Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-28
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE HAPPY PRANK
By Nellie Gordon

vTNHE afternoon at the Red Cross room
i had been a particularly lively one.
Every one OF the younger girls had
seemed just full Of It. as the saying
goes. and therefore laughter reigned.
Barbara Smith. prim and thrty-two.
left the room short time before the
others. and after she had been gone a
few moments one of the liveliest of the
girls, who was folding an olive-drab
sweater. began to chuckle nlysterously.
After much questioning she explained: ::
81 just thought what a lark it would
he If we pinned Barbara's name in this
cater. and some unknown soldier
would begin writing to her. She is so
prim and proper. YOU know, that 1t
would be Il dandy joke on her"
The others. laughing joyfully, I'M
mcdiately agreed. and thus the dark
deed was pcrpetrated.
In the meantime the subject of their
discussion wended her homcward way
slowly, her mind fun of thoughts which
could he better described az rehellious
than prim and proper.
Brought up by very strict and sem
sibe parents. she never shared in the
simple pleasures of other girls of her
age Skating parties, dances. etc. were
tabooed. Instead. she was taught use
ful things after her school hours.
Thus romance had overlooked her.
that is-.almost. II was just before a
slcighing party that the high school
seniors were planning. and Frank Grant,
h., hnr in bn cln & q
for some inexplicable reason had ap-
preached the shy little Barbara and
asked II he might be her escort
with her very primest manner, she
refused. saving thai she wasn't allowed
to go to silly parties. With the bru-
tality of the hoy of sixteen. he tainted ::
Huh. YOU hig baby, Tied to mamma's S
apron strings"
with tear-fill,d eyes. she loyalty de-
Tended her mothers ideas, then she ran
homeward crying and wishing fran.
tically that she could nave accepted.
Frank chose "A more complacent damsel
for his companion, and never noticed
little Barbara afterward. which caused
her much pain.
Reviewing the amusing little incident.
she wondered idly where he was 1t
was years since they had met. but she
unconsciously carried his image in her
heart.
In rough dugUut. amid the ruins of
II hamlet in France, a bronzed giant of
"A man was untying a bundle which had
lust been given TO him. AS he unfolded
the sweater. something sharp prickcd
his hand. As he drew out the offending
pin slip of paper dropped onto the
floor.
Barbara Smith, Lexington he
read aloud. Then he added. musingly.
That name seems familiar AS he
searched his memory more thoroughly
/ he laughed. why. that was the name
of the bashful little girl who SO haught-
! ily refused my company to "A party
when We we're in high school But, of
/ course. this cant be she. She was al
/ ways too proper 10 do a stunt of this
| sort Merely n coincidence, I suppose.
| 80 doubt. this is from some romantic
/ youngSter OF eighteen. who expects some
| young fellow to write to her" As he
/ glanced at his gray hair in the mirror he
| grnned impishly at it. 81 will write to
! her anyway. She'll never know the
| difference, and letters from some one
me.
| So the strange correspondence started
| for some reason or other. Frank signed
! his middle nam" To his first letter. Bar
! hara, after the shock Of receiving a
| letter from a perfectly strange man
/ and after "A battle with her stern bring
| ing-up. reclleSSly answered II, and all
! the others which came after it.
| Then came the wonderful day when
| hostilitics ceased and transports turned
| homeward, bearing their precious ear
| goes
| Barbara, who had been watching tn,
ppstman in vain for three weeks, was
! startled to soc soldier. leaning on a
| cane, walking up the front path
She opened the door. and seeing who
her visitor was, omitted Il little shriek
Of surprise.
/ We'll, Miss Prim," came in mocking
tones. you might at least ask a friend
. in. II would he just as proper as "a
invite correspondence from n strangt
man." he added with a twinkle.
And in the weeks that followed it il
sufficient to say that Romance nov
turned penitent for her fragrant neglect
certainly made up for lost time.
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