South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-30
A Matter of Postage
By Martha Gaiser

candy 1 thought it was not worth
all that postage-even though your
pretty hands had made it," he add
ed teasingly.
did you take out the note?" she
questioned quickly.
Mote? What note?"
ooh, Uncle C-h-a-r-l-e-s," she
exclaimed, II had a note in there for
James, and now Warren will get it.
What shall 1 do, what shall 1 do ?"
She cried turning her distressed face
to him.
Nothing. Leave that to War
rem"
But Uncle
mo butts, there is nothing for you
to do, but-wait Warren can han
die his own dilemma, or 1 miss my
guess" he declared, as he put his
arm about her and drew her to-
wards him, but the twinkle in his
eye would not have placed him on
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, a tired, homesick, heart
sick man, sat, pipe in mouth, given
up TO disconsOlate thought Despite
hard work and his determination to
be occupied every minute. he could
not get away from his memories
memories as warm, and fresh, and
real as though they had been made
only yesterday. yet many Of them
dated back TO the very beginning of
his acquaintance with Lucille Vir-
ginia, who, after five months alb
sence-months of eye and heart
starvation-was still for him the one
woman. With the intensity of
strong. depressed natures he had
given her his heart. but with the
knowledge of his love there had
come an overwhelming humility,
strange even to himself and entirely
absent in all his other associations,
and so. only by his devotion had he
allowed his love to find expression.
And she-well. she had treated him
as she had all the others-save
Moore, he thought bitterly. Thus
he was when the neat package so
we'll camouflaged by Uncle Charles
unknown writing, was brought him.
With no feeling but that OF a natural
curiosity he cut the string and re-
moved the wrapper. but surprise and
Indifference disappeared as lifting
the lid OF the box. he saw a white
envelope on which was written in
Lucille Virginia's familiar hand:
For a Brave Soldier Boy"
Smiling and wondering what joke
she was up 10 now. he took up the
envelope and broke the seal with
fingers that would tremble. soldier
that he was. 1t had no heading. puz-
zled he read on. and on Then light
suddenly dawning on him, a strange
dizziness seized him and he sat
down. The realization staggered
him, but no longer did he hesitate.
He had found himself and was with
out trembling. going over the top 10
his first great victory. He began at
the very first and read the note
through again, then with an exul-
tant look on his face. he reached for
and pad and drew forth his pen and
wrote with fingers that no longer
trembled:
Dear Jim.-The enclosed has
just come 20 me. in a box OF candy
that was evidently intended for
you. also. though the wrapper was
addressed 10 me. hence my open
ing IL. The joke is on Lucille Vir-
ginia for getting things mixed.
though you come in for yours, too.
as I am keeping the candy. Be
lieve me it's too good 20 surrender.
Hope you are getting along all
right. with best wishes.
Wv. J. FIELDING. %
The days following the sending OF
the box dragged as they never had
before TO Lucille Virginia Coming