The Lamar register., 1919-06-04


He was in the hall tonight. decorat-
ed and handsome. with one of the
Halsey girls beside him. Evelyn. the
prettlest one. Katherine heard some
one say they We're engaged, and sud
denly she realized that all of the
girls and friends OF her own glrlhood
had some special soldier TO welcome
and cling to. Her straight, dark
brows drew together slightly, and
She drew her fur cloak closer around
her. II was chilly In the back OF the
hall. She heard a window close two
seats behind her. and glanced back
10 see who had noticed her dlscom-
fort.
He was II stranger to her. tall,
deeply tanned western type OF man,
with service bars on his sleeve La
ter rs the meeting broke up. she
noticed he walked with limp, and
appeared to know nobody there.
Their eyes met again. hers with
quick questioning Of her duty to him,
ns the other members OF the com
mittee speedily gathered up their
guest units among the boys and went
home.
"I'll send your silk flags home to-
morrow, Katherine" Mrs. Hampton
called ~ She went out, but under the
words Katherine knew there was the
ccnsure. All she had done was to
furnish silk flags and money for the
decorations She turned with sud
den impulse to the stranger and lnvlt-
ed him home to dinner with her.
Maria's eyes opened widely when
She wns told to sci an extra place for
strange man, hut, after the rrst
half hour, Katherine began to find her
self-conSclouSness leaving her, as he
Snt at her fathers place and told of
his experiences at the front. He was
Just out of the hospital and had come
north with the Maine units because
he had friends among them.
There's no one expecting me spe-
cinlly." he added. "My people are all
gone, excepting sister out In Sc
aftle."
And then, how It happened she
never knew. but Katherine saw him
grow tense and white. and Maria
helped her lift him to the couch In
the doctors old room next the study.
Shell shock aud overexertion, young
Doctor Morton's verdict was. lie
must rest and be cheered up before
he tried TO go on farther.
In The days that followed the full
lesson Of war came home 10 Kath-
crime as II had never before done.
clad in white. she took her place as
Ipf. D. Il...
back TO the normal. He was Bob Lor-
inner. she found out. nothing more. but
at the end of six weeks. when he was
able TO have breakfast in the little
sun parlor on the dining room. she
fell AS II he had always been part
Of her home.
II suppose II didn't mean anything
to you. Miss Fenway. that night" he
was telling her; you just did your
duty by strange soldier. but to me
it was handing me back my faith In
human nature. I'd said all the time
since We landed, nobody cared except
Ing those who really belonged 10 you.
don't you know, and hadn't soul.
| don't see how you'll ever get rid Of
me now"
She was pouring his coffee. and met
his eyes for one swift second a. their
hands touched In passing cups. but the
undercurrent OF appeal In his words
sent the color to her face delicately.
Marin WAS singing gospel hymns out
IN the buttery and Cheer Up. the
canary overhead. was trying wildly
To keep up with her. The sunlight
poured through the south windows on
rows Of Towering plants and the pink
and white china.
at will be very lonely without you"
She said, softly. You've made me
feel Hs If had been given the oupor
tUulty TO realize u little of what serN
Ice meant In having you here"
And nothing more" he urged
''WOuld you Just as soon have taken
IN one OF the others instead Of me-
I've liked 10 think that right from ID.
first time we looked at each other you
meant to ask me-"
His hands had closed over hers and
katherine felt 4 relaxing OF all the
old prejudlces as she looked at him
lnughlngly.
"Oh. dear Bob. I've grown accus-
toned to you here. and don't know
whether | want you to go away or not
It's just like taking the camel in yuur
rent. Isn't TT Marie said the first day