Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-01-14
A PEACE OFFERING
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

per Syndicatej
Doctor WardWell and Miss Erminie
: Gray had long been enemies. The
feud had not started over any dispute
about territorial boundaries. although
their lots adjoined, nor had it been
handed down from another generation
over a difference In politics. although
old Henry Wardwell and Elias Gray
had never been able to hit 1t of on
the tariff nor the Monroe doctrine.
No. the doctor and Miss Erminie
had a difference all their own, which
started when Miss Erminie was sick
one time and the doctor had insisted
on her taking cod-liyer oil to build
her up. and she had insisted upon re-
fuslng It as well as the eggnogs he
prescribed in conjunction with the
other Miss Erminie had always hated
eggs, and she couldn't bear milk, and
she simply couldn't swallow cod-liver
oil.
You've just got to, Erminie," the
doctor had declared. you're nervous
and anaemic and everything you
ought not to be, and I'm not going to
stand by and let you die"
IF do, it's my own affair"
"Not while I'm your doctor"
"I'l die anyway. If l had to take
those awful doses I'd be dead in two
days. So I'm going to die comfort
ably"
mo, you're not going to die at all.
AS long as I'm your doctor youTn have
to do as / say"
"And what If I don'tf"
He spread his hands and shrugged
slightly.
you wash your hands Of me, sup
pose" she had replied.
what else can | DOR
well, there are other doctors in
town, Tom Wardwell. You don't have
to waste your time on me. Good morn
| ing"
Now, Erminie, I didn't say that"
But she would not reply nor look at
him again, so he picked up his hat and
| left.
Erminie began to pick up suspicious
/ ly after that She put on pounds Of
flesh her eyes frightened, the bloom
came back TO her cheeks, and her lips
no longer looked like parchment. But
what she kept locked In her closet no
/ one could have told but the local
| apOthecary, and why she suddenly be-
came such a good customer Of the
| Farm and Dairy Produce company no
4 one knew save Sarah, the maid.
! But when she had tonsilitls she sent
for old Doctor Bradner. That was the
only time she had been really i'll in
the two years since the trouble. But
that was enough.
Doctor Wardwell lifted his hat
when brought face to face with his
combative neighbor, and Miss Ermine
bowed stiffly. But never a word passed
| between them.
She was away all of the second
summer and returned In September.
The days were hot and oppressive and
/ she sat out on the porch great deal
OF the time, knitting on gray or khaki
colored yarns, meant for the snappy
months ahead when the boys across
| the water would need them. She had
about completed her second set-a
sleeveless sweater, knitted helmet,
a scarf and a pair of wristlets.
The afternoon paper was flung up
on the porch, landing at her feet. She
stopped eagerly and picked it up,
! anxiously scanning the names of those
to go. And then In a section by itself
she read: "Noted Local Physician
| Commissioned. To Leave for France
In Four Weeks. DR.. Thomas Wardwell
! Called TO the Col0rs." There wasn't
much more, merely a confirmation of
the heading.
The paper fell at her feet UNDECIDED
Her eyes stared before her into space:
her knitting slipped off her knee. She
knew now-she'd known all along
| that she was mean aud Contemptible
and had childishly given way to petty
spite, hoping all the time that he
would make the overture for peace.
She realized too. that what she had
done had hurt him beyond repair. ana
yet she had expected him to he the
one TO bridge the gulf
Just then paper blew over out Of
the doctors yard-a brown wrapping
paper which had come on postal
package. II bore his name. address
and cancelled stamps as it lay spread
below her. Then Miss Ermlnie sud
denly had an inspiration. The last
woolen set was just finished and she
/ determined that Doctor Wardwpn
should wear the things without an
idea Of the donor.
She flew indoors with the paDer
deftiy wrapped the pieces ana tied
them securely with the name aud ad-
dress In full view Then she ran over
aud laid It in the doctors vestlbuie,
He'd think the postmau had brought
IT, when he returned from his calls.
But not SO. Just as she turned the
/ door opened and a strong arm drew
her into the hall.
"Erminic !" The doctors voice
shook. "Whnt are YOU aoineY"