The Mount Holly news., 1918-05-07

did you take out the noteP' she |
questioned quickly.
'Notef What note?"
, "Oh, Uncle Charles" she ex- |
claimed. 81 had note in there for |
James, and now Warren will get it. |
What shall do, what shall do?" she |
cried. turning her distressed face to
him.
Nothing. Leave that to Warren"
But, Uncle"
"No butts. there is nothing for you |
to do, but-wait Warren can handle |
his own dilemma, or / miss my guess" !
he declared, as he put his arm about |
her and drew her towards him, but the
twinkle In his eye would not have
placed him in the guiltless list, as
Lucille Virginia would have known had
her head not been buried on his
shoulder.
In his quarters at camp, Warren
Fielding, tired, homesick. heart sick
man, sat, pipe in mouth. given up to
disconsolate thought. Despite hard
work and his determination to be oc-
cupied every minute, he could not get
away from his memories-memories
as warm. and fresh. and real as
though they had been made only yes
terday, yet many of them dated back
to the very beginning of his acquain-
tance with Lucille Virginia, who. after
five months absence-months of eye
and heart starvation-was still for
him the one woman. With the intensity
If strong, repressed natures he had
.iven her his heart, but with the knowl-
,dge of his love there had come an I.
overwhelming humility, strange even
% himself and entirely absent In all
his other associations. and so, only
~ his devotion had he allowed his love
% find expression. And she-well she
iGd treated him as she had all the
thers-save Moore, he thought bitter
2. Thus he was when the neat pack
age so well camou1aged by Uncle
Charles' unknown writing. was
brought him. With no feeling but
that Of natural curiosity he
cut the string and removed the
wrapper. but surprise and indiffer-.
ence disappeared as. lifting the lid
of the box, he saw a white envelope
on which was written In Lucille Vir-.
gina's familiar hand: "For Brave
Soldier Boy"
Smiling and wondering what Joke
she was up to now. he took up the
, envelope and broke the seal with
fingers that would tremble. soldier that
he was. II had no heading, and puz-
zled he read on, and on. Then light
| suddenly dawned on him. strange diz-
illness seized him. and he sat down.
The realization staggered him. but no
longer did ne hesitate. he had found
himself and was without trembling,
going over the top to his first great
victory. He began at the very fret
and read the note through again. then
with an exultant look on his face, he
reached for pad and drew forth his
pen and wrote with fingers that no
longer trembled:
to me. in a box of candy that was evi-
IDENTIFY intended for you. also. though the
wrapper was addressed to me, hence my
ginia for getting things mixed, though
you come In for yours, too as am keep
ing the candy. Believe me it's too good
to surrender Hope you are getting along
- - W. J. FIELDING
The days followed the sending of
the box dragged as they never had be-
fore to Lucille Virginia. Coming in
late one afternoon from her Red Cross
work, tall figure came from the IL
brary to meet her.
"Why Warren" she exclaimed,
with little catch In her voice. as she
extended both hands to meet his out
stretched ones.
when did you conner" she asked.
pulling her hands from his restraining
clasp as she turned to lay Off her
wraps and collect her startled senses.
"An hour ago." he replied. as they
walked into the library.
"Why didn't you let me knowq'
"Because-I-well, wanted to sur
prise you." he blurted out as If the
words were forced from him, as TAX
ing her hand he drew her to the dav-
export.
81 wanted to see If you were glad to
see me-" he laughed. "Are your"
be questioned, looking her full In the
face.
Fighting for time to meet that which
she saw in his face. she answered:
"Of course 1 am always glad to see
my friends, Captain Fielding" and she
raised her hand in mock salute and
flashed him teasing smile.
"Stopi" he commanded. In sheer
surprise she dropped her hand. For
once she was too surprised and as
founded to think of anything to say.
Lucille, several days ago received
a box of candy and a note that read
and only at the close did l realize that
/ 1t was not for me. How 1t ever came
to me do not know; all that mattered
was that you certainly did not love the
man to whom 1t was written as / had
supposed. Now / am tired Of jests;
you have had your way long enough;
and you are going to listen to me and
do just as say; for, hand In hand
with the knowledge that you did not
love the other man, was born hope
that you confirmed by face and voice,
when / arrived just now. You love
me. am the captain Of your fate.
and you-you-are to be my-wife,"
he concluded reverently. but emphat-
ically.
For a moment silence lay between
them; then very softly, he said:
"Lucille, sweetheart Eyes, my cap
tain," she whispered. surrendering her.
self into bis arms.