The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-09-27

TIE eiecl Oil Ills senses Oi either the
rose and hOneysuckle scents of June
or the brilliance of the evening sky.
The sky tints faded the landscape be-
came indistinct he also, but he hardly
realized il, until
Kenneth Dave, his roommate, came
briskly up the steps, whistling a happy
measure. He laid a friendly hand IN
Toms broad back. Kenneth was but
W years younger than the other, but
his slenderness and his boyish ways
han his friend OF the big, weli-illed-
out frame. q.
Still shivering on the brink, Tom?
Let's see If | am right"
He snapped on the veranda light.
Tom deliberately turned his face to-
ward him so that he could see plainly
the network of worry lines, the doleful
mouth, the melancholy eyes.
I'm right. How many times lately
have | found you like this? Brace up.
It's not hard getting a girl to say
Yes"
"Well, WELL" came the deep voice Of
the big man, showing some interest in
my affairs at last"
you know I'm interested"
"Shucks! Since your dear girl prom
ised to make you happy for life, you've
made me into an acutely infiamed re-
ceptacle of your condolences. So con
slant, so burning have been your re-
citals Of your rapturous reactions to
the magic little Yes you brought back
from the dearest, the brightest, the
whole universe. Have a heart, Ken.
How do you suppose 1t makes me feel
to have you dangling your happiness
before my miseryT
But | want you to be happy, too.
See your Gwendolyn. She's home.
Came on the noon train" .
"How do you knowT
"Jean told me-"
Just been to seen Jean? And can't
you understand yet how such an angel
from heaven could condescend to such
a cled as your
"Oh, let up, Tom, will you? Don't try
to make Out I've been talking such
drivel as that"
Tom looked at the boys flushed
~countenance and discharged a vOlley
of heavy ha has, which he repeated at
short intervals. Kenneth wondered
how a miserable man could laugh with
&C mucfr spirit.
Suddenly Toms mirth gave way to
melancholy. His face assumed its pre-
vious expression. He groaned: This
Is awful, Ken
Putting it off only makes il harder
for you. A coward dies a thousand
deaths, a brave"
1--WE died that many already"
"But you were the bravest of the
brave at the front. | shall ever forget
how you put the heart into me. l wish
Il would do anything"
"Bless you! You shall be my proxy.
Interview G~wendolyn for me. Flushed
with confidence from yoar own recent
victory. you couldn't fail for me. Boy,
you looked scared 10 DEATH"
"But, Tom, that sort Of thing always
fails"
1T won't this time"
Finally Toms insistence pushed Ken.
meth off the veranda and sent him on
his way, with cold perspiration on his
brow, heart performing antics, throat
parched. lie felt just as If he were re-
peating his first experience in the front
line. But Gwendolyn Bly's cordial.
friendly manner put him immediately
at ease, temporarily. She declared
that she was glad Tom had sent him
In his stead. Kenneth Imagined that
he suw a CLEAN of mischief dart from
her eyes, but she became serious Of
~countenance so quickly that he con.
clnded he had been mistaken.
st want 10 ask some questions about
Tom before | decide" she said; NOW
youll be frank?'
There's not one thing about Tom
I'd be afraid To tell. He's just the best
old chap" His tones were ~ioyfully
confident. "He was SO brave in battle.
He's the s%trHightest. most loyal"
j III u't dliHiu Hc tan hC VI any
big way, but little things do so much
to make or mar married life."
Then the inquisition began.
In answer to her first question, he
could not tell her that Tenn WAS inva-
riahly tidy. that he felt SIRE that Toin's
wife would not hav to run around
after him. picking up and putting his
things where they belonged. Next.
Kenneth had to admit that Tom some
times gave way to bursts Of anger and
impotence. He didn't carefully con-
slider every cent before spending. Ken
Meth couldn't truthfully deny Toms
love Of practical i0king. and wasn't
certain that even his wife would be ex-
einpt from those jokes. Tom did love
his stomach.
Kenneth couldn't answer mo" TO her
questions regarding the possibility Of
Toms demanding pie three fimes a
day. and perhaps just before going Ia
bed. Kenneth wished desperately that
ne was a good liar. He wished h,
could say convincingly that Toin loved
classical music. that he would gladl.
omp his wife to all concert of
the classical order. There wasn't a
minor falling of Toms that GwendoIy,.
didn't force him to admit. that SHE
atso,. ,,ota ~ ridiculous inheritance