Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-09-19
CHAPTER XXI 9

My husband and l stood staring
at each other across a black chasm
of anger and misunderstanding.
My face was burning and my breath
was coming in quick jerks-ugly
words were forming in my mind and
making ready to leap to my lips and
hurl themselves at Jim.
Then suddenly l saw him-saw him
consciously, l mean. He was pale.
He breathed slowly in deep labored
gdsps. His appearance and his man
ner was very different from mine
that I realized. Why?
Gradually the answer dawned upon
me. I was only angry-a temporary
thing. Jim was uffering-suffering
deeply. He was in actual agony that
went far deeper than the humiliation
I had caused him. 1t must date back
to Washington. What had happened
there?
AS I realized his unhappiness.
realized also that 1 had added TO it
by my recklessness in moving-by
my anger. I 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-forgIve me-" I cried. II
wanted to do the wise thing and
I've bungled. I see now how stupid
I was to move. .Please-please for
give me. I was thinking OF you
not any other
All the anger drained out of Jim's
face. He strobe toward me-but I
was first. I flew into his arms at
the mere sign of his wanting me
again. A woman must wait her mans
mood-a moment before I wouldn't
have dared touch Jim. but now I
could offer myself in complete sur
render.
In the refuge OF my husbands
getting for a moment even the pain
had seen deeply etched on his face
this was where I belonged. I felt
the wonder OF his love-of the
strength of his arms again-my boy
had come home
When he spoke there was in his
voice the tender notes that stir me
SO:
Little girl, it is you who must
forgive"
But I put my hand across his lips.
There was no need of words be-
tween us-we had found each other
again. He started to kiss my hand
then he lifted it away and kissed
my lips instead.
The world was shut out. We two
were the world. And it was a world
OF happiness. Life seems to be
either a great dramatist or a great
humorist. revelling in contrasts-in
tn swing 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. I had a
glaring moment OF vision-a sharp
struggle with myself
There was still work for men like
Jim. Other women had to give their
men. America needed nv 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 a man, strong TO fight for Liberty.
! must find strength to do my part
He must be my gift-my free gift.
Only a woman who has made my
fight and won it can know just how
far I was borne in a few moments.
! won my struggle. ! can always
be glad because of that.
With lips and eyes that were dry
and burning, I put into words my
victory over myself
Jim. my darling, I am ready to
let you go. Ready to give you back
to 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,
noticed again how very tired he
looked.
oh, my boy, you are worn out.
You hurried too fast to come back
from Washington" cried nerv-
ously
Ny words were meaningless
fumbling, but I could not meet Jim's
staring eyes in silence.
He answered me very quietly.
There was rp reason-to stay.
Anne, I didn't pass the physical ex-
I can never fly again.
They told me I 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-ribs and
things have put me on the scrap
heap. I'm no good-no good"
I leaped to my feet and caught him
in my arms. Tender words came to
my lps-mother words. But he didn't
heed. Still in the same quiet, dead
voice he went on:
I'm no good, Anne. I can't go
across-I can't even march in the
ranks as a private. I'm done for"
Boy, dear-youre wrongw Il
cried. You're so brave and spIen-
did-so anxious TO serve. My Jim,
my wonderful boy-theyll find work
for you. I want you to go back
I'll let you go anywhere-anywhe
my brave soldier boy"