The Washington times., 1918-09-19
When a Girl Marries
A SERIAL OF EARLY Welded LIFE
Jim Fails to Pass the Examination and
Anne and He Face the Problem of
Making Living.


my anger. was sorry for that in
my very soul And I began to hate
whoever or whatever had hurt my
boy-Anne Harrison or the officials
Of her country!
"Dear-forgiye me-" I cried. 7
wanted to do the wise thing and
I've bungIed. / see now how stupid
was to move. PIease-please for
give me. was thinking OF you
not any other"
All the anger drained out Of Jim's
face. He strode toward me-but I
was first. l flew into his arms az
the mere sign OF his wanting me
again. A woman must wait her
mans mood-a moment before /
wouldn't have dared touch Jim. but
now / could offer myself in com
plete surrender.
In the refuge OF my husbands
arms l was utterly contented, for
getting for a moment even the pain
had seen deeply etched on his face
this was where belonged. felt
the wonder OF his Iove-of the
strength OF his arms again-my
boy had come home,
When he spoke there was in his
voice the tender notes tEat stir me
so:
Little girl. it is you who must
forgive"
But 1 put my hand across his lips.
There was no need of words be-
tween us-we had found eacn other
again. He started to kiss my hand
then he lifted 1t away and kissed
my lips instead.
The world was shut out. Wa two
were the world And IL was a " orld
OF happiness. Life seems TO be
either a great dramatist or a great
humorist, reyeling in contrasts-in
the sing OF the see-saw.
But presently the world forced its
way back into my consciousness
the world and the war-the war
to which Jim longed to go. lad
glaring moment of visions sharp
struggle with myself.
There was still work for men like
Jim. Other women had to give
their men. America needed my
Jim. His country and mine. And
she was asking him of me even as
he asked himself Of me. He was
my boy-my little boy. but the army
knew him as man. strong 20 fight
for liberty. must find strength
to do my part. He must be my gift
free EiIt. .0---- ....- o. a-.----r-.
Only a woman who has made my
fight and won II can know just how
far as l was borne in a few mo-
ments. | won my struggle. l can
always be glad because OF that.
With lips and eyes that were dry
and burning. ! put into words my
victory over myself:
Jim. my darling. am ready to
le; YOU so. Ready to give you back
TO do your share"
Jim lOosed his arms from about
me. and fairly pushed me away
among the cushions of the couch.
As he stood towering above me. I
noticed again how very tired he
loked
"Oh. my boy. you are worn out.
You hurried too fast to come back
from Washington" cried nerv-
ously.
My words were meaningless
fumbling. but could not meet Jim's
staring eyes in silence.
He answered me very quietly.
There was no reason-to stay.
Anne. I didn't pass the physical ex-
animation. / can never fly again.
They told me / was no good for any
kind of real war work-not even an
inspectorship, because that means
walking. and my ankle won't
stand up. The other smashes-rf5s
and-things have put me IN the
scrap-heap. I'm no good-no
good
I lesped to my feet and caught
him in my arm. Tender words
came to my lips-mother words.
But he didn't heed. StilI in the
same quiet, dead voice he went on:
I'm no good. Anne. ] can't go
acrosSTl can't even march in the
ranks as private. I'm done for"
Boy, dear-you're wrong" I
cried. You're so brave and splen-
did-so anxious to serve. My Jim.
my wonderful boy-they'H find
work for you. l want you to go
back-I1I let you go anywhere
anywheI>. by brave soldier boy.I
Jim shuddered. ANNE. I'm not a
soldier any longer. have re-
signed. They'll accept il in a week
or so-and then I'm out of the army
for good. There's nothing l can do
worth the doing and so-Tm get
ting out"
As he dragged out his words. a
picture flashed across my mind
Jim out of his uniform. Jim in
civilian clothes. / had never seen
him in a mere business suit-how
would he look? lie was conjurinG
up a stranger for me and 1 felt
frightened,
But only for a moment Then
again | was swept by the great
yearning In his heart-the yearninE
to share in the war: and I found
myself thrObbinS with his pain>and
his desire to be again a whole nan,
MT to fight for freedom.
I'm done fOr-on the scrap heap
but I'll come back. I'll find some
thing to do" getting command OF
himself
They'll have some position
some appointment for you" / pro-
tested. longing to make a practical
suggestion.
But 1 tell you rve resigned.
dear" he repeated with a patience
foreign to him-1nd so vastly
pathetic.
And then was suddenly aware
Of q new problem. y m1n must
vork-a man oS well as a soli.er
must find the joo for wkich he's
nt-lhc place he is equipped 10 Hl
What had jim done before NJ H7s
SOLDIER What Was he qUl-';Ged
to do now that nc was no longer =
soldier" Was he qUHs;ioniLE h.s
own ability TO earn a LIVING"