New Britain herald., 1925-10-06

ledet, not yet dont want her 10 know yet" He broke of.
 For a moment his heart seemed to stand still as he thought Of Mans engagement,
 Had she done this because Of him2
 The train started slowly out of the station,
 Tell me who you are" Peter said,
 She smiled,
 I'm Joan Enaicott. Nan and have lived together for ever so long --- ever since you and Tim went to the war; she must have told you about me she wrote to you for months from my flat"
 Did she?" said Peter; his voice sounded humiliated, T can't re- member having any letters, I cant remember your name, or ever writing to a woman at all. ." He brought his clenched fist down on his knee heavily. My God, it's hard." he said, with sud- den passion. Its not fair-I ought to have been told - I ought to have been stopped from hurting anyone as - as I must have hurt here
 Tt nearly broke her heart" |" Joan said She was enjoying her- self now: this was better than all the novels she had read she meant to let Peter know exactly what Nan had suffered,
 He moved restlessly.
 Co on - tell me all about 1t"
 There isn't much to tell it was after you were wounded Nan had been SO patient and plucky-they told her she mustn't expect any letters from you as you were not we'll enough to write; and she said she didn't mind, that she was content to wait. And then -- one evening MT. Arnott came to the flat neither of us knew him; but Nan had q letter from him once | from France he wrote to her when you were wounded and told her that you were In town, but that you had lost your memory, and could not remember her. or any thing about her or that you were engaged, or - or -- any thing. Nan wouldn't believe tt-she laughed at him; she said that she was sure that you could never for get her. She went with him, back to the hotel where you were stay. ing she said she must see you fol herself she said that She was sure when you saw her it would be all right. ." She stopped witt sudden tragic memory of how Mar had looked that night when she came back.
 Yes - go on, please
 "She wasn't gone very long, Joan said sorrowfully. "she came back quite soon. She didn't say much, but I just knew by her fact that nothing would ever be righ again. She told me afterwards tha she walked right into the room where you were and that you didn know her, that you looked at he as if you had never seen her in al your life before. Oh poor poor Nan!" she added.
 There was bitter silence
 And I think that's all" sh' said. Her stepmother died the day after, I think it was, and she hat to so home to look after the little boys at Leavenden. and she's beer there ever since"
 And and she never wished me to be told-7" Peter asked huskily.
 She wouldn't hear of 1t. know MT Arnott wanted to tell you, but Nan said she would never forgive him If he di1. She made us al promise"
 Peter looked up
 Do you know that she Is en. gagged to another man now?" he | asked suQQenly.
 Joan stared; then she laughed.
 Nan engaged to another man Rubbish" she said. "Why-why she was ever so much too fond oi you to ever look at anyone else. Sht just lived for the time when yol would come back. She had made all her clothes to be married in She was so happy. Why you were to have been married when yor got your next leave" She added thoushtlessly.
 Peter flushed to the roots of hi. hair. It was an intolerable situa tion.
 She Is engaged to another man all the same" he said constrained lv. "A man named Harley sefton He has plenty of money and fin, place down at Gadsden."
 Joan smiled incredulously.
 Somebody has jutt made 1t ul and told you" she said, scornfully Nan would never do such 8 thing I know"
 He sat staring down at the dust! floor of the carriage; Joan watched him intently.
 She was not quite sure of hin yet; 1t all seemed strange and un believable to her.
 Suddenly she moved a little alons the seat towards him.
 What are you going to do?' she asked gently. What do you wan1 me 10 do?"
 He raised his unhappy eyes tc hers.
 What can do?" he asked. "It'. all so impossible
 Joan considered for 6 moment,
 T should like to help you" sht said, frankly. T should like to helr Nan, too -- If there Is anything ] can do anything I will, promise you"
 Thank you - am sure you will. And there is something--wil you find out why che is going u l R.h GA