The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-09-23

coat with the chevrons all sewed in
place. He had looked wistful and lone
ly and as If he would as soon have re-
NAMED In the big hospital as not.
Perhaps. thought Agnes. he had no
one to go to; no one who could give
him the nourishing food. the tender
care, the CHEEKY companionship that
he needed after the long Illness he had
passed through since leaving France
and the battlefields. He had been
in the pneumonia ward and had been
conyalescing too slowly to suit the
nurses who were caring for him But
his time had come to leave and he had
gone. Agnes had hated to see him
leave.
"Are you Miss AgnesT a voice ask
ed at her elbow.
She looked up into the face of an.
other guide who held card. TYes-
Agnes Hope"
There is young man outside who
would like to speak with you for a mo-
ment. This is his card" the guide
said. handing Agnes the slip of paper.
The girl was entirely new In the hos
pital and did not recognize the soldier
outside as the patient who had been
so long In the hospital.
Agnes went at once TO the reception
room, where she found Sergt. Harold
Moore waiting for her, his cap In his
hand.
She shook hands with him warmly
"How do you do? / was wondering
about you even as I got your card
wondering if you were getting strong
err" she hastened to add, while faint
pink stained her cheeks.
at was good of you to think of me-
when you have so many patients to
wait on" he said, simply.
There was a pause of an instant
when neither seemed to know Just
what to say.
Harold hesitated; then he put his
hand on the emblem Agnes had sewn
on the shoulder of his overcoat. Il
It seems that this should have been
put on at "a As degree angle, and"
$50 it should" interrupted Agnes,
laughing. II made the mistake, sup
pose. having so much to do"
II haven't any one to TX 1t for me.
here in the East and-and-"
"And so you brought 1t back to the
ever ready Red Cross, eh? Agnes
helped him out
u took the liberty Of bringing it
back to-you," he corrected.
"And I'll change it as soon as l fin.
ish the one I'm sewing on now. Come
with me-"
Harold followed her and was soon
standing beside her while she ripped
out her former stitching and was
readJusting his division chevron. His
service stripes and his one wound
stripe remained as she had placed
them on his sleeves.
While she sewed, he told her of how
his mother had died while he was in
the service, OF how she had been all
he had in the world and of how lonely
1t seemed to him to be returning home,
to the old Office, the old circle of neigh
bors, the old life-without her.
Must you return?" Agnes asked
"Yes-my business, the business my
father left me, is there. But l am re-
naming in New York for a week or SO
until-until-"
Until you are stronger perhaps?'
Agnes asked And feel more nearly
able to take that long inland tripT'
Sergeant Moore nodded, but not con
vincingly. That's part of it," he adj
mitted.
Agnes looked down at her sewing.
And the restT she asked.
IL wanted to see if perhaps l
might not come TO know you better.
This mistake in the angle Of the en-
blem furnished me with what / inter
preted as a providential excuse. Am
] ungrateful?"
"Why-no." Agnes said, quickly.