The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-05-24

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from far-off American came to the
boys In the trenches. One of them in
high glee put on the pair of fine wool
socks handed to him.
ivy word!" he exclaimed. "What's
that In the toeY
Quickly drawing off the sock, he ex-
tracted n piece Of folded paper, opened
1t and read with smile that length
ened into hearty laugh. Then he
read aloud to the others the lines:
II hope these socks will fit G. l..
If he is at the front.
But If he's not, why then-Oh, well,
They'll do their little stunt
Upon some other hero's feet,
But never help in retreat"
'Hello! who's g. LIP" called out
the render of the note. "What fellow
has those initials? He can have the
note. but not the sOcks!"
''They're mine" laughed Lewis, but
1t isn't meant for me-"
Hold on" cried the other. Heres
a name! Vera NJ. G."
Lewis held out his hand for the bit
of paper. at is for me-" he said in a
low voice. The other, seeing his face,
said: Here, pal the socks are, too"
One day n note came to Vera from
Mrs. Lewis saying she would like to
see her. The girl sank down com
pletely unnerved. What if something
terrible had happened to Gilbert! How
could she face his mother? She had
never met Mrs. Lewis. Perhaps She
might think her in some way respon
sible for his going to the front. But
summoned up her courage and went
The mother showed her II copy of hei
little rhyme, and told her how glad he
had been to get 1t, and read her his
letter. In it he had said he was moi
there because he believed in war. but
for another reason. Vera wondered
what the other reason was.
1t was over n month when Mrs
Lewis sent for her again. The instant
she saw the woman's face she OWNED
what had happened.
"Tell me-" she almost shrieked
tell me what has happened?"
HE is missing. They did not let mt
know-because they hoped to heaI
something-but now-they seem tt
have given him up"
''Oh, no no !" sobbed Vera. 81 can't
l won't. believe it,"
The two women wept together, anc
the elder one knew then how the cir.
had loved him.
One day II London postmarked letter
came to Mrs. Lewis. 1t was signed by
womnn's name unfamiliar to her
The letter ran: From one mother
to another whose son has been offered
up in the great sacrifice. l feel that
whatever concerned these dear one;
will be of interest. Your son Gilbert
became acquainted with my daughter
and called here often to see her. NJ!
son was brought home from Franc,
badly wounded, and Mr.. Lewis was
with him n good deal. George worried
so over having to leave the boys and
his duty ut the front that the physician
said that weighed heavily against hi.
chances of recovery. 1 was quite Ill
ut the time, and Edith, my daughter
feared his death would also prove to b<
mine. One day your son asked George
II it would cheer him up any If ht
should go and take his place. At once
George frightened up and asked hin
If he would, and would he tell the boys
in his company how he lOnged to get
back. Mr.. Lewis promised to go. We
did not think he meant more than t6
humor the poor boy, but we soon founc
that he had kept his word.
George rallied. so that he was abls
to go back, but was killed by shell
before Veryiun. l am writing this ir
the hope that any blame you may fee
for my daughter and myself for hav.
ing without any intention in way
caused your son to go to the front, may
be forgotten In knowing Of the splendid
heroism Of the sacrifice. 1t was not
so much for the defense of France as
1t was the saving Of two lives. YOr
must indeed be upliftedI You must bt
very proud to be the mother of such q
son. He was dear, too, to us; and 1t
is because OF this the mother of IN
other hero speaks to you"
Agnin the women wept together
The tone Of the letter so surely meant
that all hope was gone.
Vera went home with many new
thoughts surging through her mind
The man she had called coward was
the truest hero she had ever known
Then another torturing thought came
into her brain. No doubt he hac
learned to love this English girl, and /,
1t were possible he still lived he would
go to her.
These thoughts drove Vera to sleep
less nights and narrowing days, sc
that her only hope of remaining sane
seemed to get away for a time to other
scenes. But even that did not help, sc
she returned before she had expected