The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-01-20
MY HEART TURNS BACK TO
BOB. AND I REMEMHEi,
OUR DEBTS

NAN' Nlhinlth HNfhflNs ~
have said before. and | have also
saFgod omotlonaily have fallen
into an awruily hyrterical state. I
can scarcely speak to any one OF
the family about Bob without cry.
ing. Hob ~ forever In the back Of
my mind. even while ! fret and fuss
about crown Jewels and mysterious
dukes and my own tickle nature.
And lately. | have begun to value
points about Bob which used 90 lr.
ritate me There's his dreadful
spa ,urnness IL has made me
writhe so often. but lately realize
that II has often kept me from
webbing woefuily and from follow.
ing after many a faddlsh will-o''the
winp
no longer scan the casualty lists.
for mother has had letter. from Bob
since the armialice was signed How.
ever. we do not know whether he
IL on his way home or whether he
r. with the divisions which are pa.
trolling the Rhine.
once more. just as when Bob first
went away | pick out all the Herv-
ic. hats which top the crowds IN the
streets. and watch them anxiously
aH they come closer My glance
must be cagcr-intimate- some
times Il cmbarranFeH It's unfortunate
object or makes him stop % speak
20 me- I hurry on--and pick out
the next Hixfooter Bob MIGHT
chance TO come home unhernldcdi
some men do. And | wonder and
wonder how Bob Will greet me when
he comes az last.
Sometimes. as I study the soldiers
In tho crowds. come face TO face
with an old friend. Only yesterday
I met Tommy. the groccr's boy--a
very thin Tommy. with mendcd
leg and one eye gone. or rather. re
placed with a strange false eye.
Tommy greeted mo with the
cheerful smile" which all veterans
hand us people who have stayed AT
home.
How little some Of uA underpta nd
that cheerful" sfullei We are 20
apt TO accept Il too quickly as sny
ing that ~e need not worry at all
about tho smiling soldier boy, "he'r
an riHhtr' Ills cheerfulncas relieves
the strain upon our eousciencss. and
90 we do not take the trouble 10 pro.
vide him with job and n little fun
an well.
The war IL over. bat not one Of us
who stayed at home Is released from
debt 60 IN. men who fought over
there. Heaven cannot help nor
he'll punish the soddsn soulicsp b.
poGn who fail 70 realize that they
are forever indebted 20 the casual
ties OF the war Their obligation
can never be wiped out
Tommy has no homo 10 come back
to suspected az much when he
went away. Bgi Mother Lorimor
hunted up one ior him. lilo IL go
lng TO board with widow whose
son Is buried somewhere IN France
Daddy talked with him a Ions
time. and came into mothers coxy
sitting room aftcrward with tears in
HIS cyva.
II got at the chaps affairs" he
explained How do you suppose he
had his Insurance made OUT To
two nrwaboys who pedile papers
near hts old grocery standi Can
you beat ~"
The dear. good boy- murnurcd
Mrs. James -. Lorimcr. that re
served lady. whom many social
climbers consider very proud and
naughty. james, she said. after
a pause. well buy grocery store
for Tommy
Now. mother" Daddy protested.
Tommy only delivered the goods.
That's quite different you know.
from running the store -
you can help him." suggested
mother.
"Me7 Madam. what do know
about the grocery business? II takes
genius TO make u pay Then. IA
he met mothers smile. he added
meekiy; You've always pushed me
on To bigger ventures and greater
successes. my dear suppose I'm
not too Old TO learn the grocery
business. SO. 20 ahead. buy n gro.
Gerry for Tommy. Perhaps he and ]
together can make II go"
CTo he Continued