South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-16
Forbidden Fruit
By Philip Bartholomew

ennui she threw herself into war re-
Lief work, and so the weeks went
I on.
Jack and Jill wrote each other BIZ
( weekly letters. on his part full ot
detailed observations and descrip-
I tions Of all ne saw, on hers the most
/ sympathetic and keen insight into
/ our Red Cross, and relief work in
\ general.
While as literary products they
were almost masterpieces. as cor
! respondence between husband and
/ wife they were curiosities, and yet
they were eagerly awaited by both
and after a few months, instead OF
/ arriving bi-weekly came almost
\ daily From Patten Jill never heard
! until one day, months after, he had
7 left
He had only just learned that her
husband was in France and had not
written before because he feared IL
might fall in his hands and cause
/ trouble. However" ne concluded, Il
/ find I am TO be in New York and
viii see you again"
The gradual change in her hus-
/ bands letters rather puzzled her;
\ day by day they became more per-
sonal. The whole tone changed. That
4 Jill's letters changed somewhat in
\ tone is equally true, but then ore
cannot answer husbandly Solicitude
about ones health with tables o.
! increases in bandages rolling, and as
\ to his reference to the dimple in
I her elbow she did not write at all
OF anxious inquiry.
Then a letter came announcing
\ his arrival in New York. II have
seem" ne concluded, quite a good
/ deal of Frank Patten and we have
become very chummy. I have found
/ out what a regular fellow he is and
! what a fool I was. To prove 1 am
absolutely cured, I am bringing him
/ up to dinner the night we hit town
and do get seats for the theater."
Jill. as she expressed - TO herself,
/ ran hot and cold" all over at her
/ conflicting emotions, but before she
| knew it Saturday morning arrived,
and arrangements for the dinner
! took most of her time.
The two men arrived promptly
and as Jack had TO deliver a mes
sage from his superior officer TO the
/ state department, he did not even
finish his dinner. Asking Patten 20
| take Jill TO the theater, he said he
/
The conversation up to Jacks de-
/ parture was most general. Jill saw
/ Jack only a few moments alone.
Then he apoligized profusely and as
sured her what a regular fellow Pat
ten was and their sincere comrade-
ship was most evident during the
meal.
Jack had hardly gone however
when Patten at once became the
ardent admirer, only this time the
glances were full of the ardor that
Jill used TO read into them. I'VE can
firt to our hearts content now"
Patten said joyously. Jack and ]
understand each other perfectly"
"Oh yes" from Jill rather vague
". She had just been thinking how
we'll Jack looked in his uniform.
What a man this war had made OF
him.
Patten held her hand all the way
down in the taxi and Jill let him,
but she was glad they did not live
far up town. She even reused her
self 10 enter into his fiirtatious con-
versation as of old, but her thoughts
; were with Jack. A thousand things
came to her she must tell him, ask
him, but she soon found she could
not let her mind stray. for Patten'i
verbal ardor was all she once had
wished for, and now it took all her
ingenuity and wit TO play the game.
Jack did not come till almost cur
tain time Then the men suggested /;
cabaret, but Jill only shook her
head.
You'll be up for dinner tomor-
row." Jack asked Patten as he took
his leave. and Jill added her en-
treaties, so he eagerly nodded his
assent. Then Jack and Jill climbed
into a taxi.
Jill had counted on having Pat
ten as a guest for dinner Sunday; in
fact, she had made the menu espec-
tally with his tastes in mind, but
now somehow
Jack" she said suddenly as her
hand crept into his, after this when
you think things aren't best for me,
don't forbid them; tell me they're
good for me-"