The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-10-25

along. Who'd give him your address
but Anne? L saw 'em coming out OF
the CIinsarge together one day not so
long ago." cried Phoebe triumphant
~.
Chapter XCVI
What was there for me to say to
virginia? How could I tell her that
I had gone to the Clinsarge to meet
Pat Dalton, because L imagined that
! he still cared for her-and hoped she
{ still loved him? How, could L put
, into quick, shifting phrases my con-
viction that marriage is for all time
i not until persons get tired ana want want
I to change partners? virginia nau
! never mentioned her affairs to me
how could I plunge into an intimate
discussion of them?
All this flashed across my mind
as 1 stood facing the battery OF her
!, accusing eyes. Slowly 1 began to
formulate words-sentences:
Neutrality-suspicious. isn't entirely
wrong. L went to the Clinsarge be-
cause Mr.. Dalton begged me-
And then the men came into the
room. Their after-dinner chat was
over, and Virginia's dinner party
was again completed whole, IN
stead of separate units. And Virginia
and 1 were again widely separated
units.
Jim 1imped over to his favorite sis
ter's side-Sheldon followed him, and
Phoebe. That left me unprovided
for, so of course Anthony Norreys
came to. me. And L had a sudden
sense of comfort and satisfaction and
well-being.
"How goes the Canteening, Mrs.
Harrison ?" asked Mr.. Norreys, who
seems to have way of going straight
to his subject without dallying on by
paths of introduction. Are the
women working with the same en-
thusiasm for peace heroes that they
brought to the war-game?"
az think severe pledged for two
years more-and only enthusiasm
will help us to carry on" I replied,
thankful for the topic that gave me
a chance to get out of myself.
you know L asked permission to
help a bit. Can you arrange it for
me? Suppose I gave you a little
fund-say 800 a week-could you
use it to feed the soldiers and sailors
and are sending most of that home
on allotment"
"oh: Mr.. Norreys--now that's Just
splendid" I cried. Some of the
boys look SC longingly at the banana
splits after they've had their meat
and Vegetables and some of them
fish out a dime and then study and
study to what they can get for
that. 1t would be fine to tell those
hungry lads that a kind unknown
friend was-giving them a-party."
"Then that is fixed. A hundred a
week to your canteen-and you're to
report your donation to your COM
handing officer and make all your
new ARRANGEMENTS. Shall we shake
on it-friend partner?''
/ put my hand into the firm, I'M
wavering grasp of his left hand.
looked into the steady, unwavering
gaze of his keen kind eyes and an
impulsive phrase swept to my lips.
81 can't tell you how grateful I
am or how much I like being your
partner I was miserable when you
came into the room-all over some
thing stupid I'd DONE" I exclaimed
With spontaneous honesty. "And
now / forgive myself, because I've
been lucky enough to interest you
in my work.
"Pll always be interested in your
work, Mrs. Harrison" said Anthony
Norreys, in his deep, kind voice;
'"You will always be finding good
work to do in the world. And I want
you to feel that I'll always believe
in it-and stand ready to aid. That
seems to establish us-as friends.
There was a quick catch as of pain
in his voice I felt a sudden sense
of pity-and then the righteousness of
it came over me. Why should I pity
and powerful?
He didn't pity himself. He didn't
mourn the loss of his right hand
ror regret his shattered health. He
made the most of what he had saved
from the holocaust of war-and. gave
and took help with the same unself-
conscious generosity
He seemer to sense my thoughts.
'Are you-pitying me?' he asked
~rgently, 81 don't want you to. I don't
want you to be my friend because
you're sorry for me. The privilege I
had of fighting-for the Cause was
worth-two arms and a leg, too, for
good measured What 1t did to my
body doesn't matter. 1t gave me my
soul. And now the after-war work
is giving you to meas a friend, isn't
1t, Mrs. Harrison
I'm so proud. So proud" I said
happily and contentedly. ITO think
that you should be asking for my
friendship! Why-I'm only an I'M
tried, improved girl-and you're a
big man. Having you believe in me
makes me believe in Barbara Anne -
'Have you ever doubted her?''
never from the day Terry brought me
to meet her. Barbara Anne Harrison
Ia Il real person.
You make me believe in myself
There's nothing finer and kinder a
man can do for a woman than that
I said.
All the pain of the ugly friendship
Tom Mason had forced upon me
all the disappointment rising from
Jfm's failure to understand and pro-
fect me-seemed suddenly to become
unreal. to waver away out of exist
ence.
L had a friend at last. A fine.
loyal friend who would expect-who
would demand, even-that I be the
best Barbara Anne Harrison I was
capable of being.
Across the room came Jim-and he
stood close to me with an air of
possessionEwith the first show of
o jealousy I'd ever seen from him.
you've monopolized my little girl for