The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-02-07
SURPRISE FOR BOTH
BY EVA Il. MARTIN.

1utTc,i now Suiu RuOuc S.s ~ .
finished. and I'm glad. for 1t certainly
has been hard job, but 1t looks good,
I'm proud Of 1t, and I'm going to spend
all my spare time knitting for the SOL
diers. They have hard jobs. too, at
times. And when l stop to think OF
what they are doing for US. II makes
me ashamed of myself for calling this
q hard job. But it's the first knitting
l ever did. And mother says, after
have finished two or three Ill be an
expert. i wonder II ever will; for
when l look closely at this sweater
can see two drop stitches.
"Oh, dear me! guess Ill have to
rip this oil out again, and pick them
up, and they are fully four inches
back.
"Say, Mabel, what would you do?"
IF 1t were mine," said her sister, look
ing up for the first time during the
conversation, from the sock she was
about to finish, "Td simply darn that
place, and let 1t go at that. The SOL
der who Is lucky enough to get II
won't mind q little thing like that.
And IL he does notice 1t he Will Won
der who took the pains to mend 1t so
neatly, and possibly try to learn who
she is, and what she looks like"
"Well, to save him the trouble I'm
going to write my name and address
on a slip of paper and tuck 1t inside
somewhere"
Better still, put one of your little
pictures in it, Just for fun"
"No, wouldn't like to do that. Some
fellow from around here might get
1t, and think me a fine little goose"
"Oh, 60 on" teased Mabel, at might
prove romantic, and Pm sure none OF
the boys who know us will ever get
1t. But wouldn't II be fun II brother
Bill were to get II himself? He GER.
tainly would think you had got to
be some knitter' since he went to
camp"
After much argument the photo
graph was chosen and tucked away in
little corner provided for the pur.
pose, and the sweater, together with
Mabers socks, returned to the local
branch Of the American Red Cross,
where 1t was packed in box, with
many other comforts for the boys who
were to remain In Western camp for
the winter.
In due time the consignment reached
camp, and each soldier received com
fort kit, in which were many useful
and necessary articles.
One evening few weeks later al
BIZ s. sat writing letters. he was sur.
prised to see his old college chum. jim
W., reading newspaper at the Other
end Of the room, as he had heard jim
was In France months ago.
Hello, there Jim, old man, how are
you? Thought you were chasing the
Huns back to Berlin long ago."
"No, had hoped to be doing that
but our company has not gone across
yet We have been transferred here
and can't say / like the change, 70,
II is cold. think would have frozer
stiff. only for this sweater got frou
the Red Cross-fits like a glove; anc
see what found tucked In the corner
Really. you'll think I've. gone crazy
when tell you I'm In love with her
I dream Of her, take this little picture
out ten times day and look at Il ant
wonder II Til ever have the good iuci
to meet her. Why. what's up, Bill.
You look as though you recognized
her"
But Bill only answered: 'She',
pretty. and I'm glad you like her
Hope she approves OF you when yoy
meet. must get ready and finish my
letters. Tn going home on furlougk
for eight days, starting tomorrow.
wish you could arrange II and come
along with me. I've a little surprise
planned for you"
whats the surprise7 No, you won't
tell me? All right; I guess it's some
thing like the pranks you used to put
over on the old professor. Ha. ha !"
Two days later Bill and his friend
Lieutenant W., arrived at the S. home
and were welcomed by Mrs. S., who
said the girls were out, but would soop
be back. Just then the doorbell rang
and two bright young ladies rushed ip
and almost smothered Bill with EN-.
braces.
There. there, girls Hold off min
ute until present my old chum, Jim
W." Then came the surprise. Jim at
once recognized Rhoda as the girl OF
his dreams and darted some accusing
glnnces at Bill, who was enjoying the
Joke to perfection.
Say. what did tell you. Jim! Some
surprise. eh?"
The girls wanted to know what Bill
meant by the surprise" and Jim ex.
plained II by saying II was some Of
their silly college tricks he was refer.
ring to. But when he knew Rhoda
better and had an opportunity to
speak with her alone, he took from the
corner OF u certain brown sweater
with q neat little mend In II the pic.
ture he had shown Bill. and told her
the whole story. and more. tool Then
was Rhoda surprised also. and very
happy. and she promised Jim she
would continue TO knit for the soldiers.
but would not put her picture In any