South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-13

pretty woman in black coming to-
ward her.
Nothing gray today. Wilma
was the latter's greeting My son
is 70 celebrate his wedding ami
versary tomorrow, and I'll have 10
felicitate him in white gloves"
Size six" said Wilma, from
memory. as she turned TO the stock.
Gloves were Mrs. Welles' one ex-
travagance, and for two years she
had come to Wilma for them. She
was a slender. delicate little wom-
an, and had the enviable reputation
at Richmond's for being their most
cOnsiderate customer. All the clerks
wanted TO wait on her and some
were often guilty Of summarily dis
patching other patrons in order to
do so. The girls were in the habit
Of confding their worries and trou-
bles to her. and they were invari-
ably rewarded with some sane,
comforting advice
Wilma Randall was her most ar
dent admirer She was quite con-
WINGED that there was no one like
Mrs. Welles. and this opinion dated
from the time that the latter had
befriended the girls small brother
Jack during a serious illness, be-
cause his own mother was dead.
And how is Billy Halcombe?
Gone across YETI" Mrs. Welles
asked, regarding the glove on her
left hand with interest.
Wilma dimpled.
"I had a letter from him a week
ago. 1 answered it last night"
Good A nice. CHEEKY answer,
I'm sure"
"Oh, yes"
You won't regret it. my dear.
After all. it's only charity TO keep
the lads happy, and not bother them
with our little worries"
Wilma took her words 10 heart,
because lately there had been fric-
ton between her and Pvt. Billy.
Somehow. she hadn't the heart TO
acknowledge it to Mrs. WelIes.
The next time she came, she
found Wilma very sober and in
clined to crossness. Inquiries about
Jack and his new dog brought short
responses.
And Billy, Of course, is fine as
usual?" she asked, softly.
"Oh. sure, he's fine" Wilma re-
turned, bitterly.
Mrs. Weues pretended not to no
tice
GIVE him my love when you
write" she added.
HE won't need your love. and
I'm not going TO WRITE an
swered Wilma, on the point Of tears.
MY dear"
Wilma softened a little.
He's always raving about the
pretty southern girls In two let
ters-said they were peaches. /
told him I didn't care to hear about
the p-pretty girls"
Some customers came just then.
and Mrs. Welles went away TO wor-
~ about Wnma's jealousy and lack
OF faith The girl would have TO
change her tactics or lose Pvt Billy.
How could she make Wilma realize
the childishness of her attitude?
Several days elapsed before she
was able TO see Wilma.
I'm afraid it's all jealousy Will
ma" she said to the girl Billy
is a boy in a hundred, and you must
show him YOU trust him"
Yes. Mrs Welles," Wilma said,
humbly, 81 know I'm wrong"
And you1l write to him and clear
up this wretched quarrel?'
Yves"
"Stnl hesitating. It's three weeks,
isn't IL, since you've heard from
him? So much can happen in
three weeks. If you were 10 hear
one Of these days that Billy we're
hurt Or"
"Oh, don't" cried Wilma, white
Tipped. "TH start all over again
and write tonight And after this
I won't think one little dlsloyal
thing about him
I'm so glad" Mrs. Welles sighed.
happily.
Two days later she went to see
how Wilma's love affair was pro-
crossing. Instead Of the radiant
girl she had left, she found a tragic
eyed young woman staring moodily
into space.
Dear child. what is the matter ."
A little shiver was Wilmas only
sign tht she heard.
"You wrote the letter."
NO"
Mrs. WeUes was silent After a
moment. Wilma handed her a
crumpled piece of paper. her lip
quivering.
It was a picture clipped from a
newspaper with the heading "Pret-
ty French Girls Welcome Sammies.
and showed a young woman un-
deniably embracing a boy in khaki
Billy" exclaimed Mrs. Welles,
involuntarily mo. il can't be"
Yes. it's Billy" sobbed his sweet
heart
There was no doubt about Il; It
was Billy.
You know. Wilma dear. men
are sometimes at disadvantage"
Mrs. Welles said. soothingly. IT
women will show gratitude in that
way. why. the men can't run away.
Il really is a very trifing thing
after ALL when you consider how