The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-04-16

but very fervent language, they ex-
pressed the hope that he was not given
TO worldly ways, and above all, that no
Stunned the use of intoxicants. The
letter closed with an earnest prayer
for his worldly and spiritual welfare.
1t was seven weeks before this letter
reached the recipient, then lying in
the base hospital recovering from
wound. He had been struck by
fragment of a shell while leading his
company TO the attack, and he would
never lead it again. because a tendon
In his leg had been severed and Corp.
Richard Barton must go limping
through life thenceforward
True, the limp was no. a very pro-
nounced one. hardly visible. in fact,
when the soldier walked, but 1t is
one thing to walk across a drawing
room floor and quite another to charge
line of trenches at full speed across
barbed wire entanglements, laden
with ones accoutermentB.
A second letter reached the two
ladies in due course. Miss Mary, who
was Economically inclined, opened it
in the presence of her sister with a
thrill of delicious wickedness. Miss
Lizzie, however, was inclined to think
that Miss Mary had been little indis-
her opinion the correspondence must
be brought to close.
But as the ladies read ii they looked
at each other in dismay.
"He has been wounded" exclaimed
| Miss Mary, TREMENDOUSLY. The poor
man, l hope it is not a serious
wound"
HE says it will prevent his going
back to the ranks again" Miss Mary
announced, as she read further on.
He says that some day he may come
| 10 America for a visit, and that II he
does he will take the opportunity to
pay a call upon those who were SO
kind to him.
The letter futtered out of her hands
and she sat down in chair breathless.
Mary" said her sister severely,
this is what comes of carrying on a
Irritation with a strange mani"
SISTER" gasped Miss Mary. How
can you say such a dreadful thing?
Did you ever know me even to think
of a MANI"
"A common solder-just a cor
poral!' continued her sister, reprov-
ingly You know, my dear" she went
on, relenting. the lower classes in
England are not like they are here.
The man may be anything. Perhaps
he is a drinker."
Miss Mary rose to the occasion as
she had never done before.
We'll, sister, if he is a drinking
man." she said, Il shall shall send
Willis out to buy bottle of beer for
him! There!" and she walked out OF
the room Indignantly.
But as the weeks went by and moth.
ing more was heard about the cor
poral Miss Lizzie's fears gradually sub
sided. And so the weeks slipped into
months, and then
Miss Mary, there is a gentleman in
the parlor waiting to see you,' ex'
planned the maid. HE says he hasn't
card, and he thinks YOU will remem
Der his name, Mr.. Richard Barton"
Miss Lizzie looked at Miss Mary as
the two sat together in the sewing
room.
Sister" she said, perhaps 1t would
| be better for me to see this Corporal
Bartonl"
And that time Miss Mary did not re
ply, because she was already in hel
bedroom brushing her hair!
How desperately she brushed and
how quickly she changed her frock
hearing a bass voice talking In the
living room below, and dreading every
minute that her sister would succeed
in dismissing the visitor before she
could get down. And when at last
she did get down and stood before q
tall, neatly dressed, soldierly man Of
she felt her face suffused with foolish
, bushes.
"My dear. let me present Captain
Barton" said Miss Lizzie
, Captain Barton!" Miss Mary
gasped.
The captain pulled his nustache ant
/ stammered:
, We'll. Miss Penfeld. the fact is. tina
, when you deciphered my illegible hand
writing rs corporal the Joke seemed
, too good TO lose. And so | made my
: self corporal in my second letter.
Z know II wasn't right-but It's bette
: TO make ones self corporal whel
1 ones n captain than vice versa. ism
z IL? And. Miss Penneld. | assure yo'
I that | am not drinking man.
And Captain Barton is going 4
- stay 10 lunch said Miss Lizzie.
a During the lunch Miss Mary plucke
up courage TO look at the captain. An
i the more she looked at him the NOR
he came 10 resemble a certain idol Il
a little secret shrine tucked away Il
her heart What was more 10 the point
Il Miss Lizzie discovered that the car
: tain had made u very similar discover