Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-04-30

Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
Lucinda purled the last row on her
seventh sleeveless sweater.
Six Of the boys she had grown up
with already had their warm khaki
somewhere in France" and
this seventh one she would send to
John Watson.
When it was finished, Lucinda put
a suggestion of sachet in the woolly
folds. It would remind John of fem
ininity. She felt sure he would like
that familiar scent. Also she tucked
in some chocolate and many packages
o. his favorite cigarettes.
Her letter was long and gossipy.
Lucinda tried, in all her letters to the
soldier boys, to give them touch OF
home; feeling that they were still
near and dear to her and a part OF the
daily life at home.
It seemed an unusually long time
before she heard from France. She
Johns regiment had gone
into action. Perhaps that was the de-
lay.
But when word came from the
sweater it was in another handwriting
than that of John Watson.
Lucinda's fair head dropped for
ward and she shook with terrific sobs.'
John was the first of her seven brave
fighting friends to fall in battle.
When her tears permitted her to
continue the letter she found the con-
tents peculiarly touching.
He, the soldier who had written 1t,
was Johns closest pal. They had stood
side by side in the trenches.
and 1 wish the shell had taken
me rather than john" the letter ran.
'sHe had much to live for, while I'm
one of the lonely soldiers you read
about. John has spoken of you to
me and know you're the kind OF girl
that would want me to take the sweat
er you made for John. l need 1T
badly and know he would want me to
have it. The package came just after
John fell. I read the letter and
shared the cigarettes and chocolate
with the rest Of the boys. II you
have moment for lonely soldier
please write me as you would have
john"
She wrote back a long letter and
sent more cigarettes and chocolate as
well as wristlets and a helmet. She
made minute inquiry as to any spe-
clal requirements he had and thanked
him for the plots he had sent.
While letters and messages were
the wide ocean Lucinda wrote
q story that brought her in the biggest
check she had received from any
magazine. The vivid bits of life that
David Mcleod, the seventh soldier,
had sent her had added a strong touch
Of reality to her work.
She wrote him of the success Of the
story and told him that she was put
ting half the check. in little bank.
''When you come over to America
after the war;" she wrote, 1--WE will
spend all your half Of the check max
Ing you forget the tragedy of war. l
am spending mine all on soldiers-dO-
ing just the little things that I can"
Lucinda and David continued their
correspondence and found
much pleasure in 1t. Her stories i'm
proved wonderfully and the small
bank for the returning soldier became
Dulgy with checks.
But the day came when Lucinda
waited in vain for an answer to her
etters.
After long days Of depression, when
she had quite given up hope that
David was one Of the living heroes, she
lad letter from hospital in France.
'.They almost got me-" he wrote,
but I'm pulling through like a team
If American mules. Guess 1t takes
more than a bunch Of Boches to kill
his globe trotter. I'm coming over
% your country when my wounds are
sufficiently healed to let me travel"
Lucinda put down her head again
and cried. The tears were happy and
night have sent tiny flowers spring
ng up had they fallen on earthly gar
lens.
Her stories were decidedly happier
low-the endings more complete. In
he little bank a considerable sum
awaited David. Lucinda realized that
t would take q lot of going 10 spend
Ill that ON making David forget.
He had told her to look for a one
egged man when 1t came near time
or his arrival, and when he stood out
side her studio door Lucinda gasped
with JOY at his nearness. David had
old her the exact date. His clutches
'or the second tore at her heart, for 1t
meant that he had suffered and SUI
'ered dreadfully.
"Here, here" he said brusquely.
wanting to hide his emotions. "Im a
soldier with a grand medal-not
,aby doll" This was when Lucinda
uttered about doing the thousand and
me things an ultra-feminine woman
must do for soldier who has fought.
She blushed holly but continued, for
n David's eyes she read the hunger
or mothering and home. She felt in
that her seventh soldier
needed her more than any of the 9TH
RS. In fact, Lucinda felt many things
them that her own need Of
David was going to be great. She had
written of so many fine men, but David
the finest of them all. She
Hoped desperately that he would fall
n love with her.
wen write plays together and nov
lie ond do oil cortS ~ hio fhjnpS ~ hn