The Topeka state journal., 1919-09-13

she passed along the tables. waving
their arms and shouting greetings, but
Isabella knew that she was not essen
tial to the happiness of any of them.
A captain in the medical corps. a
stranger, stood a little apart from the
others. and Isabella's heart gave a
flutter OF pleasure at sight of him.
Perhaps she could entertain him, and
so feel that she was not an outsider
after all. She went up to speak to
him, her hand out, little wistful look
look of longing to be a real part IN the
joyful celebration flushing her pretty
face.
Won't you have something else to
eat? L don't believe you went out
from here. did you? You must have
taken Captain Newman's command
when he was invalided home six
months ago. 1 am Isabella Guilford."
so did, Miss Guilford," smiled the
stranger. Pm from Michigan. Bill
Burdette is my name. I was just be-
ginning to feel bit lonely when you
came. By being brigaded with your
townsmen 1 am missing my part of
the fun in my own home town. But
it's all in the game. And these are
wonderful days, compared with the
time We spent over there"
AS they stood there in the warm
sunlight Isabella tried to make herself
believe that he had come back to her,
that he was glad because she was
there beside him. OF course 1t was
foolish, playing make-believe when
she was all of thirty, but it was bet
ter than being lonely.
All at once Peggy Lacey's visitor
dashed up to them and seized Capt.
Bill Burdette's hands. why, Bill, you
blessed thingi" she cried. Then she
stood on tiPtoe and kissed him. And
the young medical officer laughed,
held her off at arms length, and then
hugged her very close.
With an odd sinking OF the heart,
Isabella turned away unnoticed and
went back to the hot, smoky kitchen.
Life was always doing things like that
to her. A door thru which she
glimpsed a dream of happiness would
open a little way and as soon as she
started toward it, it seemed to close
with an ominous click Of the lock.
She was just an old maid and she
would have to substitute service for
self, she concluded. The war had
taught her that self-abnegation keeps
one from grieving over personal
problems. She thought of being
nurse, of going abroad during recon
struction days. There was much that
she could do. She was capable. She
knew that.
She began scraping the odd plates
that had held the cakes. piling them
in orderly rows on the Uttered tables.
She could hear the soldiers and the
girls singing outside. could hear their
cries of delight as they bumped into
each other, trying to dance on the
asphalt paving. The mayor had de-
clared a holiday.
There would be feasting and joyful
gatherings all that day. but for her it
would be time OF loneliness. Nobody
would think of asking her to Join their
party that day.
II beg your pardon" voice said
just above her ear and she turned so
quickly that an old plate slid out of
her hand and crashed on the rough
pine floor sShe looked up into the
flushing face f'the medical officer.
'I hope that you won't think me
presumptuous, Miss Guilford. 1--we
hunted all over the place for you. My
little cousin is visiting Peggy Lacy
here and when they asked me to go
home with them, l told them that
had an engagement with you. Now
what am going to do about it? You
see-you were so bright and entertain
ing, so much like the girl I've always
dreamed of meeting that I dared
He hesitated, then continued bravely:
'I thought It would be great to go off
somewhere and have a little quiet talk
with you until time for the train to
pull out for the rehabilitation camp"
Isabella's heart was beating staccato
time, but with all the coquetry born of
eve anu AAlnuOQ QOWH ~ every WOHldH
thru the ages, she smiled at him and
said in matter of fact tones. IT think
that I can manage it. Well slip
away and go home now"
She must not be too eager, she must
let the male believe himself the
hunter, she Thought as she pinned on
her smart little hat. her fingers sud-
denly cold and shaking. Life had un-
expectedly dealt her the best cards in
Loves deck. How carefully she must
play themI
| Copyright. 1910, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)-