The Hope pioneer., 1918-12-26
CUPID VS.. CENSOR |
! BY MISS MiNNA RICHMOND,


to her dearest pal, Helen Croal, that
she FASTENED for sympathy.
"Truly, Helen, I'll not stand being
prompted by a lot of romantic James.
I've finished with the club"
"Oh, En-, how can you?' pacitcd the
less radical Helen. Don't cut loose
from Il jolly bunch of girls without q
fully sensible excuse"
"lIXcusc? But l have every reason
to do SO. No sell-rcSlcctiny human
can stand for this continual rehearsal
OF Phil Aliens virtues and suggestions
as to the part should play in the
farewell affair they plan to intlict upon
him. I've Il notion to duck down to
the cottage till the festivities are at
an end"
you'll do no such thing" scored
Helen. "Thc girls are right and YOU
are right in your own way. Em. They
all think worlds OF yourself and Phil,
and. knowing how worth while Phil
Is. they think it's decided pity that
you don't rcciprocatc his attentions"
"Well, as Il matchmaking agency
they are hopeless failure. When Is
this scheduled sOiree due to be worked
out?"
Next week, fancy, for Phil is soon
to be ordered South. You'll surely ut
tend, won't you, Em?"
I'D like to be 'non-plus' ut the par
ty, but 'twould be terribly consuicu-
Gus. suppose"
The much hcraldcd event was an
unqualified success. The old bunch all
met to give the khaki-clad youth II
rousing srnd-ofr. Emily, too, attended,
but seemed to be less her own cheer
fully impcrsonal self.
Determined to tliSappoint the match-
makers. Emily had studiously avoided
the guest Of honor, except to allow
him two dances at the conclusion Of
which the soldier asked for and re-
ccivctl her promise to write the home
news frequently.
"TrIl You what, En-" said Phil. "a
letter from home changes the outlook
on everything. In the same way the
promise Of the only little girl to await
your return makes the fight one well
worth fighting. Changed your mind
any in that rrgard?"
"I'hil. this is all war-hystcrn on Your
part. Everyone seems to think it's
necessary part of the war program. I
can't be convinced thar this signing
up while the spirit of patriotism moves
you is for the best interests of the
parties concerned. Your war cXpe-
rirnce will make Il bigger, more Won
dcrfyI man of you. You'll come back
With changed ideals. For me, thrrell
never be any other, I admit; but ! in
sist that you wait to see if I, as your
ideal today, will be that of your ideal
tomorrow"
"a lot of bunk, En-. You're dyed
in-thc-woOI idcnlist. Re practical, do,
when you know that the happiness of
both of us is at stake"
Argument proved futile. Phil had to
resign himself with the promise Of
having Il regular correspondent. Un-
Gle Sans carriers did their share. AL
ways good pals, will, much in common,
their letters were Of bulky proper
|
of mail deliveries was Il mutual one.
Emily'S misSives were CHEEKY and
impcrsonally breezy. Pills tended to
wax warmer. and contained numerous
nllnsionS TO the invincible bachelor
maid. Mention was made of acquain-
tnnces made in the social life of the
camp; maids from neighbOring towns,
| sptt
emphasized and the point made that
| they did not radnte any Of the frigid
atmospherical chills OF certain north
crn miss. All of which Emily read
with an air of amused tolerance.
The day came, howeve4, when this,
which Emily had termed silly scnti-
mentality, was negative quantity.
The letters We're interesting and
breezy. but as impcrsonal as her own.
Emily was a surprise to herself.
Who'd ever expect that she would miss
the old letters so? A youthfully con-
ceited remark of a younger brother as
TO "mcn being Il scarce dainty these
days" reminded her that Phil probably
, had met many admirers.
Even Inc remark Ill;lC ncr lPCtcrS
truly put the sure in pleasure" and
similar comments, failcd to convince
Emily of Phil's interest. Every letter
seemed strangely more frigid than the
last, till Emily decided that they were
the products of a camp refrigerator.
Strange, she thought, that as Phil
grew indifferent she became prOpOr-
tinnatcly interested. She was heart
less and unpatriotic in the extreme.
she reasoned. Never, however would
she pretend to complain. for she had
been wholly to blame herself - (
Put every cloud has a silver. lining,
and when this particularly dark cloud
Of Emily's turned inside out it shook
from its folds an unassuming little let
ter with a consoling secret worded
thusly:
Little grille, over whom my hearts
in such whirl. greetings! The kind
fates have seen Gt 10 supplant the eff