Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-04
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE RETURN OF LIEU.
TENANT REDELL
BY Edith T. Therrien

"A gayly decorated with bunting and
flags. Open house was to be kept at thu
armory, where the soldiers could FIND
food, reading matter, tobacco and, bes
Of all, the society of their old friends
SO long denied them. The girls of thu
town had arranged a series of dances
4 card parties and vaudeville entertain
ments there.
1 a band stand had been erected in the
public square and the people felt they
were prepared to welcome fit,ingly their
returning heroes. A few had already
arrived, the remainder were expected
in three days, and their welcome was to
be most hearty, with speeches, music,
parades and banquets.
/ AS Marcia Meade helped in these prep
arations, her heart was heavy Must
she give up her position as private sec
retary to Mr.. Merton? 1t had belonged
to Don Redell, now Lieutenant Redell,
and Mr.. 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 mad, good, and
she did so enjoy the work. Couldn't
Don find another equally good position?
She could not get up courage to ask
Mr.. 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
wrote home that he had recovered, he
would seem more of hero than ever
to Mr.. Merton. He had been the first
man in town to enlist, and Mr.. Merton
had been very proud of his youthful
secretary who was now returning with
decorations for bravery.
How could she broach the subject 20
Mr. Merton? She must be looking for
another situation, she supposed. for hef
former one had been filed, of course
She wondered II Don would be eager to
get back to his old work. or would
prefer to rest at home for while. Was
Mr. Merton waiting for her to resign
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 parade,
cheering with the crowd, that was
simply wild with pride and enthusiasm
She was Gauick to see how fine Lieu
tenant Redell looked, with ms erect
military carriage, his brown face ana
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-f faced man.
Marcia's heart glowed with warmth
1t had never felt before. She ana 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
that she had put more of her person.
ality. 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 dec ded 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.
Asrh hn 70 hnr 1Il ,;pl, IL
frightened the grave face. He held her
hand so long, with such friendly
grasp, that a blush spread over her
usually pale cheeks.
Marcia, you were brick to write to
me 80 often. You haven't the slightest
idea of what letters meant to US fell
lows. Yours were such fine, newsy
ones always full of encouragement,
too just the kind to cheer a man up"
II am glad to have done even that
little for you, Don. 1 have been keep
ing your place for you with Mr.. Merton,
too, so that no other man would have
1t when you returned" she told him in
most friendly fashion, without a quiver
now at the loss of her fine salary and
congenial work.
"Oh, you can keep that a while longer
I am planning to run Uncle williams
1arm tnlS summer m so accustomed
to outdoor life how that an office in
warm weather has no allurement- for
me-"
Marcia stified Il 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 har-
vested l should like to take up Mr.. Mer-
toms work again." and a roguish twinkle
shone in his eyes as he saw her face
fall
"All right, Don," she agreed submis.
sively.
"By that time, dear. won't you bs
ready to give up office work and make
home for me-the home dreamed OF
over there? / didn't intend to ask you
until had become strong and husk,
again, but | find | can't wait another
minute"
THAT will suit me perfectly, my lieu
tenant" she told him, with a glad ill
| in her voice for as dearly as she loved
her work, she had discovered 20 her in.
tense astonlshment that she loved this
soldier more.
The next complete noveiette--Juiia',