The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-01-02
"A Scrap o Of:
Paper

By CENEyEVE.ULMlR

Roger Melville Was proud e.of ,his
uh0me town as he rsturned ,t0iit after
IAN; absence Of year. He,;had been
abroad on business---the business of
demolishing aut0cr1Sy and full well
hadshe done: his duty. iRlaced at once
in active service. a ,.bit .of. !shrap9el
had lodged in his ,,ehest. E1actng: htIn
-on the hospitaillSt fora radnth :. Near
fVerdun. months .later, 20. rifle: bell had
snenetFatsd one lk::..:: &: They :ipyalid&S
shim Their, 1or it 'woufh .te. a; long time
sbefore. he could walk without limping.
He limped now and progressed slow
ly. as he left the train, arriving at Gin
tton. five hours after the glorious news
of victory and peace had reached the
little hamlet. At any s0ther time he
might have become the center OF lat
traction, for he had many friends
in the town and reports of his bravery
and medal award at the front had been
duly noted in the local newspaper.
Just now, however, the, place had gone
wild.
There was a reason for this. Just
before going into the service his love
for a certain young lady in the village,
named Wanda Bond, had inspired him
with mighty hope and longing. On the
eve Of making his declaration, with Or
.ders for departure to service pend
ing, he was told by friend that Miss
Bond had become engaged to Ellis
Thurston. An overheard reiteEation
of the Information on the part of
Thurston completely drove Roger
from the field as rival. He was
glad to get away from the scene where
his fondest hopes had been so rudely
blasted. He had not heard from Wan
da since. Now, returned, he could not
repress the old interest and love in a
girl who was the one and only ideal of
his dreams.
'Is it an omenT abruptly Roger Ques-
toned himself, and drew back into q
sheltering doorway. Coming down the
street in an automobile was the man
who had robbed him of his love-Ellis
Thurston. The latter was flushed and
riotous Of manner and voice. He was
showering confetti on the crowds and
uttering jubilant yells, the sham pa.
triot he had ever been, for he had tax
en- an advantage of a technieality to
evade going into war service.
Clinton was soon ablaze with enthu-
siasm, copying metropolitan manners
celebrant on a minor scale. Whistles
shrieked, bells jlngled, automobiles
dashed along with strings Of tin cans
trailing behind. From Office windows
great masses of torn-up paper were
cast adrift, filling the air and littering
the street, and all the time, cooped up
at home, just eonvalescing from an at.
tack Of the measles and therefore un-
able to join the rowing groups down.
town. little Mile and Esther, nieces OF
Wanda Bond, set about having a jubi.
latiOn of their own on homemade
scale, but destined to solve the fate OF
two loving hearts that otherwise might
have drifted apart forever.
Left alone with servant they
trimmed the porch with flags and bunt
Ing. They We're forbidden to leave thu
yard, but fully enjoyed the infection
Of patriotic duty. A sight Of whirling
scraps of paper down the street sug
gested an idea. Chi" exclaimed Es
Their, why can't we make a snow
storm, tool"
''We can, we must" acquiesced Mil
lie excitedly, and very soon they had
gathered up all the old newspapers in
the house, got up on the fence posts
and shouted with glee as the brisl
breeze added their quota to the litter
that mottled the roadways.
II know where there's heap Of ole
paper" declared Mile, as their initial
supply was exhausted.
''Where-where," demanded hel
partner in mischief eagerly.
"In the attic. Aunt Wanda put 8
box Of stuff from her desk up there
yesterday" and thus it was in theil
needless glee the two exiles from the
public celebration made up for the
deprivation by recklessly scattering tt
the winds the contents of a waste
basket speedily pounced upon.
Roger Melville had meantime felt al
irresistible impulse to stroll past thu
house Of his beloved one. Twice h,
was buffeted with the sheets and par
ticles of paper sent adrift by reckless.
hands. An open four-page lettel
caught against his coat His eye fall
ing upon it, he looked with interest a
letter addressed to Dear Frient
Wanda" and it was signed by Estell,
Mason, her closest friend.
1t was of recent date and palpabl.
one Of regular correspondence. Hi
eyes glowed as he perused it. AL
thoughts of the propriety of readin,
the letter were as naught for the mo
ment, as his thirsting soul drank In !.
rapture complete.
II am glad you have given ELI
Thurston his quietus,' it read. 'Be
tween Stacker and hero there i
no choice. Why don't you forget maid
emily modesty and all that, and chez
up the man you love, fighting for hi
native country and very likely think
ing of you rs constantly as you Of him
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