New Britain herald., 1918-12-09


enough to so home"
I'D love to come over" / replied
promptly, land fortunately I'm all
dressed for the street. I'll be there in
just a. short time, for I'll get Doran.'
1t was extravaganza, l knew, for
me to take the village taxi across to
Mineola when L could have gone by
trolley, but the trolley trip would
have taken the greater part of an
hour, while by taxi I could get to the
camp il less than Is minutes. Ana
every extra minute with Dicky was
worth it's weight in gold to me.
THAT'S the girl" Dicky replied
fondIy. "Good-by."
I telephoned Doran and got his
promise to be at the door within five
minutes, then went upstairs to put on
my hat and furs.
Tell Mrs. Graham I went out Oh
an errand, Katie" I said to my little
maid a moment later in the kitchen.
I was thankful, indeed, that Mother
Graham was out walking with the
baby. She had hidden Dicky good-by
when he was home, not feeling equal
to going to the camp, andEI knew it
would be much better for her not to
know the exact time of his real de-
parture,
The last walk Together.
Doran made unusually good time
on the trip over, but the scant quarter
of an hour seemed many times it's
length. But at last [ was in the
quarters where Mrs. Durkee worked
every day as volunteer information
clerk for the airmen, and where
Dicky and I had always met each
other upon my visits.
He was waiting for me, and my
heart thrilled with pride at the sight
of him. The aviator's uniform trans
forms even an unattractive man into
some one distinctly worth looking at,
while Dicky's handsome face and
1.-the figure in his smart equipment
embodied for me the romantic heroic
visions of my early girlhood.
Mrs. Durkee was visibly perturbed.
I guessed that she knew of the i'm
minent departure Of Dicky's squad
ron, but her loyalty to her position
would not let her betray her knowl-
edge.
Perhaps I could manage to clear
out this little Office for a few minutes
after awhile if you've anything spe-
cial to say to Madge," she said in a
low voice to Dicky.
Dicky rejoined, while I kissed her
warmly for her thoughtfufness.
''Madge can't stay very long, and We'll
just stroll around a Bit
Get along with you, then" she
said hastily, and T suspected that she
couldn't bear to loo kat us any
longer, that the thought of our i'm
minent parting brought back to her
the day when her son Alfred left her
for somewhere in France"
Dicky caught hold of my hand as
we turned away, drew it up into his
own and so held it all of the time we
were walking. But the little endear-
ing touch caused not even q curious
or amused look. Dozens of other cou-
pies were promenading in the Same
fashion. Lads with their mothers,
men with their sweethearts or wives
We're scattered all over the walks of
the camp, all absorbed in their own
affairs.
But to the eternal credit of Ameri-
can womanhood 7 saw but few red
dened eyes, and but one or two wo-
men frankly weeping. The strain, the
torture of separation was rnirrored in
their eyes, but their faces were calm,
even cheerful, their voices composed.
Now, there's one thing I want you
to promise me, Madge,' Dicky said,
as our time together came to an end,
and he strolled with me back to the
entrance from which [ meant to walk
to the trolley, land that is you're not
to worry one bit about the passage
over. If I were going on a fishing
smack or a tanker it would be differ
ent, that's about the caliber of those
devils. But you notice they haven't
gotten any transports to speak of
We're so carefully conveyed that
there isn't any risk to speak of. When
We get to the dock we'll be allowed to
write short messages home telling Of
our safe passage. They will be held
there, and as soon as the officials are
cabled of our safe arrival in France
they'll mail those messages. But it
will be two weeks at least before you
get any message, and in the mean
time promise me not to worry-at
least any more than you can help
he finished whimsically.
IT can promise that much" T re-
piled with a smile that I'm afraid was
very much of a travesty.
And now, sweetheart" Dicky
looked around to see that no one was
in immediate earshot, we said all
there was to say the other night, so
don't bid me good-by. There's a bit
of superstition in me, you know
Never good-by, but godspeed, my
darling" 1 Whispered, as his arms
to his
In T