The herald., 1918-08-22
IN FRANCE
By FRANCES 3. LiNSKY.
Copyright 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate-)


to her admiring family. as jacket after
jacket was neatly folded and sent of 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.
at will be cooler there" thought
she, land I'll call for Grace on my way.
] She'll probably be glad to come with
me-"
I 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, calm
ly ignoring the intended sarcasm.
"And this is it. Haven't you ever
heard of farmers who write their
names on eggs when they pack them
to ship to the city,?
"Why, yes" said Grace, II have, but
1 don't see what that has to do with
knitting sweaters for the soldiers"
"Well," said Jean, I'D like to put
note inside one of the sweaters and
send it to some poor fellow over
there
why, Jean Wood, I think that's
great" exclaimed Grace, getting into
the spirit Of the thing at once, land I'll
give you my Luck Piece to put In the
letter. I've often heard that a lucky
piece has stopped a bullet"
So jeans needles flashed back and
forth and dead silence reigned In the
pine grove until the sweater was fin
ished.
Now for the letter." said Jean and
with the stump Of an old tree for her
writing table, 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.
Some two months later, as the Wood
family sat at breakfast, the postman
came with the mail.
Hello" said Mr.. Wood, as he glan-
ced over the pile which the letter car
rier had handed him, heres a very
official letter for JEAN" and he held
up a blue envelope with censored"
stamped across its face. Its from
France, too" he said.
Maybe Jeans got q Teller in the
trenches" remarked Bobby, to no one
In particular.
Somewhere IN France" It was
headed:
Dear Jean Wood A very lone
some soldier boy is Just one great
big Thank You Ma'am' to you for
the sweater, the letter and the
lucky piece. II you would only
write me once in a while, I tell
you I'd appreciate II. II would
seem like shaking hands with
someone from back home
I'm sending you a souvenir In
exchange for the luck piece. Il
isn't much, but made Ii while I
was In the hospital here with bad
knee-so / hope you'll accept II
with my compliments
Il was afraid 1t might get smash
ed If mailed 1t, so gave it to my
brother to take to you-he's been
here on duty with the university
medical unit, but he's gone home
on furlough. You'll see him soon.
Gratefully, Max Norton"
Jean read the letter and re-read It
and then-went straight down stairs
and told the whole story to her father.
"Well, little girl" said he when she
had finished. II don't know as 1t was a
very wise thing to debut I'll see this
doctor man when he comes and until
be does there's nothing to worry
about" So pinching her cheek, he babe
her run along and tell Grace all about
t" which she very promptly did.
he came, that very evening" pleas
very much tanned young
man, looking every inch a soldier In
his well-fitting uniform, and introduc-
ng himself as DR.. Robert Norton, he
explained his errand to Mr.. Wood, and
asked for Jean.
Jean came forward, looking SO sweet
Ind girlish In her embarrassment, that
Is they shook hands, his lips said: II
I'm pleased to meet you," but his eyes
we're far more eloquent.
Il want to thank you for my brother.
diss JEAN" said Doctor Norton, "and
o give you this"
This proved to be a bird cage very
beverly made Of thin sticks Of wood
arefully set together.
"Oh, how lovely" exclaimed Jean.
1 shall hang 1t on a tree down In the
line grove as a reminder-of-"My
treat Adventure" and, feeling her Wis
tors eyes upon her, she looked I'D and
traight into them and smiled-and
hey were friends.
Months later, when young Doctor
'orton sailed back to France to "com-
lete his bit" he, too, carried a Lucky
fece' In his pocket. A key Il was
very tiny key that Jean had given
i'm.
The key to my heart" she told him
18th shining eyes, as she babe him
Goodbye. Keep II for your tails
IAN"
Once more the Wood family was
Gated at breakfast.
The papers are Just full Of stories
bout the soldiers" said Mrs Wood