Evening star., 1918-05-26

tains. Provided the news Is not of a
'revenuer," 1t matters little whether
1t comes today OF tomorrow or the day
after.
Fore daybreak" was the usual hour
for the matutinal meal on Wolf Ridge
1t was on the table, hot and steam
ing. when Lanty appeared. II the
straight, stalwart young soldier In
khaki uniform and leggings might
really be Lanty. For an instant a
paralysis of surprise fell upon Lanty's
family, then the boys broke into up
roarious laughter.
you done 1t, anyways, Lant?" Olo
Jim forgot all that he meant to do.
Jaw, you're all right, father" laugh
ed Lanty.
miration, even as she caught quick
short breath. but granny, her hands
gripped together. a wild alright leap
ed into her staring eyes. her face grew
old and haggard: granny knew war;
she had borne Its racking suspense
it's cruel terrors and worse actuali-
ties.
Don't you like 1t. granny" Lanty
asked. catching glimpse of her face
I've got the knit things on. They're
just right and fine." Granny gasped,
but her voice. husky and strained as
it was, held firm.
Eyes, son." she said. "They were
warm when I knit them for him. I'll
knit more. Happens you don't need
them. some other boy will"
wish Aunt sary would see you"
Annie Ann could not ,.sa suppress son her
got off the train at the courthouse.
and she said I ought to be workin'
in the steel mills. maxim money to
buy clothes. seein' we had nothing.
She don't want nothin' to do with
u.s." Lanty told her. Don't you mind,
Ynothar"
The red dawn glimmered over the
snow-hoeded peaks when Lanty went
down the trail through the pines. the
boys tramping after him. anxious to
carry him If they might be per-
mitted.
Lanty had gone. but somehow Turk
Of hope and spirit remained. Old
Jim hunted for several days. with
good results. before he lapsed into
the old habit of helping "the STILL"
Annie Ann. heartened by seeing Lam
ty in his uniform, became resentful
Of Aunt Sary's scornful comments in
stead OF humbly accepting them as
facts. Granny knitted "warmus"
after "warmus." modelled as Lanty
told her. though called by the long
gone name. She had ceased saying
that Lanty would come back. Gran
ny knew war.
The perishing winter dragged on it's
short scrap of a letter from Lanty
told them he had crossed the great
ocean and was In France.
Were going into the fight among
the first-ain't that luck! and they
had heard no more. But Lanty was
only a limited letter writer.
Annie Ann tied on Lanty.s dis
cared felt hat one nipping day and
journeyed down to the courthouse in
the mail carriers wagon TO buy a
pair Of shoes. If she could sell huge
wild turkey old Jim had again
brought down in one of his fitful
hunts. She met Aunt Sary. Just as
trifle less shabby.
I'D ask you around to ser awhile.
neighbors to see the like Of you
comm to. the housr They don't
'spicion have such kin" Aunt sary
had said as she passed on.
the mail wagon drove IN to their
door. The Judge from the courthouse
and the minister from the very
church where grandDap was buried
stepped from 1t and came into the
house.
letters. and once more Granny's eyes
stared in wild alright while her face
grayed and wrinkled in age-old
wither.
The minister unfolded the newspa-
per first and gave 1t to Annie Ann.
Fatally brief 1t was-"Corporal Lam
ton Barnes died Of wounds"
Then he read the account of his
with the Americans and how some Of
his company. too far in pursuit.
flushed the enemy In q shell dit, rie-