Catoctin clarion., 1917-12-13
Angela
Indeciisiion
By ETHEL HOLMES
(copyrisht. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.

instead Of turning Evan down in such
a way as to take away all hope, dealt
with him gently. She was very sorry
for him; hoped he would find one
who would be more worthy OF him
than herself, and above all, that they
might still be friends.
Evan drew a deep sigh within his
manly chest-he was big fellow
and accepted the situation. He had
not thought of entering the great
world war, but now that he had been
refused by the girl he loved, he de-
cided to do so. He was about finish
Ing his college course, and as the great
@r part of his class were volunteer
ing, he enlisted and the government
commenced the work Of making SOL
dier Of him.
Angela wrote him, commencing his
patriotism. and predicted that he
would be one Of his couptry's honored
servants.
How Evan was to become one OF his
country's honored servants, permitting
his comrades to move onward, while
he Jagged behind, only kept up to his
work by incessant urging, did not ap-
pear. He wrote in reply that he hoped
he would have the grit to be among
the first to 60 "over the top" and
among the last to give up any gain
that might have been made by himself
and his comrades.
Angela wrote in reply to this that
she didn't mean that she advocated his
being a laggard, but in trying to ex'
plain what she did mean let out the
main part OF what she felt, which was
that she was very much afraid that
Evan would get hurt. A lover is not
prone to see q weakening on the part
of the girl who has refused him, but
all.this seemed to Evan to denote an
interest in him on the part OF his fair
correspondent. He was emboldened
to offer himself again, doing so by let
ter, for he was now in the service OF
the government, which was preparing
troops as rapidly as possible to SEND
abroad, and would not stop while the
men they were training endeavored to
capture ladies' hearts.
Angela wrote back that an engage
ment between q girl and man who
was going to war that might last
many years seemed to her very un-
wise, especially this war, which was
strewing Europe with dead. How
ever, she would think about 1t.
Angela thought about II for several
months without arriving at decision.
Finally Evan wrote her that the force
to which he belonged had been ordered
to the Atlantic coast, which meant
that 1t would probably be prepared to
send abroad.
When a woman Is called upon to de-
eide such questions upon which she
has grave doubts she Is apt to give
some queer reasons for what she does.
Angela demurred, for the reason that
she had always expected when she
married to have very large and I'm.
posing wedding. Her mother was Ill,
and this would now be impossible. II
Evan did not sail for France till after
her mother got well, she would make
final decision.
A month passed, and Evans regi-
ment did not leave the United States.
AnRela's mother got well. There SEEM
ed to be no reason why Angela
should not marry Evan II he
could get leave for the purpose. She
decided that she would do so, and
wrote him to that effect. He applied
for furlough and was refused.
This put a stopper on large and
imposing wedding. Indeed, there could
be no wedding at all, unless the bride
should 90 to the groom. Angela took
the matter under consideration: Evan
admonished her that he was liable to
sail at an hours notice, and that she
had better make up her mind at once.
She did make up her mind. and wrote
him that she would 60 to him "the day
after tomorrow"
On the evening Of the day OF her
decision Angela received a telegram
that her f1ance would sail the next
morning. The journey before her
could not be made In less than 10
hours. Evan was called up by tele-
phone and an interview between him
and Angela followed. Evan saw no
way for them to be married until he
returned from the war. Angela. who
had been baking for many months,
was now in great distress that she
could not be welded.
A family council was called, at
which her father suggested marriage
by telephone. A lawyer was called
In, who pronounced such a marriage
legal. Evan was called up again; the
plan was proposed to him, and he
consented.
A clergyman was called In to ths
Drew residence; Angela stood by the
receiver which she held 80 that both
could hear the responses. Evan called
a comrads to act as best man, and
the clergyman read o service. A ring
was put on Angela's fager by her
brother, for the groom, and the final
imam and wife" was pronounced.
The next morning Evan sailed for
France and Angela was left behind to-
mourn her indecision. and to regret
that it had kept her from bidding her
husband good-by. Indeed, had she
made definite decision either way, 1t
would doubtless have been better for
her. Had she declined him absolutely
at first, neither would have been think
ing Of the other very long. Had shs
accepted him when he proposed, they
might have been much together before
he embarked for France.