Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-12-13


us--but l can't get Off now"
"Yes you can" interrupted Marga-
ret; "Pve seen the manager, and he
says under the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ing for your health-you might have
the week off. Now you'll go, won't
your"
"Lloyd Shannon sent message by
me to Philip" she remarked moment
later. "He wants him to write to him
when he gets across. You know Lloyd
is leaving the fifteenth"
Frances started and her pale face
lost every vestige Of color.
"So-soon2" she stammered, trying
to conceal her agitation.
Margaret took her shaking hands In
hers.
"You-you love him, don't you,
dear2"
The girls white lips moved, but no
sound came through them.
Don't be afraid to tell me-" Mar
garet encouraged her. "I-Fm not en-
gagged to him any morel Shouldn't
ever have BEEN" she added lightly,
with him loving you all the time But
he just turned to me for-for comfort,
guess, when yOu-why did you refuse
him, FrancesT
The girl covered her face with her
hands.
Il thought couldn't put my bur-
dens on him." she sobbed. land pre-
tended didn't care. But 1t broke my
heart |"
Margaret kissed her. "There-don't
cry. Things will come right. In the
meantime Wen go on our picnic-start
early In the morning."
The next day at noon, while Mrs.
Hemans and Frances--both innocent
Of their proximity to training camp,
for they did not know the roads they
had come Over-rested at one of the
city hotels, Margaret went to see
Lloyd. His eyes lit at sight of her.
but In his brOnzed face there was q
suggestion Of WEAKNESS, hint Of
mind not at ease.
"Do you want to be married before
you go-would you like to be married
this afternoon, Lloyd?" she asked him
abruptly.
For n second he paled and some
thing like CONSERVATION CONSTRUCTED his
mouth, then he tried to smile.
Margaret laughed softly and held up
her bare left hand. mot to mel
know where your heart is, Lloyd-but
to Frances Thompson? You sec, mar
ried to you, even though you're away,
with your allowance and the govern
ment allotment she'd have an easier
time. I'm going to pay for Philips op-
Grafton at once with the money daddy
gave me for new car. Tell me, do
you want to be married, Lloyd, to her
this afternoon?
As she rested her eyes on his brown
face and watched II go white, then red,
then white again, she did not need to
be told his thoughts.
"DOes she-does Frances know
you're asking me this?" he asked when
he could bring his voice to unsteady
speech.
mo. but l saw she was breaking her
heart because you were going, and so
brought her down here with me. She
thinks we're going on In an hour or so.
She doesn't even know we're near the
camp you're In"
He tried to take her hand. II feel
an awful cad, Mnrgle" he groaned.
Margarets dimpling smile would
have deceived the elect.
"YOu don't need tot You've been an
angela blessed clumsy angel-but l
haven't been deceived bltp She
laughed softly again. 1--WE known all
along you just turned to me for COM
fort, and I've been intending all along
to set you free at the psychological
moment! Oh, Lloyd, I'll take you to
her, and it's up to you TO explain to her
how bad you are wanting herl'
In the early dusk, at her home, Mar
garet helped her weary aunt Off with
her wraps, then sped to her own room
and locked the door. Qulyerlng she
flung herself down by her bed.
"Oh, Godw she cried, don't let me
forget it's right to give everything for
the cOuntry-even ones llfel It's my
life I've glven-for I love him. Father,
| love him I"