South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-14

Inc minute Jane came INTO the
room, her aunt knew something was
wrong. But wisely she gave no sign.
She had not lived all these years with
this dainty specimen of feminity
without discovering that she had
a will as colossal as her famous
Revolutionary ancestors, and with
out also discovering that the way to
combat that will was by tact too
subtle and delicate for even James
sharp wits to discover.
So now instead OF crying What is
wrong, dear ?" she flew over and
took the pretty troubled wilful face
between her hands and kissed it
tenderly you look a bit tired
dear. after your long journty. But
I've told Nora to have the tea ready
when you came, so you sit here in
this chair by the fire. and when
you've had a sip or two and feel you
can talk TO your old auntie, tell me
if you had a nice time"
Jane smiled gratefully "Auntie,
I'm sure you have wings hidden un-
der that black silk waist of yours.
TT. teas splendid and l feel better
already"
But Miss Pennington noticed with
uneasiness that the troubled look
stayed.
"Auntie," exclaimed Jane sudden
ly. II had such a glorious time! 1
never dreamed a girl could be so
II al &c
worshipped soldiers, and to go to a
house where the father is a general,
one son a lieutenant colonel, anOth-
er son a major, all the cousins. and
friends, and everybody they know,
officers of distinction-why 1t was
too thrilling to talk about Army
people coming and going all the
time-the most famous people,
Auntie, you'd be surprised whom 1
me at the Lancasters. L feel as
though I'd been living in some spe-
ciaI corner of heaven and had then
suddenly been dumped back to our
prosaic old earth. Oh, 1 could have
stayed there forever"
But Phillip How about him ?"
Even as she spoke her aunt's eyes
fell on James left hand, and gasped
with dismay-the engagement ring
had disappeared!
Jane Redeemed consciously. Why,
you see. l decided that l wouldn't
marry Phillip
Miss Pennington allowed herself
10 show only mild surprise. rs that
so. dear? Have you quarrelled ?"
NO" slowly, you see it's this
way. People saw the ring. and then
they wanted to know if Phillip was
in the army. The next question ma
turally was what branch of the serv-
ice ne was in. and finally it would
come out that he was just a private.
And 1 hated it so. love soldiers,
but YOU know our ancestors We're
all high officers, born to command.
and maybe it's their blood in me
that respects the person of author
ity And l just couldn't go on tell
ing people / was engaged to a
private, and when / found that l was
ashamed to acknowledge Phillip,
tooh of his ring. l can't marry him
and I'll tell him so this evening when
ne comes His Through is up to-
morrow and he has to go back 20
camp. / know it's an awful way 10
feel but I'm honest about it. When
YOU feel that respect is essential to
love. and you haven't that respect
it's time 10 end il.
Her aunt brushed some wood
ashes back in the hearth and adjust
ed the screen. Perhaps that ac-
counted for the unusual high color
in her face.
All right. dear. you know best. -
she answered calmly after "a minute.
But. of course, you're tired now and
maybe youll think better OF it later.
Now suppose YOU go up and rest a
while before you dress for dinner.
have some knitting to deliver TO
headquarters and I'm going out for
little while That's the girl, Well
talk things over this evening"
Jane looked relieved as she rose
to go. II knew you'd understand
auntie. YOU always do. 1t isn't that
don't think Paillip is perfectly fine
and dear in every way It's Just
that
But Miss Pennington didn't take
any knitting when she went out In
stead she went To "a telephone booth
/ and a few minutes later she met
Phillip West in the blue room OF the
/ Waldorf
/ II an hour she was home as she
/ has said just in time 10 change into
soft crepe de chine for dinner.
Her fingers trembled SO. she could
I scarcely fasten the hooks. Had she
I done right in taking things INTO her
\ own hands. and trying 10 save the
! happiness OF the two young people
/ she loved best in the world? JUS
such O foolish. mistaken pride had
7 ruined her own life and she Wa
I reaping the bitter fruits OF what sh'
had sown. That was because she had