Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-28
The floor was a sight.

This floor was a sight.
The fire had been water Quenched,
but the blackened, sootyD mixed up
mess lay waiting for us to remove 1t.
We first saw to Mrs. Devine's
burns. They were pretty bad, and
when we removed her shoes, the
cooked flesh came away too. Josie
ran to the field for Mr.. DeVine,
while l called DR.. Warren, at Mrs
DeVine's request. l was SO relieved
to hear his deep, genial tones re-
plying at the other end of the wire,
and to know he'd soon be there to
dress her painful burns.
l did what l could for her until
he came. Mr.. Devine was terribly
worried and kept saying, "Oh, why
didn't l get her q new stove" 4
wondered why he never.
Josie and 1 cleared away the de-
bris while he walked the floor, al
Tentatively talking to his wife and
looking up the road for the doctor.
Clarke Warren came bouncing and
humping at terrific speed over the
rocks and ruts in the rough road.
Almost before his car stopped, 1t
u,
satchel in hand, Fastening with long
strides, to the house. 1 was in and
out of the room, obeying orders,
searching for this thing or that.
Fortunately, I'd thought about hot
water, and had built a chip fire in
the great fireplace, where I heated
a kettle. That, and a clean basin
and towel satisfied his first de-
mands.
He merely nodded good morning"
to all Of us; never appeared sur
prised to see Josie and the ''Knitter"
there at all; in fact, l guess life is
all surprises to person in his pro-
fession, and that they grow accus-
toned to the unexpected.
still felt antagonistic toward
him because he was not in France;
and then about the Knitters.
[ watched him carefully as ne
skillfully dressed Mrs. Devine's
wounds. envied him, the firm
poise, the steady hand, the wonder
full knowledge stored away in his
brain, behind his clear, gray eyes;
the power to give relief!
Once, he looked up, toward the
last and his eyes met mine. Our
gaze held for the fraction OF
second; / looked away; he went on
with his work
But, l felt different somehow, un-
til l remembered what he'd said.
Oh. well. I'd show him yet.
Then, what did it matter whether
I did or not? Why should / care to
change his opinion concerning my
self?
I'm sure he thought of me, when
he ever thought at all, as just a but
terfiy woman, passing my days In
senseless knitting, with never a Sc
rious thought in view. 1 slipped
away to the kitchen and busted my
self in the effort to straighten things
out little and 1 wondered about
where the Devine dinner would come
from, now that the stove had gone
on a strike! 1 was giving the stove
the once over to see If I could dis
cover any future possibilities for
service, when In came Mr.. Devine
and Clark Warren.
caught a faint flicker Of amuse-
ment light up the latter's fea-
lures as he beheld me. 1t didn't
make me like him any better. No
one enjoys feeling they are a sub
ject fit for amusement when they
are not trying to pose in amusing
predicaments.
The-two men looked over the ruins
Then, together, they set the remains
up. while l dutifully supplied q leg
or two, which they put in the accus-
toned places, and soon had the old
stove hoisted In it's old place once
more! All the while Devine swore
o. hIvVS iDon
he went to town, and ought to throw
that one out in the yard, only a fell
low must have a bite to eat, even II
he had to cook it himself, for he was
that hungry! And he looked yearn-
biscuit in the slop! AS for Mary,
he'd never, never allow her to use
that stove again, even though one
legs Earring out had caused the
wreck! And, it might never happen
again. Couldn't tell.
CHAPTER XXI
Josie entered in and we two pro-
ceeded to the we'll for fresh bucket
Of water, thinking Mrs. Devine would
enjoy drink.
Presently, Clarke Warren Joined US.
l saw him coming from the tail OF
my eye. and for mischief, l began
so innocently, Josie, why doesn't he
go to France? He'd simply look
grand In khaki! Why, a Stacker doc
tors as bad as a Stacker"
Josie's "Hush-h-h" warned me, and
[ looked quickly around to face
Clarke Warren's questioning eyes,
that seemed trying to bore a hole
through me. and even though l did
II for spite and In retaliation OF
what he'd said about knitting, I felt
little bit ashamed, even though I
never meant to! felt just mean
because I'd said 1t, meaning that he