River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-09-06

and prepared TO make hasty depar-
ture. But the gentleman did not seem
to be in the least hurry. He detained
her while he insisted on her setting a
definite time when young Ed Townley
would be at home so that she could
meet and speak with him.
Ann found herself nearly home
when she suddenly pulled up sharply
and stood still. She took out her list
and found she had passed most OF the
houses scheduled to visit. She was so
disguised with herself to find she had
been so deep in thought about her re-
cent experience as to forget the need
of the government for soldiers that
she resOlutely turned back and began
the business Of ringing doorbells. Ann
was not yet thirty-seven. She was
good to look upon, with clear, gray
eyes, neatly dressed brown hair, q
good, healthy color and delightful
smile. Her presence always radiated
good cheer. People seemed always
glad to see her, and when they some
times asked her why she had never
married she laughed and answered she
supposed she was immune" 1t is
strange anyone will ask that question,
because they cannot expect to get a
truthful answer. It is something
rather too close and sacred to most
people to reveal to anyone. Whatever
may have been Ann Welby's reasons,
she was too much interested in life to
spend any time in thinking them over.
She seemed quite serenely happy and
untouched by the marriage problem
as far as it concerned herself.
When she called again at the Town
ley home at the appointed time she
again was met by the same gentleman,
who made profuse apologies for his
nephew, who had been unexpectedly
called away too late to let her know.
Ann was determined she would not
again be inveigled into long visit,
and turned quickly to go. But the
gentleman asked her question which
required quite a lengthy answer, and
Ann began to feel herself rather pow
erless to carry out her resolves in the
presence of this stranger. He apollo
gized for her having taken the time
and trouble for nothing, and asked if
he might instead bring the young man
to her to be reasoned with. AS usual,
he had his way, and she consented,
only again to experience a revulsion
of feeling on the way home and won
der why she had been SO easily per-
suaded.
True to his word, the gentleman
called with young Townley. AIMS elo-
quence seemed to have the desired eff
feet and ToWnley promised to visit the
recruiting officer.
At meeting of the League" two
weeks later the president was sur
prised to hear such msager reports as
to actual results of their efforts. The
recruiting stations did not give very
large figures. But after the meeting
had adjourned certain undertone re-
marks, whisperings and bushes re-
vealed the fact that there had been
some recruiting for Cupid, and Miss
Pearson and Miss Hall were receiving
"attentions" from the fathers of two
young men visited, while Mrs. Frank,
the widow, was quite likely to marry
another papa. Ann rather proudly re-
iterated the statement that she was
immune"
John Farson, the strange man, met
her on the way home. tive got to tell
you something" he said. IF I don't
I'll explode. / love you. 1 want to
marry you. Don't let's argue the point.
Just answer me-
Goodness !" she laughed. II never
was SO surprised in my life!"
"Wen?' he demanded.
Surprised at myself" she added,
because / feel the same way"
The next day she asked him if young
Townley had enlisted yet.
$Oh, he Joined the army two months
ago. was the cool reply.
Then Ann looked unutterable things.
But since she had been the cause of
his deception what was there to say?