The Yale expositor., 1920-01-08
sTHE ARMY DENTIST
BY EMMA p. WILLIAMS.

OF aust lnht rose In IT'S wake. VIZ
ginia's eyes filed with longing az they
followed the car, then dropped visit
fully to the letter in her hand.
"If only I could follow the trail Of
the automobile" she murmured long
ingly. why couldn't I. anyways"
came defiantly as she lifted the letter
and reread the offer which opened
to her the chance she sought so eager
ly, the opportunity to return city
ward, to teach, to be one OF the mil
lion active human beings instead OF
existing in u half-dead village, stag
nant, dislnterested.
She groaned aloud. or what use
were her years at college, her strug-
gle to graduate at the head Of her class,
if all must end this way?
A slight sound aroused her atten-
tion-a book falling from the Imply
closed fingers OF her mother, who had
fallen asleep in the rocking chair. The
soft lace on her bosom rose and fell
gently, evenly; and one large tear
strayed slowly down her cheek. What
was she dreaming Of. to cause the
tearr Virginia wondered. and In
stantly surmised the answer. In
twinkling, the tempting letter was
torn into fragments and tossed into
the fireplace. Virginia's decision was
made.
Mrs. Marsh was delighted when she
learned of Virgnia's decision. Her
merry brown eyes cleaned mischiev-
ously, and when, on a later day, she
told her daughter Of the expected ar
rival of DIR. Ernest Harlow. family
friend, her eyes twinkled again.
Virginia was making flaky biscuits
when the guest arrived. He sat on
the cool porch with mother, and I'M
der the spell Of her broad sympathy,
he told Of his experiences. Three
years of service In the hospitals
abroad. Hard, nerve-racking work J
Must recuperate before starting in
with dental practice on this side OF
the great ocean. Need Of dentists in
the army2 I guess yes! Terrific
demand; no rest, day after day" So
he conversed, and later. I'm tired OF
everything. That's the way feel. Just
exhausted. Don't want TO zee the
street cars, the theaters, anything be-
longing to civilization. Don't even
want to see a girl again.
Virginia pricked up her ears and
listened more intently.
"Girls are killingiy silly about uni
form. OF course they mean well, but
when a man is worn to a fragile, he
can't be bothered with a giddy, sim
pering fllrt."
Virginia rang the bell for dinner.
When Mrs. Marsh led the doctor to
the attractive dining hoom no Virginia
was in sight. A telephone call ap-
prised Mrs. Marsh of the fact that
her daughter was lunching with a
neighbor. Mrs. Marsh smiled know
ingly, urging her guest To eat. He
started in nonchalantly, but the lus-
cious vegetable salad, the hot biscuits
and tender sliced chicken tasted as
no nectar tasted TO the gods. A
foamlng glass OF ice cold milk was
soon empued. Then the raspberry
short cake, and the gooseberry jam
"You are q wonderful cook" de-
clared the tired doctor.
"Give all the praise to Virginia"
Mrs. Marsh returned.
II haven't met your daughter yet,
Where Is she7" Doctor Harlow look
ed around eagerly.
"She doesn't care for men," smiled
Mrs. Marsh. "They are such silly fiirta-
tious creatures-as rule. But you
will meet her sometime, I suppose"
Life from that day became very In
teresting to Virginia Marsh. Commu-
nifty work and city environment were
forgotten in the new game OF lodging
the attractive young man who couldn't
be bothered with girls, but who very
plainly showed his desire to become
better acquainted with the clever
housekeeper, whose picture found Its
way to his bureau. He met her, Of
course, and tried to interest her in his
European adventures, but there was an
offishness in her manner which irri-
tated and stung him into determine
ton TO win her attention.
One evening he induced her to pad
die across the lake with him. Far out
from the shore he trailed his paddle
carelessly behind him and leaned to-
wards the girl, grimly determined
to have his say uninterrupted. "vir-
ginia, I can't get you or my mind at
all. I'm mad about you, so wildly in
love that you've got to give me one
word of encouragement or Tll-rll-
well, I don't want to think what I
might do. Couldn't you care enough
for me to be my wife7"
Vlrginia's eyes dropped to hide from
him the light Of love that rose tri-
umphantly thrilling. II gave up n
career to stay with my mother. For
the same reason must renounce all
thought OF marrying. i cannot leave
her"
Couldn't we take the little mother
with as. Virginia7"
"She would die Of inconsistencies,
for she has lived here all her life.
No, she would refuse to go, 1 am
sure"
The Doctors brow grew wrinkled.
He gritted his teeth and looked more