The Lamar register., 1918-03-20
A War
Mernento
=
By George Elmer Cobb


Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union }
Where's the sunshine gone to. little
woman7" cried Bruce Manton, as he
entered the house, home on the minute
us usual, from work.
The room was full of 1t. outside all
nature was bathed in 1t. Lettie Man
ton responded to the query in a half
puzzled manner. Then she understood
that 1t was the seriousness In her
thoughtful face that her husband had
referred to. She arose and greeted
him with an enforced smile, but her
kiss was as fervent as ever.
81 was just thinking, dear" she ex-
plalned, 81 received letter from my
mothers half-brother an hour ago. He
is in New York city"
"Good-grand sincerely jubilated
Bruce. 'Then he has escaped from
Belgium?"
"He writes so," responded Lettie.
but his property there has been de-
stroyed and he is still suffering from a
wound he received. He writes that he Is
too old and feeble for army work and
has come back to his native country to
die"
"Have you answered the letterT
"Oh, no. / wished to consult you
about that first, of course"
81 don't see any need OF consulting"
declared Bruce. HE is your only rela-
tive. He is n victim of the war. help
less, probably robbed OF everything he
once owned. Write him ut once, Let
ff. to. "a xxlfh
US. Tell him to come on and be sure
of glad welcome"
Bruce" said Lettie, In broken
tones quivering with emotion, "I think
you are truly and grandly Gods good
mani"
Bruce kissed and kissed the lovely
face upturned to his own. He under
stood fully that Lettie had been worry
Ing at the thought of saddling him with
the care of relative. He never did
things half way. He set all details OF
the present situation completely at
rest now.
I'm glad your Uncle Vance Is COM
Ing" he said. 'In the first place It's
our duty to look after him, under the
circumstances. In the next, he will be
company, yes, and maybe some help
to you. am always worrying while at
work about your being alone way out
here all day. Your uncle will be COM
pany for you. He can potter around
the garden and do little errands for
you. and what lot that is interesting
he can tell us about the warl''
Lettie wrote a heartsome letter TO
the refugee In the East forthwith. She
took pleasure in fixing up their spare
room and each succeeding day looked
for the arrival Of their expected guest.
week passed by.
81 hope Mr.. Vance has not met with
delay or accident" said Bruce. and
Lettie was growing anxious: She
would go outside and look across the
half-mile expanse between their hum
BILE little home and the city's limits
half a dozen times a day. Their place
was quite isolated. except for several
houses In the same remote groap as
themselves. They formed the nucleus
of a new subdivision OF slow develop,
ment. The roads were as yet unpaved
and they had TO use well water, but the
house and lot had been offered to them
cheap on long payments, so they had
decided to pioneer and made the task
more hopeful, then certain, for Bruce
had a position that brought in a very
moderate income.
One morning Bruce went out, as was
his routine, to let the chickens out for
the days foraging. when he came to a
dead stop with stare. A man was
Just stepping from the shed. He was
old and bent. poorly clad, unshaven.
and the loose straws clinging to his
hair and clothing indicated that he had
been sleeping in the shed all night.
sort of late for your breakfast,
aren't you. friendf" bantered Bruce in
his natural jolly way.
Its got to seem so good to sleep
without n lot Of shells exploding all
about you," responded the intruder.
whom Bruce had at once put down as
n tramp. that could sleep anywhere
and enjoy it. got here late and the
house was all dark and 1 didn't want
to disturb you, so bunked in among
the fresh straw"
"WhyI" shouted Bruce, enlightened
grabbing the old man and giving him
n friendly hug, you're Hubert Vance"
"What's left Of me-" asserted his Wis.,