Iron County register., 1921-10-13
Medals and Things
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS


Bah had halted them there to see the |
choice late roses and chrysanthemums
she was busy hooding and shrouding |
against the strengthening cold. Il could
cut them, to be sure" Aunt Bah ex-
planned. But it is shame not to lett
them die happy In the sun on their
own stalks"
"How l wish humanity ran in FAM
ilies!" Archy Trevor laughed, taking
Mrs. Hubert's hand. eff it did-but
there! l won't speculate on the i'm
possible. Instead, here are thanks for
what may or may not be about to
receive"
"Vivian, dear-please snub him
hard" Anna Trevor entreated with
a plaintive accent. HE has been in
sufferable now for three days over
he won't tell what. Say right off you
won't listen, no matter what it may be.
Then he will run away to sulk-and
we can have beautiful gossip"
"About me, of course-I am-fxed-
as the laws Of Medes and Persians,"
Archy interrupted.
"Good boyi' Aunt Bah murmured,
patting his arm.
He kissed her hand, saying with
twinkling eyes: "Do your worst, ladies !
I'm ready for anything-even to have
you set the cats on me"
YOU'D fke that, no doubt-now that
you have grown a cat fancier," Mrs.
Hubert said silkenly.
Archy smiled, not quite easily, an
swering: "There are cats-and cats.
l am not fond of-everything that has
claws"
"Stop fussing and be human" Aunt
Bah commanded. "When you are as
old as I am, you'll feel how wicked it
is to waste life getting grouchy about
nothing Go on and tell us your
great secret, Archy-whether It's about
money, marbles, or matrimony."
1T might concern all three-only it
doesn't" Archy answered, struggling.
'It's only-all these came in a bunch'
pulling from deep pocket a huddle
of ribbons, crosses and medals. "Near-
affidavit along with them, saying
they're all due me. I can't quite be-
lieve it"
"Archy! You darling!" Anna cried,
hugging him close. Aunt Bah did the
same as soon as he was free. Mrs.
Hubert looked on with humid eyes,
her whole being fluid. Archy had been
so silent as to what had befallen in
those months overseas-he had come
back without a scratch, and had
seemed to avoid comradely gatherings,
though he had clung to his buddy
Joe-George Green by name-closer
than to real brother. They had had
many laughs together about something
they would not name. When joe
George went on to California, his last
shouted good-by had been: "Lordy, old
son-they'll git you yet. Don't / wish
could stay and see the funl" Even
after that Archy had held his tongue.
And Vivian Hubert, whom he had
loved and lost as Vivian Dane, had
been hurt and chilled-there must be
something terrible behind this reti-
cence-nothing could make her believe
Archy had played the coward-but
there were so many, many other ways
wherein he might have tripped and
fallen she had been far from happy.
Then he had begun dangling after
the Francis woman-who affected the
intense in everything. Just now she
. owned a humanitarian craze-went
about doing good, according to her
own notion, to animals that she might
better have left alone. Cats were hel
latest specalty-hence Vivian's thrust
at Archy-he had actually carried
home for the Francis person a littel
of blind kittens rescued from drown
ing, which she insisted were entitled
to an easier death. Vivian hat
laughed easily over the story-there
by confounding the gossip who hat
told it. But she had cried Silly, hal
the night after-she had SO hopet
Archy would understand her marriag,
had been hardly of her own making
but a yielding to what her elders ii
their wisdom had decreed. By cyni
cal jest of fate, death had freed he
six months after the wedding day. Nov
the freedom was Dead sea fruit, turn
ing to ashes on her lips.
But she had rallied as women will
veiled her heart by playing with othe
suitors, telling herself the while sh
would never marry anybody. She wa
striving to hold fast to that menta
attitude-even with Archy proven
rare hero they were friends only. H
stood tossing the decorations light
from hand to hand, his sister an
Aunt Bah trying hard to snatch ther
away. Cupping the hands, he <hel
them out to Vivian, saying with hi
most whimsical smile: Hold fas
what ! give you. Remember, VII
how many times we played tha
game?"
Several million, think" Viva
managed to answer, her fingers clutcl
n ing hard what he had dropped with
them. I'm wild to look at them
may ~ she went on.
Archy shook his head. mo, Ill driv
my bargain sight unseen. These token
oo,,,a n mo frono fhraa fna fallnwo.-