New Britain herald., 1918-12-16
MY SOLDIER SWEETHEART
 Adele Garris of REVEL ATIONS OF A WIFE

that she fairly radiates energy and encouragement, I defy any one to be associated with her and not feel a dis tinct strengthening and stiffening of ones backbone. In my own case she hadn't been with me long before ] was able to crush with :. nirOn hand the awful doubts concerning Dicky's fate, and to go up to my mother-1n- laws room with my face showing no trace of any emotion.
 Fortunately she accepted my ex- planation without question, and greeted Lillian with manner as nearly approaching effusiveness as she ever shows.
 "Sit down and tell me as much as you can about this new piece of work" she said. II have just won a game from MT. Gordon"-she in- variably calls my father "Mr. Cor don," instead of giving him his own name, "Spencer"-"an it was such hard work that I'm glad to rest a bit"
 "What News?"
 Indeed, you have no reason to be fatigued," my father returned gal lantly. "It was I who had to exert myself. And while you are having dish of gossip with Mrs. Underwood I think I'll go downstairs a bit. Let me know when you are ready to re- turn to the combat"
 He bowed with the slight grandiose touch which invests his every move ment, and went out of the room. I swiftly followed him, for l guessed, although his demeanor was unruffled, that he hadn't accepted Lillian's excuse for coming to us so uncere- moniously,
 What news did Mrs. Underwood bring, daughter?" he asked gravely when we were we'll out of earshot of my mother-in-law's room. II might have believed her story upon any other day but with the news of this mornings paper, the coincidence of her appearance is too significant for me to accept her explanation"
 I told him everything Lillian had said to me. He listened attentatively, but though I watched his face nar- rowly I couldn't tell from his express sion what he thought of the prob abilities of Dicky's safety.
 But his answer was hopeful, al- though the haunting fear in my heart told me that of course he wouldn't express himself in any other way, no matter what his thoughts were.
 The Call Came.
 q agree with Mrs. Underwood, my dear" he said. There is every prob ability that your husband is among the rescued. I am glad to see you're so brave. The part of the women is much harder than that of their SOL dier husbands these days. It is simply wonderful to see how they are bearing themselves. And I am proud, indeed, my daughter, to see how high a place is yours in the ranks of the worthy. And how proud your mother would be of you"
 The last words seemed almost ,wrung from him without his volition. He drew me to him, kissed me hastily, tenderly, upon the forehead, and then went away to his own room, a stately old figure, but with an indescribable air of loneliness and dejection upon him. I could guess to what Geth- semane he was going, how the thought of my mother, the wife he had deserted, yet curiously enough had never ceased to love, was tor turing him.
 But even the reference to my mother had no power to shake my composure now. Did he guess, my father, how sorely I needed his in spring reference to the high part women were playing in the awful world struggle? l thought of the mothers and wives of France and Bel gium and England, and so recently Of our own country, who had faced the awful certainty of loss without an outward tremor. Was I so weak that the possibility-hardly the prob abiIity-of my husbands going should make of me weak, whining thing?
 I threw up my head, squared my shoulders with the resolve that no matter what came I would meet it with the same spirit that I knew my soldier husband had displayed no matter what his fate. And for the next hour or two I kept busy with my baby, and the details of housekeeping, determined not to betray by outward sign the awful suspense with which I kept my ears open for the ring of the telephone.
 Upon only one point I was ada mant, I answered every telephone call myself and it seemed as if it rang almost constantly. But I felt that I couldn't endure waiting for even Lillian to listen first to whatever was coming to me over the wire.
 Finally upon my taking down the receiver for at least the tenth time I heard the expected message in the drawl of the central:
 Long distance call from Washing ion