The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-12-09

LUCIE'S FIRST AID
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN.
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upon my sister and me, the fact that
in order to appear as desirable wives
in the eyes of worthwhile young men,
we must be good housekeepers, cap
able and careful. TO this purpose we
have been trained but while Aunt and
still remain perfect unmarried house
keepers, Lucie's romance has quite an
other ending.
Certainly it was not her capability
which attracted to her the man who
was to be her husband. But as usual,
l am starting my story end first, and
telling things which later-happened.
The beginning was one cloudy morn
ing when Lucie, who will not be call
ed Aunt's full name, started down
town for shopping tour. She looked
very pretty as I walked with her as
FAR as the car, and she was not as
sensibly attired as Aunt would have
wished her to be for the occasion.
When she had seated herself and
waved to me from the car window, 1
went back to my baking, and I was
haunted by the picture Of a khaki
clad soldier who had moved down on
the long seat to make room for Lucie.
His face was so CHASTITY pale. and his
big eyes so darkly ringed, that I was
sure he had just returned broken in
health from over seas. Also, in my
interested look through the window,
/ noticed that the soldiers arm was
suspended In q sling. And strangely
enough, when my sister returned all
aglow at evening, it was Of this young
man that she talked, dimpling and
smiling the while, and Of his part in
her days adventure.
For it seemed that as she neared the
downtown district, Lucie, with one Of
her impulses, decided to stay on the
car instead, and ride over to the West
side, to visit a friend. And just as she
was about to leave the car down came
a heavy shower. Lucie was glad to
know that she had brought an umbrel-
Ia, and she snatehed it up pushing
through the crowd to the door. AS
she descended the steps, she was
aware of the injured soldier close be-
hind her, and suddenly another i'm
pulse seized my sister. He was such
a frail wan-looking fellow for all of
his brave clear eyes, that Lucie said
She feared he might take pneumonia
in that soaking rain, and she moved
over quickly and offered him the shell
ter of her umbrella.
He smiled little, Lucie said, assur-
Ing her Of his gratitude, but his home
was too far from the car line for him
to impose upon her offer. AS the
length of the walk he must take only
made her duty more necessary,
Lucie started cheerfully along at his
side, with the umbrella held well over
the soldiers bandaged arm. And as
they swung down the avenue, he told
her many interesting tales of war, and
though the wounded man carefully
omitted the personal from his stories,
Lucie was sure that he had played
a heroic part in them all.
His arm would soon be all right, he
said, but the doctor had warned him
that returning strength must come
slowly. So he had to be patient-he
must be patient, even if they refused
to let him go back to fight the Hun.
And most delightfully."- at the end of
their walk together, they found a lit
tie old lady waiting upon the porch of
a trim white house, to welcome back
her son.
Lucie was urged to come in and dry
fer damp clothes before the crate fire.
Homer, was the name of her hero,
and Lucie found it easily in the phone
book. Though Mrs. Homer answered,
her son added to the message. "If
Miss Craythorne would give her adj
dress, he said, ''he would be glad to
return the umbrella in the morning"
True to his promise, on the following
morning, Mr.. Jack Homer arrived at our
door, black silk umbrella in his hand,
and neither saw Lucie after his en-
trance, nor did she call me into the
room, though the murmuring of their
voices and low laughter, came to me
as methodically continued my iron
| ing.
The romance unfolded so quickly
that aunt and were bewildered over
succeeding events. When the weather
was considered unfavorable for Jacks
visits, Lucie continued what she term
ed her own RED Cross work." by
cheering the invalid at the home of his
mother; and his evident progress in
health paid due tribute to her faith
| fulnesS.
1t was when we were making plans
together for the wedding that Lucie
said tenderly:
Il shall always keep that umbrella,
Jack, as reminder of the wonderful
way it brought us together"
you may" her beloved agreed.
Il maya" Lucie repeated question
ingly.
Jack nodded. "You see," he explain
ed, "it is really my own umbrella,
Lucie. When you first snatched it up
from beside me on the car seat, did
not quite understand-even thought.