The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-10-05
tn FAIRY WISH
Bx HGLDA MAiRIs.

ISIS. BY the Mcclure NeWspa-
Per Syndicate


y thirty, with sandy red hair and
spectacles. She lived alone with a
queruious maiden aunt, and she had
never. so far as anyone knew, had a
lover.
When we entered the war the ladies
of the Stillyille Aid society, like the
ladies OF other aid societies all over
the country, began to knit for the sol
diers. There were strange things dis
cussed at their meetings In those days.
To Elsie Boggs it was all like page
from one Of her stories, preferably a
historical one.
For many years she had had habit
of wondering what would happen if
certain conditions were thus and so,
and now. quite suddenly, she caught
herself wondering what would happen
If the soldier for whom she was knit
ting particularly fine sweater should
learn that she had knit it.
Aunt Hattie's voice cut In upon this
reverie.
Il hear Bud Emery has enlisted"
Aunt Hattie said, as she came In from
the street. saThere amt going to be a
young man left In this town. I don't
know what we're coming tor
"Bud Enaery?" echoed Elsie. swell,
he's not so very young. He used to be
In our class in school. He's thirty
anyway"
However, it would be difficult to Inn
agine Bud Emery as a figure of ro-
t. 11l
she, with the sandy hair that bristled
fercely all over his head: He had a
feed store.
As, Elsie went on with that extra fine
sweater, daring idea came to her.
Never before In her life had she put
one bit Of her sentimental thought into
action. Now she was possessed with
a desire to label that sweater, SO that
the soldier who got it could come to
find her If he chose. Furthermore. as
she worked she knitted into 1t what
she tried to imagine was fairy wish;
wish that he would want to find
her.
The sweaters were designed for some
far-off Red Cross station, so Elsie felt
quite sure that no one she knew would
ever see the slip of paper that she
folded into the garment. It bore her
name and address, and it might be
that some time she would hear from
the man who received 1t.
Elsie saw Bud Emery before he went
away to camp, and tried to fancy how
he would look In khaki uniform. He
was so big and shambling, so awkward
and shy! It was hard to Imagine him
erect and trim, yet she knew that he
would make a fine soldier; Bud Emery
was true blue.
The weeks went by after she had
sent away that sweater, and nothing
happened Perhaps 1t took time for
the articles to reach their destination,
perhaps her sweater had been lost on
the way, or perhaps the man who got
it had not noticed the slip or cared to
write to her If he had. And so, event
ually, Elsie gave UP thinking about 1t.
After all, she was a red-haired old
maid, and would be sad disappoint-
ment to any soldier. She had been q
fool to dream OF romance. The army
might make the men over, but nothing
could make her over. Her part was
just to stay at home and knit.
And then, one day, there came a let
ter for Elsie. She rarely received let
tiers, and this one was addressed In an
unfamiliar hand, very large and black,
almost as If q man had written 1t.
She opened It with, a fast-beating
heart and hastily scanned one page;
Scamp Devons," it was headed. And
strangely enough, 1t, began: Dear
Elsiel'
yesterday they gave us out some
knitted things that the Red Cross had
sent around, and what do you think !
got? / sweater with q little slip OF
paper inside it. couldn't understand
at first how your address had come
there, until realized that it must have
been you, Elsie, who made that sweat
err. Isn't it funny that should get
it? I tell you like that sweater, and
when think that you made 1t like
it all the more.
"Some people say that it is easier
to write things than it is to say them,
81 lIdtpc tlldt ID Why L Sdn Say AoWs
on paper, what / Rave wanted to say
to you for years and years. And that
is. Elsie, that / love you. You might
have guessed it before, should think,
but you know how funny I am and
afraid to talk much. But now I have
told you that I shall never be afraid
to talk to you again, that is If you will
let me. / have '1eave' next week and
plan to come home for few days, and
I want TO come to see you, so we can
, talk it over. Let me know, Elsie,
how you feel about this. Of course,
don't suppose you care for me, but
| maybe you could
The letter was signed "Bud Emery"
Elsie dropped it to the floor and stood
staring straight ahead. Her eyes, be-
hind their spectacles,, were wide with
dreams. Here was soldier who al
ready loved her.
She could meet him with no fear Of
disappointing him, for to him, perhaps,
she was beautiful.