Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-01-20

the contempt. to say nothing Of the
wrath, of these young ladies.
But this is not an essay on mora!
versus physical bravery. 1t is a simple
story Of a man who, having achieved
honors in war, came home a hero a
short time after his acts of heroism at
the front to incur the scorn Of those
who had most honored him. There
was something sacred in each of
these missiles he had sent to his best
girl that led her to treasure it in secret.
1t was not till the hero was at the
height of his ~glory-that is, when he
"a walking about at home on crutch-
es, pale and thin-that the secret of
the many memcntOS Of his sufferingS
and tokens of his love got out. Then
one morning the poStman left for him
a little ~pasteboard box that had once
contained n gem. and on opening it he
took out one of the many missiles that
had wounded him. No word came with
it as to why it was returned to him.
but for the first time in his life he felt
q sinking about the heart. He recog-
nized the writing in which the box
was addressed as that Of the young
lady he especially admired.
When the next delivery of mail was
made Captain Franklin was handed
another box. this time Il wooden one,
such as opticians use for mailing
glasses. Opening it, he took out a
piece Of iron that had been sent from
a bursting shell. The fragment was
large enough and heavy enough had it
hit the captain to have torn a hole i'll
him big enough to admit a cheese box.
This one of the many mementos he
had sent out was also returned with
out explanation.
Franklin on receiving the first mis-
sile had laid it on the mantel. lie now
placed the second beside it. When the
postman came again he brought two
boxes, each containing q piece Of lead
which had been sent from the barrel
of some kind Of gun. Neither these
returns vas commented on by the
sender. Franklin, who had faced them
bravely in battle, now received them
with every indication of fear. He re-
| 1lcllpclC III Tie SlO1ul III hlilCH llCS
had come to him and wished that he
| We're back in it rather than in his pres
ent position. He laid them beside the
others on the mantel with a trembling
hand.
Every memento he had sent out was
now returned to him except one. A
bullet had struck the metallic clasp Of
his sword belt and been flattened by
the impact. He had shaped it with his
pocketknife into the form of Il heart
and sent it 10 the fifth girl he loved
best, Miss Alice Farnsworth, writing
her how his clasp had saved his life.
Alice pierced 4 hole in it and Wore it
on 4 gold chain about her neck.
Bert did not know of the reception
Of his gift, but he wondered if it, too,
would come back to him. lie fully ex-
pected to receive it by the next deliv-
cry. He moved the four missiles on
the mantel, stretching them along
from end to end, leaving q place in the
! center for the leaden heart when it
should come.
The heXt time Captain Franklin went
out on the street, hobbling on his
| crutches, he met one of the girls he
had loved best and to whom he had
sent a bullet. She cut him dead. The
same day he met another Of these
! young ladies and received the same
treatment. Within a week every one
of the four who had returned his me
mentos had had an opportunity to
show her displeasure, passing him with
her head in the air.
Where" moaned the transgreSsor:
"are the encomiums these girls be-
slowed on me? My here Noble de
fender Of your country Poor fellow
Sufferer for the cause"
These expressions, denoting the sym
PATTY. the admiration of these young
ladies, came up to mock him. We are
seldom conscious of our strong points,
and the captain, never having apprecl-
ated his deeds of daring, would now
have exchanged them adj for q nod
from one of these girls who were dis
playing their contempt for him.
One day when he was wishing that
some one of the various implements of
war he had sent north had killed him
he met Alice Farnsworth face to face.
She smiled at him.
That smile was q healing balm to his
distressed spirit.
Glow happens it that you deign to
notice so unworthy a person as II" ne
asked.
Come with me and I will tell YOU
She took him to her home and when
they were alone together, Selling
gold chain about her neck. drew forth
the heart shaped bullet.
The secret that you had sent thest
mementos to all of the girls became
known by comparing notes soon aftel
your return. All We're furious eXcep
myself, my OWL conscience in sucf
matters not being clear as crystal. L
was suggested by one Of our numbe!
that we send back your mementos ant
cut you when we met you. L found al
excuse for not joining in your punish