The Mount Holly news., 1919-01-21
"Then, Young Man, why Don't Your"

"Then, Young Man, Why Don't Your"
right to have good time. I've work
ed all winter on war stuff-what more
do you want?"
"The boys In the camps have worked
ali winter, too, Billy. And they're not
getting any rest now, or prospect of
rest with France ahead"
He threw away his cigarette impa-
tiently, and then he said mean thing.
That's what it is to live in a small
town. You girls are like every one
else; you get one idea in your head
and you can't get 1t out. That's what
I'm going to New York for-to get
away from knitting and Red Cross
and Liberty bond f1ends and war talk.
I'm going where people understand,
where they have a broader view and
don't think you're a criminal If you
have little fun"
Then Eleanor waxed righteously
angry. Forgotten was the sock which
fell unheeded along with the ball of
yarn at her feet.
'Then, if living in New York means
to forget the war and our boys over
there for one instant, I'm glad 1 am
small-town girl. And, although Just
now you don't seem especially anxious
for my answer to a certain question
you asked me a week or so ago, I'm
going to tell you now that won't
m q rrV Won Vo,15ro n cI al~o,,U
Billy left at that, crestfallen. He
really hadn't meant to get into 1t so
deep. Besides, he really did care for
Eleanor's opinion, and he cared for
ber great deal; but he had to con-
fess that the glamour of his trip ahead
softened the sorrow of losing her very
considerably. Besides, he thought she
might change her mind by the time he
got back.
The next day William r. Seymour
registered at the big metropolitan ho-
tel and waited for Richard Merrick.
who arrived in the course of a few
hours, and proceeded to tell his trou-
bles to his friend.
'T say. Bill, has your town gone nuts
on the WARP"
"Has it?" whistled Billy.
"Im hanged If I'm not glad to get
away" went on Dickie. "a fellow
can't buy himself a pack of fags any
more without some Jane piping up
and saying: 'Wouldn't you rather in
vest In War Savings st;&nps? Or some
grandmother poking in with: Half
that, young man, would keep a Bel
glan child for one day. 1 did buy
bond. Now l wish they'd let me
alone
Same here" said Billy, gloomily.
Then Frightening: 'But we're wasting
time old man. We're here to forget.
Let's call up the girls and get some
thing started"
"The girls" were cousins of Dicks,
very fashionable and up to dAte.
"All right. I'll ring them now. Say,
Bill did you ever see so many soldiers
in your life?"
Never did Nellie says they don't
get rest. She ought to come to
New York and find out. / shouldn't
mind splurging round in uniform my
self"
But williams remark had been
overheard. An old gentleman at the
next table leaned forward. "Then,
young man. why don't you? You can
get one for nothing"
Billy flushed and murmured some
thing about doing war work. But
the old man went on. "These soldiers
and officers are leaving for overseas
duty. Most of them go from the
port of New York. The Engllshmen
and French soldiers are here on war
work. Some of them off ships that
carry our men over. They're all here
for purpose, young man. And If
they appear to splurge, surely they've
earned the right. Why shouldn't
man be proud Of his uniform"
Our friends left soon after.
Leona Merrick herself answered their
call. "Oh, I'm so glad you boys are
here. I'm nearly dead with work and
can't get a soul to help, every one is
so busy. I've got two tons Of stuff to
take from our Red Cross unit to head
quarters. I'm running motor truck.
YOU know, and you have saved my life.
The boxes are too heavy for me to
handle. I'll run the car around to
the hotel and pick you up"
The two men looked at each other,
but had nothing to say. Leona Mer-
rick was very pretty. OF course they
could not refuse.
That night, tenderly nursing the
flisters ON their hands, they got ready
- 49, - -