The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
EVENING STORY
One Woman's Victory.
BY KITTY PARSONS.

to go to wari l don't see it at all.
You're married, and even if I'm not
dependent on you, I don't want you to
go-you'H be drafted if they need you
badly enough 1 can't understand the
way you feel at all-you just can't
care about me, that's alli'' The words
came in rush and the girl who had
spoken was trembling with excitement
and on the verge of tears.
You're right, dear. you don't I'M
derstand." agreed her husband You
know perfectly well that L do care
about you, but there's a special call
for men in my line of work just now,
and / feel more like a Stacker every
day 1 stay away. The whole things
got into my blood, too, and I'm no
longer content to let the other fellows
do all the fighting-I want to get
crack at those darned Germans my
self. Can't you see how 1 feel. Dor
othy? It's something you can't ex-
| it!''
| mo, 1 can't just see it, but if you
want to go you needn't stay on my
account. 1 thought a mans wife usu-
| ally came first, but 1 guess I'm
| wrong By all means go, if you want
| to leave met
You're talking nonsense, Dorothy!
And of course you know if YOU put up
that sort of an argument, 1 won't go
| at least, not until I'm needed more
than L am now. I wish you did not
| feel as you do" he went on, with an
attempt at cheerfulness. but it can't
be helped, 1 suppose. I'm off for town
| now-it's late, too. Goodbye
| Dorothy caught her breath in a sob
| as she watched him disappear down
| the path. 1t was the first time in two
years that they had been married that
| Tom had gone off without kissing her
goodbye.
Dorothy was not really selfish or
exacting, but Tom and she had been
so happy together-so wonderfully
happy that she could not bear the
thought of his going away. She had
never had to give up very much in her
| life. and she could not now understand
| the necessity of it. She was not I'M
husband should have to so to war.
| Like many another person, she was
blind rather than selfish. 1t was
with a sense of defeat rather than vic
tory that Dorothy went about her
household duties that morning.
| Just as she was starting for the
| bridge club that afternoon, the door
| bell rang and Polly Anderson breezed
in. Polly was the newest bride in
their set Her cheeks were red with
haste and the wind and she was fairly
| bursting with excitement.
| oh Dot" she cried. I'm so thrilled
| I can hardly speak! Bob's got COM
mission as first Iieutenan and I'm SO
proud of him I don't know what to
do. Isn't it wonderful"
! Dorothy forgot all about the bridge
| club and sat down.
But he'll be sent away, won't hep
| she queried vaguely
| "Of course, stupid You didn't sup
pose he'd stay here, did you? No. in
| deed! He's going south a week from
| For / SllDDOSe
| will be sent abroad from there-ever
SO many of them are"
How terrible I'm SO very sorry
for you, dear"
well, you needn't be. I'm so full
of pride over Bob and love for my
country. thrown in, that there simply
isn't room for any other feeling Don't
waste any sympathy on met
But, Polly, you don't want him to
so-you sound if you really did
Polly held her proud little head
higher than ever and winlled back a
tear.
| IF a woman really loves her hus-
band" she began steadily, "she does
not actually want to get rid of him.
But when his country calls and he
hears the call himself. she knows he
must &C.. If he were deaf to that call
and she is a true American woman.
she could never feel really proud of
him again. You understand how 1t is
iDorothJ--you must feel the same
Yourself about Tom Every true
woman does. 1t all comes down to
this-shc may not actually want to
have h,m leave her, but she could not
bear it if he did not want to go!
There is no place for self at all
Esooner or later they all feel it, if they
ar, the right kind of men, and they
simply have to go. And We have to
stay horne and smile and be brave and
help them all we can. It's not easy, I
know, but I'm proud to have such a
husband to send, and with all the
pain of it, I'm glad to be alive today
toc,'
II Dorothy sat very still, but when
| Polly ruse to go, she kissed her with
a new respect in her manner. She
had quite forgotten the bridge club.
4 When Tom came home a trifle
earlier than usual, he found his wife
seated before fire in the living room
busily winding yarn.
why. Dot, what are you doing ?'
Starting a sweater Cor you to
take away with you she returned
promptly
Then, at his look of amazement
sne ran to him, and Selling the lapels
of his coat, almost freely, looked VI
into his face appealingly.
I've been ali wrong, Tom" she told
him. 81 didn't understand how 1t was
o. course you've got TO go-I didn't
rec lie COW men felt about this thing
l-or women. either for that matter,
But now 1 see it all, just as plain as
day, an 1 want you to go as soon as
you're ready-Tn help you every bit
can, too"
Il Tom stared at her for a moment
Then h. caught her in his arms and
held her so close that she could
scarcely breathe.
can't leave you, darling simply
emit! lie whispered, and waited fol
the expected acquiescence. But Doro.
thy pushed him away and looked
straight into his eyes again
es, you can, dear she said with
a new ftrmness. Il wouldn't have YOU
stay for anything in the world now
ana l lever loved you half so much
as 1 do at this minute It's the only
hing to do and if other women "a r