Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1919-10-30
HIS RETURN
BY EDITH T. THERRiEN.

/
armory. where the soldiers could find
! food, reading matter, tobacco and, best
or all the society Of their old friends,
$" long denied them. The girls OF the
| town had arranged series Of dances.
card parties and entertainments
band stand had been erected in the
public square and the people felt they
were prepared to welcome tittingly
their returning heroes. A few had al
ready arrived the remainder were ex.
pected in three days, I'D their vel:
! come was to be most hearty. with
speeches. music. parades and banquets.
| AS. Marcia Meade helped In these
! preparations. her heart was heavy.
! Must she give up her position as pri-
vate secretary to Mr.. Merton? II had
| belonged to Don Redell, now Lieut.. Re-
| dell, 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 made good.
| and she did. so enjoy the work.
| Couldn't Don find another equally
| good position7
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
gassed and wounded. and although he
wrote home that he had recovered he
u
| 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 breach the subject to
Dir. Merton? She must be looking for
another situation. she supposed. for her
former one had been filed. of course.
She wondered if Don would be eager
| to get back to his old work, or would
| prefer to rest at home for a while.
Was Mr.. Merton waiting for her to re-
sign gracefully rather than tell her
that she had only three more days1
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 pa
rade cheering with the crowd, that
was simply wild with pride and en-
thusiasm. She was quick to see how
fine Lieutenant Redell looked. with his
erect military carriage. his brown face
and steady eyes. Why. what had the
war done to Don1 He had gone away
a brilliant, lovable. fun-loving boy; he
had come back stern-faced man.
Marcia's heart glowed with a warmth
1t had never felt before. She and 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 ONCE
force and town happenings. She
wished now she had put more OF her
personality, 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 80 that she could tell him
that his old place In the ONCE was
waiting for him. She had decided that
as soon as she saw him step from the
train.
She had wearied Of the crowd and
stolen quietly away to corner to rest.
As he came to her the old boyish smile
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 we've q Or1ca % write
to me 80 often. You haven't the slight
est idea Of what letters meant to 10
fellows. Yours were such fne. newsy
ones; always full of encouragement.
too: Just the kind to cheer q man up"
II am glad to have done even that
little for you. Don. have been keep
ing your place for you with Mr.. Mer-
too, 80 that no other man would have
1t when you returned" she told him In
most friendly fashion. without a quiv-
er now at the loss Of her fine salary
and congenial work.
"Oh, you can keep that while long
.er. am planning to run Uncle VIII
Hams farm this summer. I'm SO &C
customed to outdoor life now that an
Office In warm weather has no allure
ment for me-"
Marcia stifled a tiny sigh Of relief.
She would have sacrificed anything fof
this fine soldier, but she could but ~
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
harvested should like to take up Mr..
Aerton's work again." and q roguish
twinkle shone In his eyes as he saw
her face fall.
"All right. Don," she agreed, sub
missively.
by that time. dear. won't you be
ready to give up ONCE work and make