Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-05-09
HER PRIVATE
BY ESTHER r. HARRINGTON.

the ticket window with frOwn on her
usually sunny face. mo Pullman
seats-and a tive-hour ride" she sigh
cd rs she directed her steps toward
the waiting train. Its uresome
enough riding, but to be in an ordinary
day coach, probably SO crowded that
Iii have to sit beside Il lady with two
wailinS youngsters but here she
broke off her reflections to smile at
this alarming situation.
Fortunately, she was early enough
to secure seat by herself. The train
filled up rapidly and ut the last minute
people were hurriedly looking for
seats, slowing away baggage and re-
moving wraps.
Lima slipped out of her heavy coat,
procured Il current magazine from the
suitcase ut her feet and was settling
herself to read when n pleasant mas
culine voice inquired, as this seat
taken" Edna glanced up into the
tanned face of soldier. evidently
recent arrival from across the water.
Upon Edna'S statement in the mega
tive, the young man started to place
his grip in the rack above. Edna no.
ticed his face suddenly whiten and
look OF pain pass across it. replaced
Immediately by Il grin. rs the grip fell
into place.
II guess you must have been a lit
tie too close to Fritzie at some time or
other?' she ventured, smiling at her
companion.
The soldier turned with look of
surprise, and then apparently compre-
hending-"Oh. did look hurt?" Then,
with an amused grin, "No. Fritz didn't
do it--i,st bump"
But" persisted the girl, "you have
been scrapping with him. haven't
your
Rather" grimly replied the soldier
lad. I'll say so ut any rate. Why.
back in July, when and he started
in to relate an adventure bringing him
within close range of the barbarOus
Hun. The girl at his side was en-
crossed at once.
Many questions asked by Edna
brought forth intelligent stories until
finally the soldier exclaimed: "Why,
I'll talk YOU to pieces, I'm afraid. But
you see, you are the very first person
that I've had a chance to sit down and
! talk with since l reached this side
of the water, and 1t just seems as if
must get some Of it out of me-"
II don't believe you could bore me
ut all. Why, just think, we have been
riding nearly three hours and it
doesn't seem three minutes. But you
haven't told how or why you obtained
the wound stripe on your sleeve. Did
you get bullet in your arm?"
mo, Mr.. Boche gave me taste Of a
bullet in my leg which laid me up for
a while, but the fact that my arm
hurts-well, really, really now, I'm not
bit proud Of that bump. Why,
could have fallen out Of our grocer's
truck right ut home and broken my
arm, but to continue; after recovering
from my wound l was one day riding
along in a mOtOrtruck, sitting at the
rear with my feet lacked up in front
Of me. Suddenly the car went over
good-siZed stone anu Twas thrown out.
Striking on sharp rock caused the
though it's pretty well fixed up now,
once in while I twist it so that 1t
bothers q bit. Now that isn't half as
heroic as-why, gracious, girl, what
are you looking at me like that for?"
WHY know who you are. You're
Private Paul Crane-aren't your
That's me, all right"
you are the soldier who received
my Christmas package and letter sent
through the Red Cross in 1917, and
we've been corresponding ever since.
For positive proof can quote your
last letter: I'm writing this with my
left hand, as fell from the rear Of a
mOtOrtruck and broke my right arm.
This is too much like work, so don't
worry If you fail to receive/a letter
from me for little while One or
two of your other stories sounded very
familiar, but couldn't exactly place
them" -.-
"And you're Edna Sheridanw ex-
claimed the soldier, almost too sur
prised to speak.
Suddenly, without warning, both
young people began to laugh, as If it
were huge joke.
"What-what are you laughing atT
gasped Edna, tears standing in her
twinkling eyes.
Paul composed himself long enough
to Say: "Now that think of IT, be-
cause In your last letter you refused
to accept my invitation to let me Gull
on you when I returned, and here am
sitting right beside you. Do you still
stand by your statement"
Soberly Edna said: ITO. tell you the
truth. after I wrote that letter was
sorry, because when found out where
Won lived I write To NV auntla In the