American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-02-07
Plans for Peace
80
BY JANE OSBORN


lent OF the boarders Mt Miss Kings
always fingered in the wicker chalre
Of the sun paTior after breakfast, but
this morning there were more loiter-
ers thar 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, II not In sight. was at least some
thing that one dared dream about.
u suppose Miss King will have 90
ON down on her board" a little
wenzen-fnced old lady, noted for her
miserliness. was saying.
swell, there's no use my saving any
more pits. ! suppose" sighed another
and n third. AT least. they won't have
any excuse for sweetening the cram
berry sauce with molasses, didn't
like to object before. II didn't seem
!cyai, but now l 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 Mt this point emitted a
little stiied scream that cut short the
Tart 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 20 explain.
II was just thinking" she explained,
however. ut suddenly occurred to me
that when the war was over there
would be no more socks 60 knit and no
more cnnteens to work for nor con
servation kitchens 10 help with nor
liberty bread to beke-nnd, well, | was
beginning TO feel sorry and that made
me scream, l guess. II seemed so
wicked to have anything but the hap
plest feelings that II Is NIL over. I
truly shall miss the knlttlng-'
swell. l am sure ] shon't." snapped
one OF the sour-vlsaged 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, assure
you, and nothing but n winter In Flor
lido Will undo the damage all this knit
ting has done my nerves."
Anyway, you needn't stop knitting"
another n of the company whs sny-
ing. SOLDIERS aren't the only people
who wear socks. I had a cook once
m awful creature she was, too-and
her husband was n teamster and he
wore knit socks, | know, because she
used to knit the socks In the kitchen
during time that I was paying her TO
work for me-
"But ! don't know any tcansters.-
laughed Doris. "Renlly / didn't mean
TO say ! was cory, because I am not.
am SO happy TO think TINT Il really
ls 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 TINT day and at canteen that
afternoon with less than usunl of her
natural cheerfulness. She was vexed
with herself to think that she could
have amy selfish regrets - when she
knew that In her heart she felt only
the deepest OF JOY at the news of pos-
slhle peace.
That evening Capt, Robert Blcknell
came In 10 the boarding house from
the encnmpment FIVE miles away where
since his return from France he had
been acting MS Instructor. lie was
seized by the coterie Of those who I'm
gercd In the drawing room after dim
npr.
Somehow It seemed ms II his opinion
concerning the outcome OF peace talk
word he Of more weight since he had
copte fresh from r military encamp-
ment. AS n matter OF fact the fact
thni he hnd come from the encamp-
ment made him especially retlcent
about discussing lt-thnt is, before the
group of Miss Kings boarders in the
drawing room.
II was TO escape this assemhlage
that he begged Doris to take a stroll
down the small town street with him,
But people notice So" protested DO
ris. "You know how those women
bRbhle. and It was only two nights
ago That you were here before"
"Yes." agreed the captain bat per
haps there won't be many more nights
I'm not going to annoy you asking 70,
the old question. ] guess you made
yourself about as clear TO me as any
girl could. | know you're not the kind
OF girl that Will accept a man just he
he keeps at her, and Tn not
the kind of man that would want
woman TO marry him just because h,
did nag her. But | may be leaving
camp soon. and | just have to tall
things over with you. You told IN,
you would be Interested In me always
and I value your advice. | may be TAX
ing u leap In the dark, but | have beer
thinking things over and | know nov
that I can't go on the way things wer,
before the war.
a-rhen I was content to be cashier
here IN the bank. Honestly. do 20,