The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-07-05


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.
"Wy world" he exclaimed. "What's
that In the toeT
Quickly drawing off the sock, he ex-
tracted piece of folded paper, opened
1t and read with a smile that length.
ened into a hearty laugh. Then he
read aloud to the others the lines:
Il 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"
"Hellol who's g. LIZ" called out
the reader of the note. "What fellow
has those initials? He can have the
note but not the socksW
"They're mine !" laughed Lewis, "but
1t isn't meant for me-"
"Hold onl" cried the other. 'Here's
namel Vera M. 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 q note came to Vera from
Mrs. Lewis saying she would like to
see her. The girl sank down COM
pletely unnerved. What IL 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 copy of her
little rhyme, and told her how glad he
had been to get it, and read her his
letter. In 1t he had said he was not
there because he believed in war, but
for another reason. Vera wondered
what the other reason was.
1t was over q month when Mrs.
Lewis sent for her again. The instant
she saw the woman's face she OWNED
what had happened.
"Tell mep she almost shrieked,
"telI me what has happened?"
"He Is missing. They did not let me
know-because they hoped to hear
something-but now-they seem to
have given him up"
"Oh, no nol" sobbed Vera. 81 can't,
I won't, believe It'll"
The two women wepts together, and
the elder one knew then how the girl
had loved him.
One day London postmarked letter
came to Mrs. Lewis. 1t was signed by
a woman's name unfamiliar to her.
The letter ran: "F'rom one mother
to another whose son has been offered
up in the great sacrifice, feel that
whatever concerned these dear ones
will be Of interest. Your son Gilbert
became acquainted with my daughter,
and called here often to see her. My
son was brought home from France
badly wounded, and Mr.. Lewis was
with him a good deal. George worried
so over having to leave the boys and
his duty at the front that the physician
said that weighed heavily against his
chances of recovery. 1 was quite i'll
at the time, and Edith, my daughter,
feared his death would also prove to be
mine. One day your son asked George
If it would cheer him up any If he
should go and take his place. At once
George frightened up and asked him
II 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 to
humor the poor boy, but we soon found
that he had kept his word.
George rallied, so that he was able
to go back, but was killed by shell
before Verdun. / am writing this in
the hope that any blame you may feel
for my daughter and myself for hay
ing without any intention in n 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
II was the saving of two lives. You
must indeed be uplifted! You must be
very proud to be the mother OF such a
son. lie was dear, too, to us; and II
ia because of this the mother of an
other hero speaks to YOU"
/ Again 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 haG
learned to love this English girl, and II
II 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 time to other
scenes. But even that did not help, sc
she returned before she had expected
to.
( She sought at once the Lewis home
The mother meeting her, and seeing
the drawn, haggard face of the girl
felt she must break what she had te
say with some tact.
II have news" she said.
"Oh, QUICK! quick! tell me-" sobbet
the girl.
ale was taken prisoner, and"
"Moyherl / can't waltz" cried g
voice Just back Of her, and Gilbert
Lewis hold tho GIRL ha loved I'm his