The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-03
Why Madae's Brain Kept Repeating
Over and Over Again ''What Does
Dicky Intend TO Dor"

ALFRED Durkee is going to enlist"
I Sepated the words mechanically.
Indeed, I am not sure that fully COM
pretended what DiclSy had said. My
/ brain was so occupied with specula-
! ton concerning my husbands attitude
/ toward the war that it refused to reg
! lister any other thought.
He had come home upon the last
night train with the news of our coun-
try's entrance into the world war
| Something in his manner as we chung
/ to each other, awed by the tidings. had
! given me the idea that he meant to
enlist Immediately, and in the darkness
had silently fought out my battle
against my selfishness until I stood
ready to do my part.
| Then he had discussed the different
phases of the news in a manner as
detached mad impersonal as if he. him
| self, had no personal interest in the
| subject The difference between his
! first manner and his later demeanor
was so puzzling that when he finally
wound up his rather rambling chatter
with the news that Alfred Durkee was
| going to enlist, I'm afraid my manner
/ was irritatingly vacant as 1 repeated
| his words.
Whats the matter, Madge?" my
| husband demanded. You act as if
you'd had--why, l don't believe you
even heard what 1 said"
The irritation In his voice reused me.
| With an effort I put aside the sombre,
puzzling thoughts which had possessed
me.
I'm rather dazed by it all" I adj
mitted, "but I'm ready now to do any
thing you wish, You said something
about going to see Mrs. Durkee, didn't
your
81 did" Dicky returned laconically.
"Of course, I'll go right over today
if you think best, but aren't you afraid
it will be intrusion? I know If / were
in her place 1 shouldn't want to see
any one"
"Now don't trot EFT that stunt OF.
Judging everyone by yourself DickyI
replied, and there was more than a
trace of irritation in his voice this
time. Because you want to crawl off
like crab into shell or hermit into
cave when anything's the matter is
no indication other women don't want
sympathy. Little Mrs. Durkee will be
all broken up by this. She worships
Aft, you Knowles the only child she
ever had. And she's a clinging sort
of little creature. She'll need some
woman, and she hasn't relative with
in a thousand miles"
''TlI go over in the morning" prom
ised And although dreading the task
intensely, / kept my word.
am very fond Of gentle, laughter
loving, little Mrs. Durkee, and / felt as
il | could not bear to see the misery.
must find on her pretty child like
face.
But to nay great surprise, after wait
ing until was sure Alfred had left for
the city, / went over to her home, feel
ing as If my feet were leaden with ev-
cry inch of the path. But she met me
at the door with the same CHEEKY smile
she always has for me. Her pretty
hair was carefully coiffed. mad her face
had been cold ereamed and powdered
so skilfully that no trace remained
Of the tears she must have shed. Only
her eyes betrayed the depth OF anguish
that was hers.
81 suppose Dicl<y told you that AL
fred is going" she said after she had
chatted inconsequently with me for
several minutes.
Yes he told me when he came home
on the late train" l returned. Il was
afraid you would think was intruding
it I came over this morning, but III
couldn't stay away"
She came over impetuously and
kissed me.
You're a dear" she said, "but don't
say anything sympathetic TO me or RI
shall begin 20 cry. ALI told me last
night when l got home. He didn't in
tend to do it until this morning,
but as / was sitting up reading. he told
me last night. managed TO keep from
crying until after he went to bed, and |
got up early and spent a full hour
massaging, powdering and prinlSing |
so he wouldn't see how bad I looked. |
OF course, didn't fool him very much, |
but did the best could. was bound !
If he could drop his career and leave
me and everything for his country II
ought to be able to keep the tears back
as my part. And, oh, how proud I am
OF hint"
Her voice was resonant as she ut
tered her proud little cry, and I gazed
amazed at the transformation in the
little woman. She had always been to
me the epitome OF everything that was