South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-12
Her Service Pin
By Hilda Morris

Ii was one Of those dismal rainy
days when life itself seems sadder.
Mary Belle, walking down the
dingy street in one Of whose dingier
houes she had "a furnished room.
was wishing that it were not wicked
TO wish oneself dead. Not that
wishing so could accomplish the
fact, any more than wishing for air
and sunshine and pretty rooms with
freight. and chintz, and pictures.
could choke back the big lonely
lump that persisted in filling her
throat, she might just as well wish
for something pleasant. Why she
might just as well be wishing for a
beau" such as the other girls in
the office boasted soldier beau.
Mary Belle was the only girl in the
office without one, the only girl
who knit her socks and sweaters
for the Red Cross and not for
Someone Very Particular" That
was one thing that made her think
of wishing to be dead All the other
girls were going out to the movies
with boys on leave" or else they
were going home to write long let
ters and make fudge and things to
send to camp. Thinking of the
lonely evening that awaited her,
Mary Belle shuddered. Solitary
confinement in tiny hall bedrooms
is really something to make one
shudder.
But a girl like Mary Belle with
curly hair and dimples and a mouth
/ that turned up at the corners. nor
mally, was never intended by fate
/ TO be so very unhappy 1t was time
/ for fate TO do something about il,
so right there she stepped in and
made something happen. It was not
a very big happening, but it was
destined TO have far consequences.
Looking down at the muddy side
walk Mary Belle suddenly saw some
thing that shone. She stopped over
and picked mp a little silver pin,
white enameled. with a blue border
and a red star. Somebody's service
pin. Mary Belle fingered it with a
wistful interest. There was no pos
sible way for her 10 find the owner.
she might as well keep it. Not that
it would do her any good. of course.
She fastened il TO the lapel of her
plain little coat.
Once arrived in her room Mary
Belle looked at herself in the mir
ror for company. She didn't look
like very good company. 10 be sure,
she was nearly in tears, but she
looked rather interesting. And fast
ened 10 the lapel OF her coat was the
service pin. just as il il belonged
/ there. Surprising il really did be-
long there! pposing-Mary Belle
went off into long dream OF de
! lightful imaginings about uniforms
and broad shoulders and square
jaws and all the other attributes
that she associated with soldiers.
/ Before she went to bed she sad a
very complete mental picture of the
man who belonged to that service
pin. and-she slept with il under
/ her pillow.
SO it was only natural that Mary
Belle should wear the pin 10 work
next morning.
Mary Dunn. at the next desk. saw
| il first. She shook her finger play
1 tullN IN Mary Belle FACE.
"You little mouse. youi" she said.
( Here you've fooled Us all this time
pretending not 10 know anyone in
! the army. What's his name?"
Mary Belle blushed.
! "He-isn't in the army" she said
hes in the navy"
It really required only very
small mental feat to make the men
J of her imaginings wear "a different
uniform.
We'll what's his nance
j But Mary Belle shook her head
mystefiously and went back TO her
/ tyPIng.
: After hat il was the easiest thing
/ in the world just 10 keep right on
pretending All the other girls
were SO friendly and interested. and
IL was so delightful 10 think that
7 perhaps her sailor was really i'm the
world somewhere. waiting for her.
that Mary Belle began to feel happy.
Before she had felt lonely but now
there was shadowy presence TO
keep her company. Happiness. even
when il Is founded on IMAGINATION.
may work wonders Mary Bellies
blue eyes began 20 look brighter
and the mouth which was meant to
turn up at the corners did SO all
the time, and showed her dimples
me girls in the Office began 10 say
nice things 10 her about her looks
and one OF them showed her "A fas-
cinating pew way TO arrange her
hair The sailor vould have h.a,,