Manchester Democrat., 1919-01-22
BLOWN IN BY DRAFT
BY JACK LAWToN.
lCopyrIght, 1918, western Newspaper Union.)

Private Vance DOnnette was q
Southern lad by birth. AS are many
of our gallant young lads he was
called into the service by the draft.
He entered Southern encampment
In the latter part Of March and in
early May, with many others, was
transferred to a camp farther North.
It was the 10Th of May that Vance
was assigned the duty Of switch
board operator at the camp. His
hours at the switchboard were 6 a. m.
to II M, and 5 p. m. to l a. m.
One bright Tuesday morning, while
on his duty at the switchboard, Won
dering how to spend the four-hour re-
lief that afternoon, he at last decided
to take a stroll through the village
of Riverside. The village church, the
store and the central Office We're the
important buildings. One o'clock that
Tuesday found Vance strolling the
streets Of strange town. Several OF
the village lads were In the service,
so lad in khaki was not an uncom-
mon occurrence. -.'I don't see many
lassies in this vicinity. I guess they
are few and far between" said Vance.
Arriving at the store he entered and
bought a cigar. then gayly passed on
his way. he had not gone far when
he approached the central ONCE.
Glancing into the open windows. and
stacking his pace as he did so, he saw
the little operator at her post. "Num-
Der, please" 'Line busy!" did you
ret himr Riverside" he heard the
sweet little voice saying. "Who II the
proud owner of that sweet voiceT'
sHow beautiful she was with that
dark hair. Wish that I might meet
her." said Vance.
A he continued his stroll the op'
orator was still in his mind. He
walked on nearly q mile. then began
his journey homeward. Taking . slip
Of paper from his pocket he wrote:
sVance Donnette, operator at local
camp. Ring up." On his return BY
tho central ONCE he walked more
slowly than before. Just at the en-
trance to the ONCE he let the slip
Of paper drop out Of his hand. "Hope
that she is lucky enough to ind it,
said he.
At i've o'clock Emita Dell, the Riv.
srside operator, was preparing ia
leave the Office. Just rs she opened
the door to depart slip Of paper was
'blown in by the draft" (draught) and
dropped at her feet. Picking It up
She placed it in her ticket book and
started on her way home.
Wednesday morning as Emita was
recording her tickets she found tho
paper which she picked up the pre-.
vious night. Unfolding it she read:
'Vance Donnette. Operator at local
camp. Ring up" "Where did II
come from? Who is Vance Donnette1
Guess I'll ring him up shortly" At
eleven o'clock Emita rang up the
local camp. 'Is this Vance Don.
nette?" eyes," was the reply. "This
is Emita Dell, the Riverside operator.
I found your paper in the Office. It
was blown in by the draft (draught).
go rang you up" "Blown in by the
draft (draught), and you found It
I, too, was blown in by the draft.
Thank heaven that you found It." On
Emita's inquiry in regard to the
origin of the paper Vance related the
tale Of his stroll through Riverside.
During their conversation Emita in
yited him to call at the office on the
day Of his next relief.
The next Tuesday afternoon Vance
went to the Central office. AS ne
neared the office, instead Of slacken'
ing, he fastened his pace he was SO
anxious to meet Emita. Entering the
office, Emita greeted him with hand.
shake, as though they had known
each other for years. That afternoon
as he sat there talking to her, the
only thought in his mind was: she
is the most beautiful of all girls" He
was obliged to leave the office at
three o'clock, that he might not be
late in reporting at the camp.
As usual at five o'clock, Vance was
going on duty and Emita was coming
off, "She's a wonder!" Dark hair,
steel gray eyes, cheeks as pink as
roses, and just about as tall as l.
OF all the beauties, she is it," said he.
"He certainly Is a nice looking
youth. So genlemanly in his ways.
And so refined in his language" she
was saying.
The friendship between Emita and
Vance grew more intimate as the
days passed by. Each visit helped to
make their friendship more sincere,
until finally Dan Cupid accompanied
Vance on his visits. Apparently Dan
Cupid knows how to do "his Bit
exceptionally well. One Tuesday
afternoon instead Of Vance taking his
trip TO Emita's, she went to the city
with him. The next morning when
Emita came to work she wore q
sparkling ring on her finger. Conse'
avntly Dan Cupid had not failed to
do his bit"
Early in October Vance expected to
90 "oyer there" One morning he
called Emita on the phone. "Say, las
sic, I leave tomorrow for a ten-day
furlough before going over there.
I'm going home to see mother. Are you
ready to go as my bride" "Yes. I'll
be ready" came the reply. The next
morning Vance and Emita left to fin
ish the work commenced by Dan