The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-01-23


Il was thinking bow VERY far u
sesfas from ffNm Aiosg. Paul
"will you write Ia me. Mariar
Mara nodded She had blushe,i. shy
knew not Why
And that night. while Mara'S tNyo
brothers were cut trying 10 supple
inenf their soriety boarding house dir
ner by means az food purchased q, a
bakery, Maria, quite untrue 10 the
bringing ~ ~ proper Belgian girl,
sat on the steps 81 big London stone
house and talked for an hour with 4
young man.
In that stone house Maria learned
much and Paul felt much tina, he hed
hoped he would not be compelled TO
feel. knowing that he must 90 far
away.
zone day you viii come 10 America.
Maring' he half asked. half stated
ooh. the war will be over and you
viii come home. Paul"
Paul shook his head lie had talk.
ed with many wise man since coming
TO England. and he knew that the
war would not soon be over.
He pulled of his signet ring--a big,
rather clumsy old gold circlet-and
gave II 10 Maria. "Would you like
TO keep fhis--until | do come homer
III you will keep this" Maria said.
hu. htt,a har ri ha rally
went over the knuckle OF his smallest
finger.
That was all. Paul sailed for Amer
lea next day Maria went down to the
south OF England to live with some
family friends In Bournemouth.
Often the little Belgian refugee sat
and wound the big signet ring round
and round on her slender finger and
thought Of Paul in far-oK America
America now nj war with the common
enemy--and she wondered when she
would see him again. She thought OF
her treasure box back In the dust pit
In Alost She was sentimental.
One day she had letter from her
father. He had ventured to return to
Belgium from Holland, whence he and
his wife had fled He had visited the
wreck OF their old home and had found |
IL In unspeakable condition. Curiosity |
or fate had prompted him to look in
the dust pit from which spot he had |
had such difficulty in moving his daugh-
ter nearly two years ago.
Il found your silly little box Of with
cred rose leaves and your school hook
with the name of Paul Nys written all
over it, Maria" he wrote her, Leon
tells me you are corresponding with
him in America. What does II mean?1
This was the part Of the letter that
most interested Maria. She regretted
the irreverent handling of her treas
ures, but she had now n more tangible
romance to make her happy She was
now really betrothed TO Paul and the
gold signet ring was the seal.
She was determined to 90 10 Paul
IN America and she wrote her father.
W illi ii nv WV hiitN Sitc
possessed, Maria got the consent of her
arranged for her transport.
md In time sailed for New York.
She was met AZ the boat by the same
lrm Of gentlemen who had taken care
" Paul and was welcomed into the
home of the junior partner to stay I'M
II paul could come from Philadelphia
md make proper arrangements for
heir marriage. II had been two years
since she had seen him.
The change of climate had made
PAUL strong, and Maria hardly knew
lin when at last he arrived.
With the help Of their new.found
riends they made plans for their wed.
ling in The tiny Belgian chapel In New
'orlS city.
IFS 50 stITnge-w when | think Of
ny sisters hig weddings AZ home"
aid Maria. ms she turned over her we'd
Ing ring.
'Bntl hope you'll be just rs happy
ear. as II my family was all here TO
tcicome yGu into IT," said Paul, kiss.
~ his bride.