Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1919 — THE MEETING [ARTICLE]

THE MEETING

By JULIA A. ROBINBON.

CCopyrtgiK, 191#. by ti»* McClur* Newspaper Syndicate.) Her soldier boy was coming home and Nlta dreaded the meeting. Of course she would have to see him and he would find out her deception. What would he think of her? How could she bear that he should look at her? It had ull begun at the girls’ Red Cross meeting. "Let’s pin our names and addresses on the inside of these socks we are knitting,” suggested May Bond. “Perhaps the soldiers who get them will write to us.” “Good!” cried the other girls. “Wouldn’t it be fun to get u letter from a soldier?” Each girl us she finished a pair of socks pinned her name on the inside und they were sent out. After a time letters began to arrive from the boys at the front, telling of war experiences and of army life. The girls read them aloud with many comments and much Interest. Nlta, in a spirit of fun, had pretended in her letter that she was somebody’s maiden aunt, and w'rote in a motherly strain. She had hardly expected her soldier to write more thnn once, but lie did. Her letters were filled with good advice and suggestions for his health and . comfort, and he seemed to like them. “There won’t be any romance for me out of these letters,” Nlta laughed. “He thinks I’m un old muid. I don’t believe he’ll want to see me when he comes home, and I’m sure I wouldn't want him to. I wonder If he wishes I were a girl,” she added to herself. “I’m glad he doesn’t know.” Now the war was over and the boys were coming home. Nlta’s soldier had written thut lie should be among the first to return. He was longing to see her, to tell her how much good fier letters, her advice and her wise counsel had done him. He knew she had a kind, motherly heart and sympathetic eyes—were they blue? —a dear mouth tliut smiled and helpful hands. He hud so much enjoyed the socks and sweaters she had sent. They were just what ills mother would have sent him had she been living. He was really longing to see her. Was her hair done in white puffs over-her forehead? He loved to think of It so. He lived in Norton, not very many miles from her o?vn home, and he should come to see her often. He hoped she would still be glad to “mother him” and to admonish lym if lie needed it.

Nita was frightened when she read that letter. She could not escape meeting him, lor he had her address. What would he think of her? If she could only run away and hide! And yet she did want to see him. She had learned to like her soldier boy. She hud pictured him in her mind, and she wanted —oh, how much she wunted to see him —if oidy she could herself be invisible. She almost wished now that she had not played her foolish joke. He would despise her for her deceit and think her very silly. Witli a beating heart Nita watched the returning regiment march through the streets. Which one was her soldier boy? He was with them, she knew. They were so straight, with strong, brave faces, and the happy light of victory in their eyes. She was proud of them all and cheered with the rest. When the doorbell rang Nita stepped lightly to answer it, quite unsuspecting. She had not thought that he would come to see her so soon. There were others to greet him —yet there he stood. She knew him at the first glance and wanted to hide. What could she say? How explain? She stared and said nothing. He put out his hand with a boyish smile and a twinkle in his eye.. “Is this Miss Spence?” he asked. “I’m —I’m —Nita Spence—” came tHe timid answer. Perhaps he would think the one wrote the letters was her aunt. If he Would only go away.

“My maiden '•aunt, my mentor,” he laughed merrily. “You look just as I imagined you would.” She gasped, “But—why—how could you—” “Don’t you suppose I saw through your little game?” His smile was bright and assuming. Do you think any maiden aunt could write such letters as you have been writing to me? I’ve had your image before me all the time, and I’ve learned to worship it. I knew your eyes were full of laughter, that your hair was soft and fluffy, that your lips smiled with the tiniest dimples. I could just see the mischief lurking in the corner of your eye as you 'wrote those letters. Oh, how you’ve helped to cheer those long, toilsome nponths. How the thought of you has given me help and courage, for I knew you were a brave girl, doing your part at home.” They were sitting very close together in the cozy sitting room. Nita’s heart throbbed, and yet she tried to draw her hand away from him. “Oh,” she faltered, “what must you think of me?” “I think you are the dearest girl in all the world,” he told her, drawing her hands from her burning face. "I need mothering and advice and all that sort of thing now more than /ever before. I’ve come to ask yW to take the job for life —will you do It?” He was gazing at her with earnest eyes, full of love. , She looked up at him, trembling, yet with mischief in her eyes as she answered, “Yes, if you think you can stand a muiden a lint's scolding.” And he was quite satisfied. ■*