The Press., 1919-12-18

the man she chose, Well-he will never be anything but chauffeur
 But the idea rankled in Mrs: Hem ingway's mind for a long while after. Janet took a firm stand! They fur nished a comfortable, though plain lit tie fiat and began to live the "happy ever after" period of their lives.
 True, the furnishings of the modest flat did not compare with the cheapest in the Hemingway household, but as Janet reminded her mother, "wasnt it the love behind a household that made it home, and not the mere ma terial thingS?"
 And after that Mrs. Hemingway de- cided to let the matter rest.
 Two years later found Janet and Gerald more comfortably established than ever Gerald had got a better pO sition in an automobile firm and the work gave him more regular hours. But there was lot of study entailed. Gerald within a short time became an expert mechanician and got another raise.
  finally bred the sore spot in JanetS heart that had been forming uncon- sciOusly for months. It was her moth CTS silent influence. She never said anything about the affair ever since the day of Janet'S last Outburst, but the silent influence was there just the same.
 ,y-hn Sh n p1 Der of girl friends to tea Janet's mother very untactfully displayed the fact that her daughter had no telephone, and pressed for a reason by her in quistive friends, Janet had lied calmly that it was source of annoyance. The truth of the matter was they could not quite afford it.
 Janet was on the verge of utter dis couragement, although there was no real cause for it except this subtle in fuence preening for the sake of a false pride The foundation of their little home was at stake! The bomb came few evenings later.
 "Wel, sweetie," Gerald said coming in enthusiastically, "Tm gOing-the big day has come Netty girl, when our country is calling all it's red bloods. and I enlist-tOmOrrOw."
 "You-what?" Janet could scarcely believe his words. "Jerry boy, tell me you are foOling. You are-Why-" she laughed frivously and turned away as though to belittle the idea as a mere passing fancy.
 The next moment she turned toward her husband again. But the expression on his chiseled features made her real iZe there was no joking to it.
 "Tm going Netty; surely you're glad. Don't stand there and gaze as though l were mad. Don't you realize what it means. Going over to protect you. other women, over there and over here. Cad, girl"
 But Janet had stopped him with her gesture. "YOu are mad. Stark mad" she burst out angrily. "hOW can you go when you have me to take care of. You know married men dent have to go. What are you th;n'in" "' md we just hen" ah'e tu S,'. q l,'ri, fran. r:uly unN?"
 And so they argued into the late hours of that evening. Twice Gerald Cummings walked to the front window and peercd down at the thropg of men who were besieging the enlistment offices on the corner.
 He pointed them out to Janet, but she was impassive. Mad men," she remarked, and shrugged her shoulders.
 And the final issue came about the aeXt morning. Gerald was firm.
 'War is a duty between man and his God" he said hotly, mot man and his wife,"
 Just enough to kindle the flame. Janet blazed her brown eyes upon him and replied, Well, if. you go, Gerald. you go for good. If you are that stub born and care for me so little. it's best we know it now. You go. Gerald, and -and-well, we part ways"
 Gerald tried a conciliation, but it was futile He decided to go! A dull period of monotony followed for Janet at the Hemingway establish ment. where she had taken refuge after Gerald had gone to camp. But the loneliness of the days she had hitherto filled to the brm with her many household cares seemed to pall Janet must do something. And so be-