The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-07
EVENING STORY
A Matter of Postage.
BY MARTHA GAISER.

had always been a joke, but the kind
of joke that was a joy to all who
knew her well, for no condition ever
arose in which she could not find
some humor, or offset with the anti
dote of clever bright remark. While
sne went her gay young way, refusing
to take anything seriously, the Sc
rious-minded shook their heads and
prophesied disaster, and a. rude awak-
ening when it did come And Lucille
Virginia, when she learned of it, en-
5oyed their predictions, and her repu-
tation-enjoyed it, INDUCED it, and
played up to it with all the vigor and
daring of Astounding youth. Even
wheh the dark finger of war pointed
to every American his duty; and rela-
tfves, friends and sweethearts re-
sponded, she had talked of their 60
ing and finally said goodbye with a
smile and gay little sally, picturing
the glad, proud day of their return,
instead of shedding tears as were most
of her friends.
Not even to the two men whose de-,
voton for months had furnished spec
ulation for her friends as to which
would win her-if either-had she
wavered. Pride and natural coquetry
had kept her silent, tho to a close OBJ
server the big blue-gray eyes had Sc
robustness quite unrelated to the light
words and laugh for in her heart she
felt that life had become very real and
earnest all at once; SO real that she
did not want any sentimental emotion
to play a part and betray her or them
into a false position. There are two
kinds of lovers, those who make love
! easily and gracefully, and those who
do not; that is to say, those to whom
wooing is a natural gift, and those who
only acquire it as the outgrowth of a
deep feeling. Such were James Moore
and Warren Fielding, and how much
they had meant in her life, and what
they really were to her, she knew only
absence could determine. That would
| be the acid test. In the weeks and
was turned quite upside down for
Lucille Virginia. With the zeal of a
| true patriot she had thrown herself
| heart and soul into war work. Outside
sports were abandoned for Red Cross
| work; dancing was supplanted by
knitting; boxes of good things were
made, packed and shipped with letters
| of cheer to the known and unknown,
and all the while she was thinking,
| thinking. Lucille Virginia was doing
this now, her knitting neglected in her
| lap as she gazed into the leaping
flames of the open wood fire, wonder
| ing how long it would take her box to
reach James, and if he would read be-
tween the lines of her note and divine
her motive in sending the candy with
it. If only he would see and under
stand, she unused, visualizing him at
| his post.
! dreaming IN the Slodmlng, pretty
maid" said the CHEEKY voice of Uncle
Charles, as he slipped his hand under
her chin and tilted her head back
| Il did not hear you come in," she
replied rising for his kiss, but ignor-
| ing his query except with a sudden ac-
| cess of color.
Did you mail my package?" she
asked. as she turned on the lights and
| seated herself beside him on the
davenport.
"Yes, but I Hooverized on postage"
he announced laughing.
"How?' she asked puzzled.
well, I sent it to Warren. as it cost
| so much to send it out west to James
and as long as it was only candy I
thought it was not worth all that post
age-even tho your pretty hands had
made it," he added teasingly.
Did you take out the note?' she
questioned quickly.
/ Mote? What note?"
"Oh Uncle C-h-a-r-l-e-s." she
| exclaimed. II had a note in there for
James, and now Warren will get it.
What shall / do, what shall 1 do ?" she
| cried, turning her distressed face to
him.
Nothing. Leave that to Warren. :"
mo butts, there is nothing for You
| to do. but-wait- Warren can handle
his own dilemma, or I miss my guess
he declared, as he put his arm about
her and drew her towards him. but the
twinkle in his eye. would not have
placed him the guiltless list, as
Lucille Virginia would have known
had her head not been buried On his
shoulder.
In his quarters at camp. Warren
man. sat. pipe in mouth, given up to
disconsolate thought. Despite hard
| work and his determination to be oc-
cupied every minute, he could not get
r. -
as warm, and fresh. and real as tho
they had been made only yesterday,
| vet many of them dated back to the
very beginning of his acquaintance
| with Lucille Virginia, who, after five
months absence-months of eye and
heart starvation-was still for him the
one woman. With the intensity of
strong, repressed natures ne had given
her his heart, but with the knowledge
of his love there had come an over
| whelming humility, strange even to
himself and entirely absent in all his
other associations. and so, only by his
devotion had he allowed his love to
find expression. And she-well she
had treated him as she had all the
others-save Moore. he thought bit
/ terly Thus. he was when the neat
package SO we'll camouflaged by Uncle
Charles unknown writing. was
brought him. With no feeling but that
of a natural curiosity he cut the string
anu TcTlONeo the WRAPPER Out sur
prise and indifference disappeared as.
lifting the lid of the box, he saw a
white envelope on which was written
in Lucille Virginia's familiar hand:
For Brave Soldier Boy
Smiling and wondering what Joke
she was up to now, he took up the
envelope and broke the seal with
fingers that would tremble, soldier
that he was. 1t had no heading, and
puzzled he read on. and on. Then
light suddenly dawning on him, a
strange dizziness seized him and he
sat down. The realization staggered
him. but no longer did he hesitate. He
mad round himself and was without
trembling, going over the top to his
first great victory. He began at the
very first and read the note thru