The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-05-23
HER PRIVATE
~ ESTHER (. HARRINGTON.

enough riding, but to be In an Ordinar,
day coach. probably so crowded tina,
Ill have to sit beside q lady with two
waIling youngsters" but here she
broke Oft her reflections to smile al
this alarming situation.
Fortunately, she was early enough
10 secure a seat by herself. The train
nlled up rapidly and at the last minute
people were hurriedly looking for
seats, slowing away baggage and re.
moving wraps.
Hdna slipped out of her heavy coat.
procured 4 current magazine from the
suitcase at her feet and was settling
herself to read when q pleasant mas
culine voice inquired, lis this seat
taken7" EDNA glanced up into the
tanned face Of a soldier, evidently a
recent arrival from across the water.
Upon Hdna'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 a
look Of pain pass across 1t, replaced
Immediately by q grin. as the grip fell
into place.
II guess you must have been a lit
tie too close to Fritzie at some time or
other?" she ventuBed, smiling at her
companion.
The soldier turned with a look OF
surprise, and her apparently compre-
hendlng-'Oh. did l look hurt?" Then,
with an amused grin. mo, Fritz didn't
do it-just q bump"
"But." persisted the girl. "you have
been scrapping with him, haven't
your"
Rather" grimly replied the soldier
lad. "T1l say SO at 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 irst person
that I've had 4 chance to sit down and
talk with since I reached this side
Of the water. and It just seems as II !
must get some Of It out Of me-"
Il don't believe you could bore me
at all. Why. just think. we have been
riding nearly three hours and 1t
doesn't seem three minutes. But you
haven't told how or why you obtained
the wound stripe on your sleeve. Did
you get Z bullet In your arm2"
mo. Mr.. B0che gave me q taste OF a
bullet In my leg which laid me up for
Z while, but the fact that my arm
hurts-well. really, really now. I'm not
y 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 I was one day riding
along In q motortruck, sitting at the
rear with my feet lacked up In front
Of me. Suddenly the car went over a
xood-slzed stone and I was thrown out.
Striking on 4 sharp rock caused the
fracture OF my right arm And al
though it's pretty well fixed up now,
once In q while I twist it so that It
bOthers d bit. Now. that isn't half, as
heroic as-why. gracious, girl, what
are you looking 1t me like that fort"
.Why-I 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 l can quote your
last letter: TIM writing this with my
lett hand, - I fell from the rear Of Z
motortruck and broke my right RIM
This u too much like work. 20 DOM
worry II you fail to receive = letter
from me Tor 4 little WHILE One Of
two Of your other stories sounded verJ
fa4iliar. but ] couldn't exactly place
them"
and you're Edna Sheridanl" *
claimed the soldier. almost too sur
prised 70 speak.
Suddenly. without warning. both
young people began to laugh. - Il Il
were ! huge joke.
NWhat-what II y0u laughing atT
/ enapod Ddna. tears standing In bel
tW1nkling eyes.
Paul composed himself long enough
60 NY: .Now that I think Of It, be
cause IN your last letter you refused
to accept my invitation to let me cal
a you when I returned. and here ! N
sitting right beside you. Do you still
stand ~ your Statementr'
0ober1y Edna said: 10 tell you tn
truth. after I wrote that letter ! va
soxry. because when ! found out wher'
you ilpod.I write % my auntie IN tn
oamD toyrn, where I am On my way +
ytnftsoew; and che said she knew you
M1nIrsrery veil and had seen : pic
ture q you, Which-oh, well. shs sal
your picture certainly looked well O
~ plano, and that you weren't an
over forty anyway" And her big eye
twinkied gayly.
~ Mn. George Sheridan your aunt
n -. I guess I'll have to come owe
MEHE 4 4A II AMe = = aaA X 49, - -