The Little River news., 1919-09-24
HIS RETURN By EDITH T. THERRlEN.


 armory, where the soldiers could find food, ,sreading matter, tobacco and. best of all, the society of their old friends, so long denied them. The girls of the town had arranged a series of dances, card parties and entertainments.
 A band stand had been erected in the public square and the people felt they were prepared to welcome fittingly their returning heroes. A few had al- ready arrived the remainder were ex- pected in three days, a..d their vel come was to be most hearty, with speeches, music, parades and banquets
 As Marcia Meade helped in these preparations, her heart was heavy. Must she give up her position as pri- vate secretary to Mir. Merton? II had belonged to Don Redell, now Lieut.. Re dell and Mir. Merton had told her when she was promoted to the place that when Don returned he was to have his old position. But she had made good. and she did so enjoy the work. Couldn't Don find another equally good position?
 She could not get up courage to ask Mir. Merton to keep her. He was in- tensely patriotic and had told each of his employees that his place would be given him when he returned, with no loss of wages. Now Don had been gassed and wounded, and although he wrote home that he had recovered, he would seem more of hero than ever to Mir Merton. He had been the first man in town to enlist, and MT. Merton had been very proud of his youthful secretary, who was now returning with decorations for bravery.
 How could she broach the subject to Mir. Merton? She must be looking for another situation she supposed, for her former one had been filled, of course. She wondered if Don would be eager , to get 6ack to his old work, or would, prefer to rest at home for while. Was MT. Merton waiting for her to re- sign gracefully rather than tell her that she had only three more days? These troubled thoughts kept pace with her hands as she worked, and she hated herself that she could not feel more joy in the homecoming of the soldiers.
 When the day came, she went with the rest of the town to view the pa rade, cheering with the crowd, that was simply wild with pride and en- thusasm She was quick to see how fine Lieutenant Redell looked, with his erect military carriage, his brown face and steady eyes. Why, what had the war done to Don? He had gone away a brilliant, lovable, fun-loving boy; he had come back a stern-faced man.
 Marcias heart glowed with warmth 1t had never felt before. She and Don had been good friends in their school days but they had drifted apart. She had written to him often, because he had begged her to when he enlisted. But her letters had been almost like reporters items-news of the office force and town happenings. She wished now she had put more of her personality, more friendly spirit, into them.
 She went to the armory, where she was to be one of the hOstesses for the afternoon. She hoped that Don would come there so that she could tell him that his old place in the office was waiting for him. She had decided that as soon as she saw him step from the train.
 She had wearied of the crowd and stolen quietly away to a corner to rest. As he came to her the old boyish smile frightened the grave face. He held her hand so long, with such friendly grasp. that a blush spread over her usually pale checks.
 'Marcla, you were a hrlck to write to me so often. You haven't the slight est idea of what letters meant to us ones: always full of encouragement too; just the kind to cheer a man up"
 q am glad to have done even that little for you, Don. have been keep ing your place for you with MT. Mer- too, so that no other man would have It when you returned" she told him in most friendly fashion, without a O,liv- CT now at the loss of her fine salary and congenial work.
 "Oh, you can keep that a while long CT. I am planning to run Uncle W.T. Hams farm this summer. Pm so ac- customed to outdoor life now that an office in warm weather has no allure ment for me-"
 Marcia stif1ed tiny sigh of relief. She would have sacrificed anything for this fine soldier, but she could but re- joice that her sacrifice was not neces- sary.
 Marcia" the soldiers voice went on, though in lower tones, "you keep the office for me through the summer, and after Uncle Williams crops are all harvested I should like to take up Mir. MertOn's work again." and a roguish twinkle. shOne in his eyes as he saw her face fall.
 All right, DOn." she agreed, sub missively.
 "RV that tina door u,op,t vOu ho