1918 Cedrus Yearbook

19 18 Bob entered the bunk-house that afternoon in a daze. He would not bq allowed to leave camp again. What would become of Frances? He went to the bunk-house and began to pack his bag. Almost the first thing that his hands touched was a miniature. He looked at it with a start. Then he sat down and examined it tenderly. He felt as though he had been asleep and had just awakened. His thoughts flew back to the homeland. Where could Mary be? He had not written to her for two months and had not heard from her since he left Texas. How was his mother? He had not heard from her for six weeks. Into his heart came a keen desire to be home again, even if it were for only a minute. The realization that ChriAtmas day was just one week away intensified his homesick longing. Large tears came to his eyes and he buried his head in the blankets. Presently he went to sleep and was awakened a half hour later by the friendly hand of his "Bunkey." "Wake up, here," cried the genial lad. "See what I have for you. Of all the luck! Here is a letter from home and there is your Christmas box and here is a telegram." Bob reached eagerly for the things and tore open the telegram with a nervous hand. It read asfollows: "Everything 0. K. Aunt Emily telegraphed mother. Mother replied. Mr. Pierce married bridesmaid. Wedding oven—Frances." Smiling a little at the astounding news in the telegram, he turned to the perusal of the message from his mother. "Home, Nov. 10. 1918. Dear Son—I have just finished thrl last pair cf socks which I have been knitting :or your Christmas present, and w!ll mail them today so that you will be sure to get them by Christmas. I am afraid that your Christmas will not be very happy this year, Robert,for I have some bad news for you. Mary has returned from the West rnd she came over this morning to ask me to write to you for your letters never reached her,and she decided you had forgotten her. She became interested in a young western banker and was married a week ago. I know this will be a great shock to you but—" At this point he was suddenly interrupted by the frantic cheering of hundreds of voice3. Run- ning out, he saw the boys engaged in the wildest demonstrations of delight and triumph. He soon learned that they had just received a message that the Germans had dethroned the Kaiser and had set up a republican form of government, and had accepted Wilson's peace terms. The war was over. Bob returned to his bunk and hid his face again, this time to weep for joy. . Ten weeks later on a bright, warm, Spring day, Bob Holsworth and his bride, whom he called Frances, arrived- at his old home in the sunny hills of Pennsylvania. They were received with the greetings that only a mother can give who has waited, and watched and prayed. LEROY H. CLARKE. 72