American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-04-25

Lucinda purled the last row Oh her
seventh sleeveless sweater.
Six of the boys she had grown up
with already had their warm khaki
sweaters somewhere in France" and
this seventh one she would send to
John Watson.
When II was finished, Lucinda put
a suggestion Of sachet 10 the wOolly
folds. II would remind JOhn Of fem
ininity. She felt sure 'he would like
that familiar scent. Also she tucked
In some chocolate and many packages
Of his ~favorite cigarettes.
Her letter was long and gossipy.
Lucinda tried, IN all her letters to the
soldier boys, to give them a touch OF
home; a feeling that they were still
near and lear to her and a part OF the
daily life at home.
IL seemed an unusually long time
before she heard from France. She
supposed Johns regiment had gone
into action. Perhaps that was the de-
lay.
But when word came from the
sweater II was In another handwriting
than hat of John Watson.
Luclnda's fair head dropped for
ward and she shook with terrific sObs.
John was the first Of her seven brave
fighting friends to fall In battle.
When her tears permitted her to
continue the letter she found the con-
tents peculiarly touching.
He, the soldier who had written 1t,
was Johns closest pal. They had stood
side by side In the trenches.
and / wish the shell had taken
me rather than john" the letter ran.
"He had much to live for, while I'm
one of the lonely soldiers you read
about. John has spoken Of you to
me and | know you're the kind Of girl
that would want me to TAKE the sweat
err you made for John. | need II
badly and know he would want me to
have II. The package came just after
John fell. j read the letter and
shared the cigarettes and chocolate
with the rest Of the boys. If you
have a moment for a lonely soldier
please write me as you would have
John"
She wrote back a long letter ant
sent more cigarettes and chocolate al
we'll as wristlets and a helmet. Sh'
made minute inquiry as to any spe
cial requirements he had and thanked
him for the plots he had sent.
While letters and messages wer
crossing the wide ocean Lucinda wrot'
) a story that brought her in the blgges
check she had received from an.
magazine. The vivid bits of life tina
David Mcleod. the seventh soldier
had sent her had added a strong touc
OF reality to her work. =,
She wrote him OF the success OF th
story and told him that she was put
T" ting half the check In a little AMI
when you come over to Americ
o after the war" she wrote, 1--WE wi
spend all your half OF the check mai
& ing you forget the tragedy of war.
am spending mine all on soldiers-d'
y ing just the little things that | can.
Q Lucinda and David continued the
q strange correspondence and foun
much pleasure In 1t. Her stories In
: proved wonderfully and the sma
. bank for the returning soldier becam
bulgy with checks.
But the day came when Luclnd
waited In vain for an answer to h,
letters.
After long days Of depression, whe
she had quite given up hope tn
David was one OF the living heroes, 81
had a letter from II hospital In Franc
s"They almost got me-" he wrot
W 'but I'm pulling through like a tea
of American mules. Guess Il. tax,
more than II bunch of Boches TO k
IT this globe trotter. I'm coming ov
to your country when my wounds n
10 sufficiently healed to let me travel"
a Lucinda put down her head aga
Is and cried. The tears were happy al
~ might have sent tiny flowers sprin
D. Ing up had they fallen on earthly go
,n dens.
he Her stories were decidedly happl
., now-the endings more complete.
y. the little bank a considerable 81
awaited David. Lucinda realized tn
II would take a lot Of going to speI
RS all that ON making David forget.
us t1t huu NulN htE W itVh " a VI
,ir legged man when II came near til
for his arrival, and when he stood o'
CO side her studio door Lucinda gasp
IA with joy Mt his nearness. David h
told her the exact date. His crutch
for the second tore at her heart, for
meant that he had suffered and II
fered dreadtully.
!. "Here. here" he said brusque
wanting to hide his emotions. "Tm
soldier with Il grand medal-not
baby doll" This was when Lucin
- iuttered about doing the thousand a
one things an ultra-feminine won
must do for a soldier who has foug
She blushed holly but continued.
In Davld's eyes she read the huns
for mothering and home. She felt
stinctlvely that her seventh sold
needed her more than any of the o
ers, In fact, Lucinda felt many THU
among them that her own need