The herald., 1918-05-02
HIS BATTLE
BY LILLIAN II. CROWLEY.
! u ~ AAA' ~ q .
per Syndicate

"What excuse could he have? Mes
senger boys are always late; looking
in the windows somewhere, l suppose,
instead of getting here with my suit"
"Dear, you are unreasonable because
you are anxious to be on time with
Elizabeth. You will have to learn to
control your temper or ii may get you
into serious trouble. The poor boy was
breathless and tried TO explain but you
wouldn't listen. Can't you see, dear,
that the world will not come to an end
because things turn out little dif-
ferently than you plannedT
Mrs. Dangerfield looked at her son
with some misgivings. She realized
more and more that he was giving
way to hasty temper that was natu-
raj to him and that he had no thought
of curbing II.
Harry took the box Of clothes up
stairs and after hasty dressing, hur-
ried out Of the house and down the
street TO the home of his fiancee.
Elizabeth Boothby, several blocks
away.
As he neared his destination, he
saw a young man run down the steps
of the house, jump into his automobile
and drive away in the opposite direc-
ton. He recognized him as Harold
Young, one of his own friends and a
popular young man Of their set, and
a pang of jealous anger shot through
him.
He mounted the steps with all the
rage of the previous hour returned.
When Harry entered the living-room
he saw Elizabeth bending over
basket of pink roses. She looked up
at him ana smiled.
'Didn't 1 see Harold Young just
leave here?" he demanded.
"Yes," said the astOnished girl.
"And he brought these flowers,
didn't hep
"Yes," again answered the now
frightened and bewildered girl, "but-"
"Then this is what 1 shall do with
them"
Harry took the basket, threw all the
lovely roses on the floor, and stamped
their beauty to nothingness. Then,
turning on his heel without one look
at Elizabeth, he left the house and
went home.
Weeks passed and Harry nursed his
anger and jealousy with stubbOrnness.
He did not go anywhere that he might
meet Elizabeth. Every one was so
busy with war and Red Cross work
that he was not missed as he other
wise would have been.
! ! One day while Harry was sitting In
| his office miserably unhappy in his
/ longing for the girl who was to have
been his wife, the door opened and In
walked Louise Spencer. Louise was an
| intimate friend of Elizabeth. Harry
was pleased and Surprised as he arose
to receive his visitor.
"Harry," began Louise at once, II
came to see If you would help us with
the flowers?"
"The flowers" exclaimed he, what
! fiowersT
"Why didn't you know that Eliza
beth is the president Of the Angela
| Flower Mission and I am the secre-
taryT
"N0. Tell me about 1t, please"
81 supposed Elizabeth had told you
all about 1t. We were elected to office
/ some time ago. We collect flowers
from our friends and take them to the
sick people on our list. Harold Young
has driven his machine on most Of the
errands for us, but he sails for France
next week and we need you, Harry"
"Does Elizabeth know you were go
ing to ask met"
mo, she doesn't. I only thought OF
IT this morning. have been so upset
by Harold's going away. Tonight our
engagement is to be announced and I
am telling you now so that you Will
understand. You will help us, won't
you, Harry"
with all my heart and soul, III
help. You can depend on me day or
night for anything"
After she left, Harry walked up and
down the length Of the room many
times. Twice he took down the re-
ceiver Of the telephone only to put It
back again.
His mothers words came back to
him, "You will have to learn to con-
troll your temper or 1t may get you
into serious trouble" Yes, that was
the whole trouble. He had been as
hasty with Elizabeth as he had been
with the messenger boy.
SEEKING his hat, he left the pile OF
letters on his desk and went to see
her.
He found her at home, looking sad,
but as beautiful as ever, and she was
bending over large basket Of flowers
that had been sent In for the mission.
Into her face came look Of sur
prise and Joy, which she quickly sup
pressed. Then looking calmly and
coldly at him, she waited for him to
speak.
He went over to her and took her
hand. He bent his head over II peni-
q tently and said:
dearest, can you ever forgive my
beastly temper7 I was jealous Of Har-
old because I thought he brought the
flowers for you. I have Just learned
the truth. I am so happy and so re-
morseful and II you forgive me prom
o ise to try with all the strength I pos