Finding of dorothy.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 221, 27 October 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

Finding of dorothy.

ROMANCE OF A PHOTOGRAPH. A LONG QUEST ENDED. "To Dot, with love, from Norm. March 7, 1916. That, says the Sydney Sunday Times, was what Norm, wrote on the photograph, that had been taken of him and his pal, seated on camels m Egypt an.t making a picturesque foreground tor the Sphinx and the Pyramids. Just why Norm, didn't send the photograp'i to Dot from Egypt is a mystery yet unsolved . Perhaps he didn t get the [units till after he left the training ground in the desert and took his share in the liijj; disturbance over in Europe.

Any way, another Austral'nn soldier somewhere in that desolate, shell-tor:'. No Man's Land between the opposing trenches in France, picked up a- tin cylinder, and inside it found several copies of the photograph of Norm, and his pal. and on the back of one of them the little message quoted above. The finder, in the absence of a more immediate claimant, sent the little tin case and its contents along to a member of the staff of the Sunday Times, in tie l hope that thus might be forged the missing link in the chain of romance. And the Sunday Times published the photograph in its last issue and waited, hoping that there might be amongst its renders a Dorothy who was expecting just such a gift from a Norman who was away bearing a man's part in the great war! A Dorothy! Oh! too modest hope. Castor and Pollux are no more inevitably paired, it would seem, than tho Dots and Norms, of every day. 't happened something like this: Last Monday morning due perparntions were made for the entry ol Romance. The chairs were dusted; the waste-paper basket was put o:it ol sight, and the office awaited the coming of Dorothy. "'Lady here sir, calling about the photo." Please show her in. How do you do, madam:-' Please be sea-ted. Your name is D ■ ? Of course. Yes; hore's th • photograph. I'm not certain which i« Norm., if I may so call him ; but you will be able, to say, no doubt. the writing will be familiar. Yes, taSo them and have :•. clcser look to be certain."

"Lady here, sir, calling about th ■ photo." •• Yes, the writing seems familiar, and that might he Norman; but——. No, I really wouldn't swear to it. The ot-h- ' boy looks No; I'm afraii I can't claim it. But thank you. Good morning-" "Show the other lady in, please. " Which one, sir? There's half a dozen now."

That settled it. A pad was produced, a pencil sharpened, and all made ready to tabulate the Dorothys in the neighbourhood who knew Normans at th » front. And in due tine the middle di.t. tance and far horizon were all Dorothy. One after the other they were ushered in to make their claims. One after the other they departed regretful.

Then came the twenty- I .'tird applicant.

"Oh ves; that's Norman Acton, there on the'left. And, oh yes, that's his handwriting. Besides, I've been expecting this for some tune. He wrote saying lie was going to send me it. He. comes from Darlinghiirst. . . \cs, a private. No; theres' no mistake." Miss Dot Steen, of Redfoni, was no', by anv means the last to call. In all there were close on forty applications. Many tame by mail. Letters were ;<_ eeive'd from taniworth, Ma ; tland, Aiburv, Cabramatta, and a dczen other places. All the writers wer" sanguine as to the success of their pleas. "Kinlly send the photographs on at yo .r earliest convenience," was the universti postscript: but we have not been sufficiently misters oi our owt convenience to do so.

For the little message fro a the reai Norman has found the right Dorothy, and probably by this time there stands neativ framed.' on a Redfern dressvng tahle'the photograph of the soldier, his pal. and the camels that mrke a picturesque foreground for the Si hinx an I the Pyramids. And", by the way, M : ss Dot, there are still at this office another copy of the photo and the tin in which the pictures were found. They are yours.