The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1920-03-12
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"a
to take pride in keeping the hut and all
stood for, up to the mark. N
And from that time. ii was but step 70
living interest i'm the men for whom tne "or
was done. She was very good TO look Az ah
when she smiled. any man was proud an
pleased to be noticed by her. SO, graduaTI
she began to win their confidence, and 10 "
ready to help and ADVISE them on all sorts q
subjects.
Mrs Legertwood looking on was surprise
at first: but always glad, and there was u
jealousy i'm her heart, when she saw how TN /
Younger woman, opening out the stores oil syn
pathy she had never really drawn upon I'll nov
became magnet drawing lonely hearts TO he
1t was in its way a lovely thing to watch. an !
llilda's face soon began to show the sign any
seal of her awakening. I
AS the months rolled by a certain wlstfulnesI
began TO creep into her eyes, for she had n
news of Gilbert. He had ceased to write lei
terS; she was not even aware whether his bal
TALON had been sent to any of the tightln
fronts. Out of her love and sympathy Tor tn
boys there began TO grow an entirely new an
strange tenderness towards the one boy WHOM
in his own language she had turned dowIfv
for his too literal obedience to the CALI
Your King and Country need YOU
Time passes quickly when ones hands an
full and suddenly, one wild December day
HiIda Stonham realised that Christmas woul
be upon them Immediately, and that they mus
make great preparations TO celebrate 1t VI IN
Reinforcement Camp.
Everybody being of the same mind. pre-
parations went forward with much enthusiasnS
and the boys so far from home, at least wei
going to he given very good imitation OF tn
real thing On the Thursday of the week be ;
fole Christmas. Hilda got off for couple q
hours, as she had promised to play and slnls
at a concert for convaeScent patients at dis
tant part of the camp She did not care 10
hospitals; the sight of broken and sufferinl
men gave her too many pangS, and when shE
got up to sing, her voice was little quaverinf
to begin with. |.
But she went bravely through. and whei
they encored her, vociferously, she gave then
the old favouIite-" Keep the Home Fires Burn
ing asking them TO Join IN the chorus.
Fortunately il was the last verse, before he
eyes. rowing to the back Of the big ward, caugh
sight of a face she had not forgotten. 1t wal
Gilbert, and he had such queer expressio1I
that she was hard put to il TO keep on singing
to the end
He was still standing when she got OUT
leaning heavily on his crutch, and he waiteS
for her TO make the advance.
"Gibbie Why Gibbie," she said fateringlI
Where have YOU come from?
Down from FeStubert-ever so long ago.
he answered, trying to speak lightly. And YOU
| suppose you've come out with one Of tn
concert parties
NO no I'm working at the Canteen il
Number SIX Hut. But where can We talk, Glib
bic? There are simply oceans 10 say!'
Il don't knoW-unleSS We 20 outside. There
"a bit of sun on Just at the minute, and Tn on
of doctors hands practically You never go
my letter, then. saying was coming home il
about ten days on So"'
She shook her head.
NO never got it. The flat is let, Gibbie
But let Us get out side-I'm sitting here"
She took hold of his arm and helped him d
hobbIe out, nobody paying amy attention, fo
II was quite common occurance.
81 want 10 hear all about YOU. and why YOU
haven't written she said quickly.
Il thought YOU didn't want to hear-that vol
were done with me, in fact, IIilda, till I'd made
good. II was a big scrap up there, where u
got my doSe-had three operations ON this old
leg, but, thank God, they've saved IT,"
Thank Cod she repeated; and her fu
sweet lips Quivered pitfuIy So did Stonhams
but there was a sweetness at his heart like tn
shining of the sun.
And have YOU been here all the time
Gibbie|
"Yes-whole two months"
And |, only ten minutes distant II onll
I'd known. I'll 90 back to England with YOU'D,
Gbbe, haven't had any leave yet We1f
spend Christmas at home"
an the flat"
"No-at Falmouth. DO YOU remember III
days we had there, at-at- the beginninr?'l
Am likely to forget them" he answered.
simply as child. "But won't it be rough on
YOU, old girl. caltng around a common TommyX
and an old crock at that"
She laid her hand ON his pS.
Don't Gbbie I've had my lesson. Tvd
lived among them for nine months: I lovdi
thenl-gentlemen, all And I'm proud to belongA
to one"
There was nobody in sight, Just then. and
she turned to him suddenly and kissed him
1--WE been a rotten Wife Gibbie; but ri did
better I've learned from Tommy. You WON'T
cast me OFF,"
God Forbid he said and his eyes, so lond
cod md mn aL Oh III