The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-27
EVENING STORY
Somewhere in France.
BY FRANCES B. LINsKY.

xaid to her admiring family. az jacket
after jacket was neatly folded and
sent off to the local headquarters to
be shipped to the boys at the front"
On the particular day In question,
Jean decided to go into the pine grove
with her knitting.
1T will be cooler there" thought
she, land I'll call for Grace on my
way. She'll probably be glad to come
with me-"
| A little later the two girls were COM
fortably seated in the pine grove, each
busy with her work.
Grace, I've an idea," said Jean.
| mot really" said Grace.
Yes, a real one" replied Jean,
calmly ignoring the intended sarcasm.
heard of farmers who write their
names on eggs when they pack them
to ship to the city?">
| why, yes" said Grace, IT have, but
don't see what that has to do with
knitting sweaters for the soldiers"
well" said Jean, I'D like to put q
note inside one OF the sweaters and
send 1t to some poor fellow over
there I'm sure it would cheer him
up a whole lot, and besides" her eyes
shining. wouldn't it be lark?"
why, Jean Wood, think that's
great" exclaimed Grace. getting into
the spirit of the thing at once. land
III give you my Luck Piece to put in
the letter. I've often heard that a
| lucky piece has stopped bullet
So jeans needles flashed back and
forth and dead silence reigned in the
ished.
Now for the letter." said Jean and
with the stump of an old tree for her
writing table, she wrote while Grace
dictated what they had decided to say.
for you know, 1t must not be any
thing silly" said she, for it's a very
serious occasion" So she wrote:
Il hope this sweater will keep you
warm, and may the lucky piece bring
GOOD luck to someone-somewhere in
France" And down in the corner she
signed her name and address.
There. I wonder II we'll ever hear
4 from that, said Jean, as she fastened
the note containing the precious lucky
sweater.
'.I'H send my small brother Bobby
down to the headquarters with it this
very afternoon" she announced, az
she and Grace parted at the latter's
gate; and SO, before many hours had
elapsed. the sweater in company with
many of its kind, was speeding on its
way lover there
Some two months later. as the
Wood family sat at breakfast. the
postman came with the mall
Hello said Mr.. Wood. as he
carrier had handed him, heres q
very official letter for Jean,", and he
held up a blue envelope with Gem
sored' stamped across Its face. ITS
| from France, too he said, and
glanced questieningly at his daughter,
who sat with flushed cheeks and
downcast eyes-but said nothing.
Maybe jeans got a Teller in the
trenches" remarked Bobby. to no one
in particular.
4 lean eave spstv, . ~,ttberiv~ ~Jer.>
which, however, affected Master Bob
by not at all. y
] Mr.. Wood, however. seeing Jeans
discontinue, gave his wife a know
ing glance. and wisely said nothing.
knowing that his daughter would tell
in her own good time.
So Jean put the letter under her
plate. and making a pretense at eat
ing her breakfast, escaped as soon as
possible to the privacy of her own
room to read the precious letter.
Somewhere in France" it was
headed:
Dear Jean wood:-A very lone
some soldier boy is just ono great
big Thank You Ma'am' to you for
NJ the sweater. the letter and the lucky
piece. If you would only write me
once in while, tell you I'd appre-
|, ciate it 1t would seem like shak-
ing hands with someone from back
d home
I'm sending you a souvenir in
exchange for the luck piece. II
isn't much, but / made 1t while
was in the hospital here with q bad
kneeETso I hope you'll accept it with
my compliments.
81 was afraid 1t might get smash
ed if I mailed 1t. SO I gave 1t to my
brother to take to you--he's been
here on duty with the university
on a hfurle. You'll see him soon.
Gratefully. Max Norton"
II Jean read the letter and re-read It.
end then-went straight down stairs
and told the whole story to her father
had finishedE Il don't know. as it was
q very wise thing to debut I'll see
this doctor man when he comes and
until he does there's nothing to worry
about" So pinching her cheek. he
bade her run along and tell Grace
all about it," which she very prompt.
, iy did.
! He came. that very evening"
pfeasant-voiced, very much tanned
. der in his well-fitting uniform, and
introducing himself as DR.. RoberI
; Norton, he explained his errand to Mr.
, Wood, and asked for Jean.
! Jean came forward. looking sc
sweet and girlish in her embarrass.
ment. that as they shook hands. his
lips said: Il am pleased to meet you,'
but his eyes were far more eloquent
Il want to thank you for my broth.
er. Miss JEAN" said Doctor Norton
land to give you this"
This" proved to be bird cage very
, cleverly made of tiny sticks of WOOD
| carefully set together.
| "Oh, how lovely" exclaimed Jean
IT shall hang it on a tree down in thi
| pine grove as a reminder-of-'My
! Great Adventure and, feeling hel
. visitors eyes upon her, she looked VI
and straight into them and smiled
and they were friends.
I Months later. when young Doctor
Norton sailed back to France to com
plete his Bit he. too, carried ;
h Lucky Piece" in his pocket. A Ike,
= it was-a very tiny key that Jean hat
| given him.
e THE key to my heart" she told
r him with shining eyes, As she badt