Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-09-04
735e
Canteen Angel
Fly JACK LAYTON

1t was desolate French village
filed with the horror of war, and to-
ward the American canteen khald-clad
soldiers turned their weary faces with
all the eagerness of homecoming.
There they would find cheer and rest
and warm refreshment, greater per
hGps than these the dear familiar wei
come of an American girls smile.
over the seas they had come. these
brgnttaced girls, into the very reulu,
of danger in order that they might
serve in willing helpfuness the brave
boys who would sacrifice all. Like
children We're these lonely fellows with
their condolences, their hunger for
sympathy--which Angela was always
ready TO give,
Back in her own fortunate land the
favored girl had known no lack of com
fort or luxury; her friends had mar
veled at her remuneration as she bade
them smilingly good-by; and here in
France Angela had learned what il
meant to be worn with labor, cold too
in these mornings of early rising, but
she had not lost the smile which
charmed many.
Now the smile was different, some
place of its coquetry. The line of
hungry waiting men singled her out
from the helpers, seeming to feel in
stinctively her kindly understanding.
Many stories of tragedy and pathos
Angela learned from men whose out
ward lives were all brayado. So,
among themselves, they came to call
her "The Angel, 1.-The Canteen Angel"
and Angela hearing of it, smiled again.
Tonight her blue eyes sought visit
fully for Bob's coming. Bob had won
also the interest of the secretary
Something besides anxiety of war
is fretting that maA," she said.
Yet he alone, of all her big proteges,
had brought to her no condolences. A
hopeless, patient expression seemed to
be stamping itself upon his formerly
joyous countenance. The change
grieyed Angela more than she could
tell-she must find way to help him.
Now she turned her head as he
came slowly through the doorway, and
dancing tendril of shining hair
slipped just below her ear. 1t was
pretty little curl, but then Angela
was pretty altogether.
A big soldier before her grinned de-
lightedly.
after you bring the chocolate,
Angel" he said, 1--WE some photos
from home to show you"
"From homer" smiled Angela, "how
nice"
When Bob reached her side the room
was almost empty. She motloned him
to chair near by.
when anything troubles me-" sug-
gested Angela, and the kindness of her
gaze belied her merry tone, "it helps
rue wonderfully to talk 1t over with a
friend"
"Are you a friendH" Bob asked alb
ruptiy.
Angela nodded.
"That." she answered quietly, SIS
why 1 ana here"
My own trouble" Bob said bitterly
lis merely an experience which comes,
| dare say, to many. Only" he
laughed shortly, this was rather
hard time to rub the experience in.
Goes by an oldfashioned name, l be-
lieve of-being disappointed in love"
Eyes," prompted Angela, the usual
gay thrill in her voice was lacking.
Girl was engaged to before l came
over has broken the thing Off" said
Bob. Broken it off rather definitely,
for she has married my best friend.
Some minor affiiction made him ex-
empt from service. 1t viii all be more
--believable-afte a time l suppose.
The difficult thing now seems to be to
get used to the idea.
"She's been jollying me along all the
time, you see, with letters-the kind Of
letters a girl writes vixen you're the
only one. And Jim, well, he hasn't let
lifelong friendship deter him from
using the advantage of my absence.
It's sort of a double blow. When the
first shock wears Off"
"Why, you must not take our woes
so to heart" he said. "You are as
white as paper. I'm sorry told you"
I'm not" Angela replied "A girl
as faithless as that is not worth
even remembering. Do you know what
/ am going to do7" her eyes challenged
him-"rm going to try to help you for
get her"
With her audacious little laugh the
pretty color came flooding back 10 her
cbeet.
"You must come here as often as
you can. All my amusing incidents
shall save for your entertainment
We will have songs in our spare mo-
ments, we viii all be cheerful. We
must not let the memory of one fool
ish, selfish sorrow interfere with our
great present. For 1t is greatW in
sisted Angela.
"You and / and the rest OF us here