The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-02

Yher lap, wondered HAehSc
mo leaden feeling IN her heaIt
She pondered the Imminent me-
ong with Earl Baldwin. She ME-"
lgaee that the old question was !.
Sonened as to whether sac ~oui"
a him. Evidently her insiSt.
on going 10 France In the lace
bis violent protests had not
.snched his ardor utterly. lheF'
IN been many n weeks silence,
Lhen one or two casual letters anu
now this telegram. ,,,,io
Well, marriage with MIN Wouio
A~caTtainly be a solution, II one CGu
tok al Il in that way. somehow
m other. the little home town OF
Preston had seemed dreadIully duli
aimee her return. II was nara 70
nick up the old threads again, hara
10 find a niche in which TO take rel
re from the memories which OBJ
ksed her.
.bse memories OF the days IN
sFance. Not 4 trained nurse, CARO-
IIine had yet managed 10 eluxc lns
red tape restrictions and sup
sacross. a thing not SO difficult 10
IN the early, short-handed days
se war. Once arrived, her ell:
and tireIess personality had
i her 10 make good where
rs less capable had been Sent
~Those days were over now but
perpetually, home in Preston
where nothing ever happened, m
ted visions Qt places ana episoaes
81 France. Ana OF all the recollec'
TONS. n alone never Iett net
"a picture oil a tail, thin hgnrc ~
luki, both arms IN a sling, u htI
lear his insignia.
lThe discovery that they hau u
P6ommon bond between them-tney
had both seen Niagara Falls!-!e4
hem on to further conversations!
pIorations. Bit by bit. Caroline
aw nm on to tell OF his western
anadtan home, a rolling prairie
Iffinged at q Tar horizon with Dluc
mountains. BY means OF such III
1ocent advances their acqualhtdncc
lipened into friendship. Then SUD
ienly, impetuously, he told her ne
ll5reu her, and she, Heaven forgive
her! had taken his declaration
tightly, doubling It's real worth.
1CoYafescents SO often lell in love
with their nurses.
The next day he had been dis
CHARGED. Practically 'as good as
new, he had returned TO the front.
She hau never seen him again, dld
not know II lie were alive or ueau.
But little my little she mad come
to realize mat his love was not
gre gratitude, but u passion so
and deep that, by us very in
lity, it had succeeded III awaken
q response III her-a Response
however, which came too late.
She had never mentioned MIN 10
her family. This was que partly
to a delicate ]rettCence on Il subject
which Touched ne. - ueerIs pa'r
" to aIeenng that uIe:G N.udiI DC
no patience Mitn a seis,iIaSnt whlCn
turned uown EH.I DII@%.I sGJ'I
stantial self IN as ~ : .Iuuuwy
rpparition submes sea N ~ l.lIbu
Awar that ma JrC,
l to ten, caroline never
oil him as llvuiB. so very
those VINO Went ut llTs.
- I5afe ana whole tuddy.
IIt the memory OF nam !uuSa !
against ner acceptance OF La,
nd in addition, tnerG was ,a4,
Ming about Earl himself. Muui,
he same pig,headeuness wnie",
she reuuseu TO Tespent ans
hes about going TO France, Icr
10 suIk tUr months. prove vi
e4nSurmouutable barrier TO MuuUcd
/l~Iappiness? Houlu not that wuleu,
l
in youth, might CharitaDiy be
called force OF character, degener.
ate with the years into Sheer dom.
mating assertlVeness?
Yet Caroline was no advocate OF
the single life for man or woman,
She believed in homes and III vhti'
dren. This was probably her iastA
opportunity Tor marriage. Even II
her dream lover were alive n
had never told him where n lived,
and he would never know that she
returned his love. Take 1t all IN
an, the sensible, SANE thing was
to marry Earl.
Three hours later, Carolina, in
the midst or Il patiently ~eSpuCtant
= family, sat awaiting the coming OF
the man she had decided TO marry.
20 every one but herself the hour
tinged with romance, for Car.
les sisters understood without
ing told that Earl was coming
a &ask Caroline to marry him, Ii
OF course dear Caroline would say
Eyes" imagine any girl nearing
her thirties refusing a successful
man like Earl!
Now, don't be mean and keep
him waiting for hi5 answer, Carol,
admonishcd Alice. Remember
how long he has waited already"
IL Caroline W OF the lOns
DAYS in France when she had wail.
eu for a letter from Earl, she gave
no sign. Some hidden, almost psy.
chic, Lorcc seemed projected from
the entire family, pushing her into
the arms OF the man who was com.
i1g. There was TO be, evidently,
N6,escApe.
IN through the open window
drifted the fragrance OF lilacs, anu
ever afterward Caroline associated
them with this hour. Suddenly the
bell rang and all eyes focused on
Caroline. Again she felt their in
Tluence as she rose slowly and left
the room. 1t was long before she
For when Caroline with fingers
that were cold, opened the door, [
she drew back stunned, with a
short gasping cry, "You-you!"
A splendid, tall young man, quiet.
eyed and smiling, stood on the step,
his hP in his hand. Caroline drew
into te twilight OF the hall ana
was / turn drawn into the shelter
of hill, arms.
Many seconds later, Caroline put
the, question, How did you find
Don't you remember, dear, the
first night | was brought TO the
hospital? couldn't sleep and you
stopped as you were passing
through the ward and read to me
49,