Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-01-29
SURPRISE FOR BOTH
BY EVA n. MARTIN.

has been a hard job, but it looks good
I'm proud of it, and I'm going TO spend
all my spare time knitting for the sol
diers. They have hard jobs, too. at
times. And when 1 stop to think of
what they are doing for us, it makes
me ashamed of myself for calling this
hard job. But it's the first knitting
I ever did. And mother says, after ]
have finished two or three I'll be an
expert. 1 wonder if 1 ever will; for
when 1 look closely at this sweater
can see two drop stitches.
"Oh, dear me! l guess I'll have to
rip this all out again, and pick them
up, and they are fully four inches
back.
"Say, Mabel, what would you do?"
eff it were mine," said her sister, look
ing up for the first time during the
conversation, from the sock she was
about to finish, I'D simply darn that
place, and let it go at that. The sol
der who is lucky enough to get it
won't mind a little thing like that.
And if he does notice it he will Won
der who took the pains to mend it so
neatly, and possibly try to learn who
she is, and what she looks like"
swell, to save him the trouble I'm
going to write my name and address
on slip of paper and tuck it inside
somewhere"
Better still, put one of your little
pictures in it, just for fun"
mo, wouldn't like to do that. Some
fellow from around here might get
it, and think me a fine little goose"
ooh, go on" leased Mabel, sit might
prove romantic, and I'm sure none of
the boys who know us will ever get
it. But wouldn't it be fun if brother
Bill were to get 1T himself? He GER
tainly would think you had gor to
be some knitter' since he went to
camp"
After much argument the photo
graph was chosen and tucked away in
a little corner provided for the pur-
pose, and the sweater, together with
MabePS socks, returned to the local
branch of the American Red Cross,
where 1t was packed in box, with
many other comforts for the boys who
were to remain in Western camp for
the winter.
In due time the consignment reached
camp, and each soldier received COM
fort kit, in which were many useful
and necessary articles.
One evening a few weeks later as
Bill S. sat writing letters, he was sur
prised to see his old college chum, Jim
W., reading newspaper at the other
end of the room, as he had heard Jim
was in France months ago.
"Hello, there Jim, old man, how are
you? Thought you were chasing the
Huns back to Berlin long ago"
"No, I had hoped to be doing that,
but our company has not gone across
yet. We have been transferred here,
and can't say / like the change, for
it is cold. I think / would have frozen
stiff, only for this sweater 1 got from
the Red Cross-fits like glove; and
see what found tucked in the corner
Really, you'll think I've gone crazy
when I tell you I'm in love with her.
1 dream of her, take this little picture
out ten times day and look at it and
wonder if I'll ever have the good luck
to meet her. Why, what's up, Bill7
You look as though you recognized
her,
But Bill only answered.: "She's
pretty, and Pm glad you like her.
Hope she approves of you when you
meet. 1 must get ready and finish my
letters. I'm going home on furlough
for eight days, starting tomorrow. I
wish you could arrange it and come
along with me. I've little surprise
planned for you"
whats the surprise? No, you won't
tell me? All right; I guess it's some
thing like the pranks you used to put
over on the old professor. Ha, hap
Two days later Bill and his friend,
Lieutenant w., arrived at the S. home
and were welcomed by Mrs. S., who
said the girls were out, but would soon
be back. Just then the doorbell rang
and two bright young ladies rushed in
and almost smothered Bill with en-
braces.
"There, there, girls Hold off min
ute until 1 present my old chum, Jim
w." Then came the surprise. Jim at
once recognized Rhoda as the girl of
his dreams and darted some accusing
glances at Bill, who was enjoying the
joke to perfection.
'Say, what did tell you, Jim Some
surprise, eh?"
The girls wanted toiknow what Bill
meant by the surprise" and Jim ex-
planned it by saying it was some of
their silly college tricks he was refer
ring to. But when he knew Rhoda
better and had an opportunity to
speak with her alone, he took from the
corner of certain brown sweater
with a neat little mend in it the pic
ture he had shown Bill, and told her
the whole story, and more, too! Then
was Rhoda surprised also, and very
happy, and she promised Jim she
would continue to knit for the soldiers,