Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-04-22
THE MEETING
Observation-Disclosures
BY JULIA A. ROBINSON.
paper Syndicate.)


Copyright 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
Her soldier boy was coming home
and Mia dreaded the meeting. OF
course she would have to see him and
he would find out her deception. What
would he think of her? How could
she bear that he should look st her?
1t had all begun at the girls Red
Cross meeting. Lets pin our names
and addresses on the inside of these
socks we are knitting" suggested May
Bond. Perhaps the soldiers who get
them will write TO u.s."
"Good!" cried the other girls.
wouldn't it be fun to get letter
from a soldier?"
Each girl as she finished pair of
socks pinned her name on the inside
and they were sent out. After time
letters began to arrive from the boys
at the front, telling of war expert
enceS and Of army life. The girls read
them aloud with many comments and
much interest,
Nita, in a spirit of fun, had pretend
ed in her letter that she was some.
!body's maiden aunt, and wrote in a
motherly strain. She had hardly ex-
pected her soldier to write more than
once, but he did. Her letters were
filled with good advice and suggestions
for his health and comfort, and he
seemed to like them.
There won't be any romance for me
out of these letters" Nita laughed
HE thinks I'm an old maid. l don't
believe he'll want to see me when he
comes home, and I'm sure | wouldn't
want him to. l wonder if he wishes
were girl" she added to herself. I'm
glad he doesn't know"
Now the war was over and the BOYS
were coming home Nita's soldier
had written that he should be among
the first to return. He was longing to
see her, to tell her how much good her
letters, her advice and her wise coun-
sci had done him. He knew she had
a kind, mOtherly heart ana sympa-
thetic eyes-were they blue?-a dear
mouth that smiled and helpful hands.
lie had so much enjoyed the socks and
sweaters she had sent. They were just
what his mother would have sent him
had she been living. He was really
longing to see her. Was her hair done
in white puffs over her forehead? He
loved to think of it so. He lived in
Norton, not very many miles from her
own home, and he should come to
see her often. He hoped she would
still he glad to mother him" and to
admohish him if he needed it.
Mia was frightened when she read
that letter. She could not escape
meeting him, for he had her address.
What would he think of herP If she
could only run away and hidel And
yet she did want to see him. She had
learned to like her soldier boy. She
had pictured him In her mind, and she
wanted-Oh, how much she wanted to
see htm-if only she could herself be
invisible. She almost wished now that
she had not played her foolish Joke.
He would despise her for her deceit
and think her very silly.
With beating heart Nita watched
the returning regiment march through
the streets. Which one was her sol
der boy? He was with them, she
knew. They were so straight, with
strong, brave faces. and the happy
light of victory in their eyes. She was
proud of them all and cheered with
the rest.
When the dOOrben rang Mia stepped
lightly to answer 1t, quite unsuspect-
Ing. She had not thought that he
would come to see her so soon. There
were others TO greet him-yet there he
stood. She knew him at the first glance
and wanted to hide. What could she
say? How explaini She stared and
said nothing.
He put out his hand with q boyish
smile and twinkle in his eye. "Ts
this Miss Spencer" he asked.
I'm-I'm-Nita Spence" came the
timid answer. Perhaps he would think
the one who wrote the letters was her
aunt. If he would only go away.
my maiden aunt, my mentor" he
laughed merrily. you look just as
imagined you would"
She gasped, "But--why-how could
you"
Don't you suppose l saw through
your little game?" His smile was
bright and assuming. Do you think
any maiden aunt could write such let
tiers as you have been writing to me?
I've had your image before me all the
time, and I've learned to worship Ii.
| knew your eyes were full of laugh
ter, that your hair was soft and fluffy,
that your lips smiled with the tiniest
dimples. l could Just see the mischief
lurking in the corner of your eye as
you wrote those letters. =. Oh, how
you've helped to cheer those long,
toiisome months. How the thought Of
you has given me help and courage,
for l knew you We're G. brave girl doing
your part at home"
They were sitting very close to-
gether in the coy sitting room. Nita's
heart thrObbed, and yet she tried to
draw her hand away from him.
'"Oh," she faltered, what must you
think of rle?"
Il think you are the dearest girl In
all the world" he told her, drawing