Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-07-29
Plans for Peace
40
BY JANE OSBORN


Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)
Some Of the more leisurely or indo-
lent Of the boarders ut Miss Kings
always fingered in the wicker chairs
OF the u parlor after breakfast, but
this morning there were nor loiter-
ers than 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.
II suppose Miss King will have to
come down on her board" a little
weazen-faced old lady. noted for her
miserliness, was saying.
swell, there's no use my saving any
more pits, I suppose" sighed another;
and q third. "At least, they won't have
any excuse for sweetening the cram
berry sauce with molasses. I didn't
like to object before. It didn't seem
loyal, but now 7 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 at thls point emitted a
little stiaed scream that cut short the
last remark and focused the ewes 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 to explain.
II was just thinking" she explained,
however. 1T suddenly occurred to me
that when the war was over there
would be no more socks to knit and no
more canteens to work for nor con-
servation kitchens to help with nor
liberty bread to bake-and, we'll, I was
beginning to feel sorry and that made
me scream, I guess. 1t seemed so
wicked to have anything but the hap
piest feelings that it is all over. I
truly shall miss the knitting"
"Well, I am sure I shan't," snapped
one of the sour-visaged 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, I assure
you, and nothing but a winter in Flor
ida will undo the damage all this knit
ting has done nv nerves"
anyway, you needn't stop knitting
another one Of the company was say
ing. SOLDIERS aren't the only people
who wear socks. I had a cook once
an awful creature she was, too-and
her husband was a teamster and he
wore knit socks. I know, because she
used to knit the socks in the" kitchen
during time that I was paying her to
work for me-"
"But I don't know any teamsters,"
laughed Doris. REALLY I didn't mean
to say I was sorry, because I am not.
/ am so happy to. think that it really
Is going to end some time, only it will
~ 'lupiA 6olAS uuSh L l1C OIiu6C
parties and teas and things that we
used to spend 80 much time on be-
fore the war"
Doris went about her work ut Red
Cross that day and at canteen that
afternoon with less than usual of her
natural cheerfulness. She was vexed
with herself to think that she could
have any selfish regrets - when she
knew that in her heart she felt only
the deepest of Joy at the news of pos
sible peace.
That evening Capt. Robert Bicknell
came in to the boarding house from
the encampment five miles away where
since his return from France he had
been acting as instructor. He was
seized by the coterie of those who lin.
gered in the drawing room after din.
nor
Somehow 1t seemed as if his opinion
concerning the. outcome of peace talk
would he of more weight since he hat
rome fresh from a military encamp'
ment. AS a matter of fact the fact
that he had come from the encamp'
ment made him especially reticent
about discussing it-that is. before the
group of Miss Kings boarders in the
drawing room.
1t was to escape this assemblagt
that he begged Doris to take a stroll
down the small town street with him
"But people notice So" protested Do
ris. "You know bow those womer
babhle. and it was only two night,
ago that. you were here before"
EYES," agreed the captain" but per
haps there won't be many more nights
I'm not going to annoy you asking 70,
the old question. ] guess you mad
yourself about as clear to me as an,
girl could. I know you're not the kin,
Of girl that will accept a man just he
cause he keeps at her, and I'm no
the kind Of man that would want
woman to marry him just because h
did nag her. But I may be leavin
camp soon, and I Just have to tall
things oyer with you. You told m
you would be interested in me always
and I value your advice. I may be taI
ing q lean in the dark. hut / have hee