Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-30
"Dear!" 1 said; thankful to say
BY BERTA RUCK.

iol uAuAl ~ uledl tnaI the DeSt OF
life was near me at last? She said
nothing. I would have cut OF my
right hand for her then. 1
made her lean her black little head
against my shoulder and she did not
seem to mind a bit. To think thai at
last. after all my loneliness and empty
dreams. a girls head rested there at
last! 1t was too wonderful; it was
more wonderful than / could even feel
at the time-from reaction, I sup
posed. A sweetheart at last! l was
only Jack Smith the young railway
official, a chap like thousands Of oth>
ers, but the most Wonderful thing in
the world was coming to me as surely
as 1t came to Romeo and those lovers
whose story lasts forever. A sweet
heart! I should realize it presently;
my chance, my luck. For she must
be a darling to let her head rest
there.
"You are a darling" said, my
heart humping, and myself feeling
sort of miserable all over-because 1
was SO overjoyed, 1 expect. "You
know I wouldn't ever hurt you for the
world, Phyllis, don't you?"
Il do know. I'm sure of it," (Soft>.
ly) You wouldn't hurt q soul or make
sweetest boy"
do you really think that Of me?
You wouldn't tell me once" I remind
ed her. You know I'd never mean
to get on your nerves or anything.
And you do like to be with me-"
Il do. I do. You Oh, you're a
comfort to be with"
Funny way of putting it! But at
least l was sure of her now. Clearing
my throat I said, Stay with me for
keeps, Phyllis?"
There, it was out now. That rotten
nervous mood threatened me for a
mistake. This isn't what you want"
showed the mood away. watching
Phyllis's silent face, reflected in the
glass Of the carriage-window. We
passed a field with elms; three birds
flew out.
I said, Look. Three magpies. How
does that count in road-cribbage?
Don't three magpies mean a wedding?
Let it be ours, Phyllis? ?"
She smiled. l held her hands tight
RIA went on telling her I>knew it
was neck, my asking her at all, even
now I'd got my promotion; but that
IT she's be engaged to mo I'd work
like ten million niggers to- make good
and get on. I went on about how l
Knew that no end Of chaps a lot more
brilliant than I was would tell her the
same thing, but that none of them
would try harder to make her happy
or look after her in every possible
way; there was nothing I wouldn't do
and she could bank on me. (She
NEW that)
l talked an awful lot before I could
get her to promise anything definite;
and l began to feel very ANXIOUS. We
were getting towards town and I felt
mustn't let her step out of that train
without fixing it up. She might go
off and meet some of those other men
mood of thinking 1 was the sweetest
boy" I couldn't let her. What would
be left for me? That life without a
sweetheart, with nothing to look for
ward to-. That beastly blank loneli-
ness of London before
Phyllis, Phyllis" I heard myself
beg, and l clutched her hands.
"Please. You must be kind to me. l.
I CAM stand it, 1 say. If you turn me
down. You won't, will you? You'll
have me?"
Suddenly she turned. Her yes were
big; her whole ace upset.
"oh, Jack dear! D'you think !
ought tot" she cried. You're such d
dear. L. 1t playing the game? I'd feel
safe and at home and on a rock Of af-
lection with you, I know! But And
II l OOHL I6he yOu, yOuIl ilHu some
girl who'd suit you so much better"
II shouldn't. ever!"I told her, with
another backward glance 1t those, hor-
rible days. . You're the only
one / shall ever see. What d'you mean
by II you ought? II you could-oh
Phyllis. I'd be the proudest chap on
earth-'
"Too good for ,this!" she muttered
as II 1t broke from her. TOO good for
me"
"Phyllis!" I nearly shouted. How
could I allow her to say such things2
i"Only ray you'll have mel"
And ! knew I'd got to clinch II, now;
clinch Il. ! wasn't going to let her
slip away. ! iust wouldn't walk home
with her again through streets and
parks crowded with lovers Gas they
always seem to be now), and 1 the
only man In sight. perhaps, who hadn't
got a sweetheart OF his own. We
were all born TO have one, We young
chaps Of Ill tte countries OF the
world. We've lot 70 find her. Here
w1s mine; must be. Next time ]. toak
her anywhere I must be able "a look
at al the young lei IN uniform or
civvieS with girls beside them and \
must be able to think. ssNoe one elem
--LA- "a - -