New Britain herald., 1916-01-04
Is Jack Changed?

N~'A N' Jack was studying the menu card, and I was studying Jack.
 It was the first chance I had to take good look at this cousin brother of mine after his years ab- sence. Every time I had attempted it had met his eyes fixed upon me with an inscrutable look that puzzled and embarrassed me. Now, however, he was occupied with the menu card, and I stared openly at him.
 He had changed very little, I told myself. Of course he was terribly Drowned by his year in the tropics but otherwise he was the same hand some, we'll set-up chap I remembered so well.
 He looked up. caught my gaze and into his blue eyes flashed the old merry teasing look that I knew.
 Giving me the once over?' he esked in a low tone, mindful of the waiter; then in his ordinary voice: Made up your mind yet what you want?"
 "Oh, won't you order please, Jack?" asked.
 Can't be done,' he returned mer- rily '"This Is your party. My only part is to show that remember your favorites. Of course you want some escargots."
 We both smiled at the recollection the name called up. In the days when @ dinner with Jack was the one recreation my plodding life aforded me, he had once persuaded me to eat some escarzots. When they were served and I discovered they were snails, I had ordered them taken away at once, the very idea or them Upsetting me. Later, to please JACK, who was very fond of them, had tried one, then another, and after number of dinners had become as great a lover of them as he was.
 "Oh. surely!'' I said. "Of course, escargots.''
 The waiter heard me, and bent deferentia1ly toward me.
 "It Is too bad" he said in careful English, but it is impossible for us to get the escargots on account of the war;
 That's too bad,'' said Jack. "I suppose there will be a number of our favorites we can't have. I can't realize yet there is a war. You see I didn't hear of it until a few weeks ago when we first got out of the will derness.,'
 The waiter waXed confidential. You'd know it if you were here, sir he said respectfully. Almost all our boys have gone back to fight for l France. I wish I were only young enough to go.' !
 We looked around the restaurant and confirmed his words. The walters were all men over middle age, not a young man among them. I gave a little shiver at the thought of what it all meant Jack saw 1t.
 Memories and Danger
 "We'll not talk of it any more" he said. How would you like oysters instead of escargots?'
 "Those will be very nice" I smiled at him.
 In reality I was far from hungry But I would not spoil Jacks pleasure by telling him so.
 What next, consomme, or isn't it here you used to get that chicken broth you liked so well?"
 How well you remember Jack!' I exclaimed in astonishment.
 Do you think I could forget?' he asked quietly. Something in his tone gave me that vague uncomfortable fear again.
 "The chicken broth here is very good'' I said hastily. Let us have some."
 "All right I know you don't like fish. So what shall be the grand centerpiece?
 I knew Jacks favorite dish, forum ately. If he could sit down in front of just the right kind of steak, thick, ,-t ,.irrI, h l,o
 "A steak by all means" I answered. 'I haven't had a good one in ages.''
 'I'm sure you're saying that to please me- Jack protested, "but haven't the heart to say no. You can imagine the food I've lived on in South America. But you must order the rest of the mea1''
 Surely I will" I said, for I knew the things he liked. Baked potatoes new asparagus, buttered beets, TO- maine salad, and we'll talk about the dessert later"
 The waiter bowed and hurried away.
 You're either clairvoyant, Mar garet. or"
 "Perhaps I, too, have a memory" returned gayly, and then regretted the speech as I saw the look that leaped into Jacks yes.
 "I wish I was sure.'' he began inn petuously, then he checked himself, 1T wonder whether We are too early for anw music" he finished lamely.
 'I am afraid so,' I said.
 "It doesn't matter anyway. We want to talk, not to listen. I've got something to tell you my dear, that I've been thinking about all this year I've been gone.
 ''Give Me Time"
 I did not realize the impulse that made me stretch out my hand, lay it upon his, and ask gently:
 Please, Jack, don't tell me any