The Mount Holly news., 1918-05-07
A Matter of
Postage
o0
BY MARTHA oAIsER

Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)
To Lucille Virginia Cranston. lifs
had always been joke. but the kinc
of joke that was JOY to all who knew
her well. for no condition ever arose
In which she could not find some
hum0r to offset with the antidote Of
q clever bright remark. While she
went her gay, happy way, refusing to
take anything seriously. the serious
minded shook their heads and proph-
es!ed disaster. and a rude awakening
when II did come. And Lucille Vir-
ginia. when she learned of 1t, enjoyed
their predictions, and her reputation
enjoyed 1t. INDUCED 1t, and played up
TO II with all the vigor and daring of
abounding youth. Even when the dark
finger of war pointed to every Ameri
can his duty; and relatives, friends
and sweethearts responded, she had
talked of their going and finally said
gOod-by with smile and a gay little
sally. picturing the glad, proud day Of
their return. instead Of shedding tears
as were most of her friends.
Not even to the two men whose de-
votiOn for months had furnished spec
ulation for her friends as to which
would win her If either-had she wa
vered Pride and natural coquetry
had kept her silent, though to close
observer the big blue-gray eyes had
seriousness quite unrelated to the light
r6o nd 20 In haa ar< ho
felt that life had become very real and
earnest all at once; so real that she
did not want any sentimental emotion
to play part and betray her or them
into false position. There are two
kinds Of lovers, those who make love
easily and gracefully, and those who
do not; that is to say, those to whom
wooing is natural gift. and those who
only acquire 1t as the outgrowth of a
deep feeling. Such were James Moore
and Warren Fielding, and how much
they had meant In her life, and what
they really were to her, she knew only
absence could determine. That would
be the acid test. In the weeks and
months following their departure, life
was turned quite upside down for Lu-
cille Virginia. With the zeal Of true
patriot she had thrown herself heart
and soul into war work. Outside sports
were abandoned for Red Cross work
dancing was supplanted by knitting;
boxes Of good things were made, pack
ed and shipped with letters of cheer
to the known and unknown, and all the
oh nj fhfnHin0
ellie Virginia was doing this now,
her knitting neglected in her lap as
she gazed into the leaping flames of
the open wood fire, wondering how
long 1t would take her box to reach
James, and II he would read between
the lines OF her note and divine her
motive in sending the candy with 1t.
II only he would see and understand,
she mused, visualizing him at his post.
"Dreaming in the cleaning, pretty
maid7" said the CHEEKY voice Of Uncle
Charles, as he slipped his hand un-
der her chin and tilted her head back.
81 did not hear you come in." she
replied rising for his kiss, but ignor-
ing his query except with a sudden ac-
cess Of color.
did you mail my packageT she
asked. as she turned on the lights and
seated herself beside him on the dav-
enport.
"Yes, but / Hooverized on postage"
jhe announced laughing.
"HowT she asked puzzled.
"Well. sent 1t to Warren, as 1t cost
SO much to send 1t out West to James,
land as long as It was only candy I