South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-15
WHY JACK SAID NO" WHEN
MADGE PLANNED TO SEE
HIM SAIL.
Hello, this is Beckett


Hello, this is Beckett"
AS Jacks deep voice, with d trace
Of huskiness which was so familiar
70 me came over the wire I felt the
hot tears sting my eyelids. This
was perhaps the last time in life I
should ever hear the voice OF my
cousin who had been more than n
brother TO me. The knowledge Of
what his loss would mean to me was
envoloping me like a pail.
"Oh. jack" The words were more
/ like a cry than a greeting.
Margaret" 1 could hear his gasp
of surprise. This is good Of you.
dear. but are you sure it is wise?
Where are you 'phoning from
You homer"
mo, from drug store booth
near by"
That's all right" I heard him
/ give a little sigh OF relief I could
not quite fathom his reason for
thinking me unwise to telephone
him. ] knew. however. that his
objection was in some way part Of
his general plan TO protect me from
any possible anger of Dicky's by
eliminating himself from my life.
Il suppose you received my let
ter" His calm voice steadied me.
1 felt as if / had been on the verge
of hysteria.
"Oh, yes. Jack. and 1 am so up
set and miserable over il. can
not let YOU go over there. Why.
you may never come back"
Don't you ever think Of it." His
voice was gay. bantering but I who
had known his every tone and in
Election since babyhood recognized
the strain beneath the gayety It
was ever Jacks way to think Of
himself last
I'll come back riding a charger
| up Broadway, with a sword up
! lifted. and Victoria crosses and Lee
gions Of Honor splitting all over the
! front seat on the reviewing stand
and you can turn up your nose and
! say I knew him. when
Please, Jack, don't jest about it."
was fighting hard TO keep my
voice from betraying the tears which
threatened TO choke me every in
slant. 1T is awful your going this
way. I feel So
Listen, Margaret" Jacks voice
held a note of command II know
what's troubling your tender heart
most, and I'm going to tell you that
you're all wrong You feel that
/ you're to blame for my going. don't
/ you?"
Why I've been so afraid ever
since 1 read your letter" I STAN
mered.
Il thought so Well. let me tell
you now that you had nothing TO
! do with il. You ought 10 know
me we'll enough TO know how the
: dangerous unknown grips me- It's
| right in my blood. And my feel
/ ings have been intensely stirred by
my friend. Caillard, with whom I
am going"
Jack Bravcly Refuses.
"Of course, Margaret into his
voice crept a tenderer note. II am
not going TO deny that if the hopes
that I brought back with me had
! been fulfilled. I should not have
thought of going. But it would
| have been an inclination sacrificed
for you. The point I want you to
get is this-if I had never known
| you I should be doing exactly what
( 1 am going 10 do tomorrow"
I did not know whether he was
lying 20 me or not. but | chose to
believe him. His words lifted the
weight from my heart that had
! letter announcing his intention to
join the engineering corps in France
with his friend. Caillard.
You are so good to tell me that.
Jack" 1 said gratefully, but
must see you, somehow, before you
go"
There was q long silence at the
other end of the wire I knew in
stinctly what il meant Jack
was fighting a battle with himself
/ He wanted to see me before he left
] but I knew as we'll as when he
spoke that he would negative the
proposition
| mo. Margaret" I recognized the
! inhexibility of this tone. You must
not do that Frankly, I could not
bear to see you with your husband
] and YOU must not come TO see me
off without him"
NO Messages, Remember"
Why not?" holly rebelled
against the decision. even though
7 knew Jack was right
Don't make il hard for me- lit
tie girl. You know why not Come
now, be a brave little girl and tell
me 'Good-b bye and good luck "
IT can't yet Jack" faltered
Tell me, am I not going 10 hear
from YOU once in while p"
Tell me something" he counter
ed. Can YOU tell me truthfully
that your husband would not OBJ