Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1917-12-25
THE ROAD.
Scopyrieht. 1917. by she Mcclure Hewrpa-
t,rr FVn1fcafel
sy LoUIsE OLIVER


cupants. rolled over the smooth, white
macadam through a country gor.
geOusly painted with the c0lors Of
early autumn. The fields. shorn Of their
golden crops, were skirted on either
side b. low hills. already reddening
where the oaks were thickest or yel-
lowing amongst the chestnuts and ma
pies.
Suddenly the giri flung her arms
wide. "Oh. Jim, isn't this glorious
just TO be alive. just to exist, to
breathe and see everything. and feel
the sun and air could keep on like
this forever and forever. I'm 50 hap
py, dear. II almost makes me sad"
She faced him. smiling radiantly. but
with II all tears stood In her eyes.
Jim took one hand OF the wheel and
slipped an arm tenderly around her
waist. drawing her TO him and kiss
Ing her passionately.
you dearF he exclaimed. Il was
Just thinking the same thing. Well.
grille, there's no reason why we
shouldn't 90 rolling along through
life Just like this, is therel We may
not always be In an automobile, and
perhaps the fields won't always be
green, nor the sun so bright, nor the
road so smooth, but as long as you're
you and I'm !, and we get married as
we intend TO, ] can't see why life
won't be q mighty sweet dream, can
your En-, girlleT"
mo, Jimmie-unless." She ran her
hand tenderly up and down his arm.
"Unless what7 There isn't going TO
be any unless, Helen.
"YOu don't understand, Jim. There
is such thing as crying for pure Joy.
Only II seems that when I'm happIest
I'm always saddest, too. Sad, I sup
pose. because other people aren't as
happy as ! am"
Forget II. That's their funeral. II
would be a great world, wouldn't 1t.
II we were responsible for other poo-
ple's troublesT'
That's true, ] suppose" She SIGH |
ed. "But think II you had been draft /,
I'd instead Of Homer, wouldn't you |
have liked a little bit Of sympathy"
"Tf again."
"Oh, Jim. Jim." Helen laughed in
spite Of herself. "DO be serious. Eut |
what If you had been drafted instead
1f HOmerf" .t,.s,-y w.,
swell, whatT HfJ.fE't
I'D just die, that's ALL"
Nov, look here, grille, don't talk
hat way. Anne didn't die, did shei \
And she thinks as much Of Homer as |
7ou do Of me-
Helen was silent a minute. But |
that's different, dear. Anne's made Of !
sterner stun than j am. Why. / be-
ieve she'd take a gun and go out and |
light herself. / do believe, too, that II /
Homer hadn't been drafted, she'd have |
made him enlist, anyway"
"You're right, Helen. believe she
would, Moreover, II Homer hadn't |
)een drafted, he would have enlisted
Anne telling him to. That's
he stuff he's made Of"
She turned and faced him squarely.
why, Jim HarlOwe, what are you
alklng this way forY l really believe I
'Ou're sorry we are engaged so you
ant CO."
'Pm not sorry we're engaged, DEAR"
le denied quietly.
"Then what Is II? DO you want me
o be like Anne and tell you to GOT"
"No, / wouldn't want to have TO be
old, dear"
'Then what Is Il? You do act so
.ueerly, and l can't understand you at
II. ! just thought there was some
hing wrong"
YOU certainly have way Of get
ing at things, Helen" he evaded.
Here we started out as happy as two
.lttens on a fence fine day, good road,
ust two Of us, and the whole w6rld
efore US. And you insisted on being
ad about something you don't know
thing about, and start to ask ques-
ions, antl-"
"Jlm, tell me, what is itf" she de-
nnnded.
He hesitated just an instant. 1--WE
nllsted, little girl; that's all"
The GAR slid nOlselessly over the
mOoth road. Helen. still facing Jim,
I'D not answer instantly, as he ex-
ected, with a stormy protest and q
oOd Of tears.
Instead, a wonderful, glorious smile
her face and her eyes
hone lumlnOusly. "0h, Jim, jim"
he breathed almost too low for him
o hear. 'Im so glad. IL didn't
hink / could be so glad, but l am.
IN 80 proud. Why-I never thought
efore | could bear II, but l can, you
ee. It's wonderful, Jim. I'm so
roud Of you, dear. My Jim enllsting
really, think I've felt rather out Of
/ because had no soldier boy"
The little car came 20 a standstill
nder a big maple, as Jim took Helen
n his arms.