The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-12
BY IZOLA FORESTER.

Miss Dalton, any one named Lemaire
on your phone list ?'
Its about eight months ago since
heard from her." the sergeant ex-
planned. feeling his collar growing
tighter.
The clerk tipped back the pages of
the registry and ran down the list of
names.
There were the girls on the over
seas committee last summer" sdg
gested the girl at the switchboard. Il
think Miss Allen has their names still.
Was she tall and brunette %
The sergeant flushed at this warm
1y. How the devil did he know what
she looked like. He answered warily
that he had not seen her in some time
And all the while there was the leather
cigaret case in his inner pocket and
the little slip of paper inside. just as
it had been handed to him when they
brought him in on a stretcher, and he
had been without food or smokes for
forty-eight hours.
Here's hoping these may give you
comfort in tight hour. If you come
back. won't you please find me?-
Marie Lemaire."
That was all excepting the address
And he had been SO almighty glad
when they had given him the decora-
ton. He thought perhaps since there
was nobody else she might be glad to
lake III eAcndnSe the SMOKES
He heard the desk clerk speaking,
and took the slip of paper she handed
him. 1t was an address uptown
I'VE find that Miss Lemaire was the
cloakroom girl she told him. AFTER
ward she went into Red Cross work
and I think was sent over in August,
but that address will find her now"
The sergeant took a bus to Fifty
eighth street and went west to the row
of red brick apartment houses. He
20 -4+afr
the hunt. At least she wasn't any
highbrow who would feel hurt that
she had not picked a hero or a colo
mel He thought the matter over, and
stopped at the corner, for a bunch of
violets, just to help matters along.
Then he found his way up to the fifth
floor and rang the bell at No. s.
About three back rooms, he decided
at first glance when the door swung
wide to admit him. In the sunny liv-
but it was most attractive One long,
dark-oak table, two deep mission
chairs, the couch and bookcase. These
and the row of upspringing jonquils
Fa1ong the windowsills and the black
cat asleep on the yellow cushions of
the couch. Yes, and it made him
think of France, the delicate little
white haired lady. who opened the
door for him and the girl in the long
brown art blouse who modelled clay
4 seek for Mile. Lemaire," he said
in French, his very best. and he
drew forth the pouch proudly 81
have come to thank her for her gift
He bowed to the young girl but she
smiled and shook her head quickly
Il am only Toinette." she told him.
TT is Nine. Lemaire whom you SEEK
Madame took the slip of paper with
deprecating smile, and read the
little message slowly.
"Ah, but this is from Marie" she
explained. From my elder daugh-
ter who went over long ago. She has
married too, a very fine young captain.
am SO sorry
Toinette must have read the look on
the sergeant's face as he turned his
cap over and over in his hands doubt
fully. wasn't the disa ppo:ntment
of not finding her, or of learning that
she had married the French captain
but something far deeper. He ha !.
hoped ct first glance that Toinette was
Marie and had sent the case of cigar
cites which had been their link of ro-
| nance. Now there was no link, and
he felt like an interloper.
IF you're writing to her, just say
I'm very much obliged he said rath-
those cigarettes than anything. just
when they were handed TO me-
ooh. then 1 am glad cried Toin-
cite eagerly. "She wanted to send you
socks, remember, mamma. and 1 said
| no, no; to send the cigarettes. And
| Marie is very. very shy. and never
would she have any romance at all.
| unless somebody sent it to her. So
thought I would find a hero for her,
but she found him herself. after all.'
| The sergeant drew a deep sigh of re
| lief. Madame was smiling at him and
| hurrying to prepare tea. Before he
realized it he found he was at his
journeys end and was occupying the
/ seat of honor at the Demaire table.
and the decoration lay beside Toin-
| cites plate He told them of his long
search for the sender of his gift, and
of his loneliness in New York.
ITS all right to get welcomed back
with whistles and flags, but geei you'd
give anything to have somebody who
belongs to you that really cares that
you're back" he said earnestly. and
| the flush rose in Toinette's cheeks as
/ she assured him they were very, very
glad to see him, and he must make
| their little home his headquarters now,
! if only to let them make up to him
| for the loss of Marie.
| But when Toinette went to the outer
door with him after a long visit Of
hours he spoke to her bluntly.
| after you've lived from day to da.
You don't take any chances on losing
any happiness that may come your
way Miss Toinette, and I want to tell
you right now that if you let me keep
on coming up here, it's at your own
| risk.
,"Oh. but I do not understand.
| please" pleaded ToiEette. laughingly.
as he tried to take her hand.
a'Don't you? That's why I'm ex-
planning to you I'm not a bit sorry
| your sister married the captain, and
I want to know if you'll wear that
decoration for me until I can persuade
you to change it for something else
Otherwise I'll stop coming any more.
please Toinette drew a deep
breath for courage. please, you must
come for luncheon tomorrow. And for
dinner on Sunday you know. IL will
wear the decoration for Marie's sake.
Then you'll wear the other for your
own" promised the sergeant blithely