The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-02-07

seems from-frOm AlOSt, Paul.
"Will you write to me- Maria|
Maria nodded She had blushed, she
knew not why.
And that night, while Maria's two
brothers We're out trying to supple
ment their society boarding house din.
ner by means Of food purchased at
bakery, Maria, quite untrue to the
bringing up of n proper Belgian girl,
sat on the steps Of a big London stone
house and talked for an hour with
young man.
In that, stone house Maria learned
much and Paul felt much that he had
hoped he would not be compelled to
feel, knowing that he must go far
away.
zone day you will come to America,
Marian he half asked, half stated.
"Oh, the war will be over and you
will come home, Paul"
Paul shook his head. He had talk
ed with many a wise man since coming
to England, and he knew that the
war would not soon be over.
He pulled off his signet ring-a big,
rather clumsy old gold circlet-and
gave 1t to Maria. "WOuld you like
to keep this-until I do come homer
"If you will keep this" Maria said,
handing him her tiny ring. 1t barely
went over the knuckle Of his smallest
finger.
That was oil. 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 slgnet ring round
and round on her slender finger and
thought of Paul in far-off America
America now at 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
it 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.
81 found your silly little box Of with
cred rose leaves and your school book
with the name Of Paul Nys written all
over it, Maria" he wrote her. 'Leor
tells me You are corresponding wifi
him in America. What does ii meanT
This was the part of the letter that
most interested MNria. She regretted
the irrevercnt handling Of her treas
urcs, but she had ~ n'"r" f'ngh''
| romonce to make b,.' -.. She wn'
now really hCtr"' md TN
gold Signet rim"
She was detrr" Pom
IN America md @ ... f1'h' r
| With determi0a'' .H" new sn
possessed, Maria got tN consent of he
parents, arranged for h"r transport
and in time sailed for New York.
She was met at the boat by the sam
l
of Paul and was welcomed into tn
home of the junior partner to stay IN
| til Paul could come from Philadelphia
and make proper arrangements 70
their marriage. 1t had been two year
since she had seen him.
The change of climate had mad
. Paul strong, and Maria hardly kney
. him when at last he arrived.
With the help of their new-foun
. | friends they made plans for their wed
ding in the tiny Belgian chapel In NcN
York city.
ITS SO Strange-when l think G
my sisters big weddings at home.
said Maria, as she turned over her wee
ding ring.
"But-I hope you'll be just as happ!
dear, as if my family was all here I
welcome You into it," said Paul, kls
ing his bride.