she questioned Mrs.
Maxwell.
My two boys, machine Eunners
both OF them" said Mrs. Maxwell
proudly. ARE already in the fight
ing zone"
How wonderful said the WON
an opposite and the two women
facing her looked up at the note OF
sadness I'm her voice. 4 am child
less" she said with ~quivering lips.
II have not had the Joy Of a son"
But the sorrow broke stimuli
taneously from Mrs. Moore and Mrs.
Maxwell. Then they colored and
suddenly they turned. facing each
other. their hands extended.
Grace" cried Mrs. Percy Moore.
"Alice,"I whispered Mrs. Maxwell
brokenly. So good seed sen by a
divine providence. waited by hu-
man sympathy. efeIl into fertil
ground and friendship sprang up
anew.