New Britain herald., 1925-09-14

the sewing machine that had been the only sound in the little room stopped suddenly, and Nan Mar 1 rahy leaned her elbows on the table before her and ran her fln- gers through her rough hair with weary gesture.
 Fed up, fed up, fed up!" she said ferceyl. Then all at once she laughed, looking across at the girl who sat in a low chair by the fire. with a newspaper spread on her knees.
 Nan watched her for a moment in silence, a little frown bending her level brows; then she said gently;
 Leave that old casualty list alone, dear. What is the good of | worrying yourself, when you know quite well that Tim is all right. It's no use crossing an imaginary bridge before you come to it." She pushed back her chair, and, rising, went over 10 her friend and stoop- ing, drew the newspaper gently away from her,
 "l don't believe in meeting trou- , be more than halfway" she said briskly. Heavens! what a sight I look!"
 She had caught glimpse of her reflection in a glass over the man tel-shelf, and she laughed, eyeing her rough hair ruefully,
 "Why in the world didn't kind Providence present me with a sleek head like yours?" she de- manded. She glanced down at the smooth. fair hair of the girl beside her with envy. q don't believe you're paying the least attention" she complained aggrevedly
 Joan Endicott raised her eyes. It was perfectly evident that she had not been listening.
 There are only three casualties in the - the Middlesex today" she said. Two wounded and one missing. Oh, Man.
 T absolutely decline to discuss the war" Nan broke in, curtly, though her eyes were very tender. For heavens sake let's pretend to be cheerful, even if we're not! Stand up, and let me try on your blouse - it's almost finished"
 She took Joan's hand, dragging her to her feet.
 "1 should never smile at all if it wasn't for you" Joan said. And then she added;
 From all accounts Peter must be a wonderful man."
 Nan laughed.
 He isn't not a little bit! don't suppose you'd even call him good looking. He's big if you like big man! I remember the first things that struck me about him were his eyes and the size of his boots" She laughed again, a tender little laugh of reminiscence, as she thought of the day when she had first met Peter lyster: Of the queer feeling that had seemed to shoot through every vein of her body: of the way that - for no earthly reason at all she had felt the color rising in her face as she met the whimsical smile in his gray eyes.
 She had known then, in a sud den flash of illumination, that this was the man for her. and he had told her afterwards that something of the same thought had crossed his own mind:
 This is the woman for me - this is the woman l have been waiting for all my life"
 It was not often Nan allowed her thoughts 10 stray like this; she realized how necessary it was to keep a firm hand on herself during these days, for her own sake and also for the girl with whom she was sharing homes - the poor little wife of two happy years who was wearing herself 10 a shadow for the sake of a man with a jolly laugh and heart like lion. who was facing death hun drcds of times a day out in France.
 But for Nan, Joan Endicott would have broken down under the strain of it months ago. It had been a kind Providence indeed that had sent Nan across her path way just when Tim Endicott was called to face war with all it's at tendant horrors.
 And it had been to Nan that trouble had come first,
 Peter Lyster had been wounded, seriously. Afterwards better news followed, and Nan drew a breath of relief and the strained look left her eyes a little, till now when she knew that he was out of danger and coming home.
 "If it had been me l should have gone to France if had had 10 walk every step of the way and swim the Channel" Joan said after a moment, her thoughts still with that fateful night when the yellow envelope had been put into Mans hands.
 Nan made a grimace. "Ah, but then you're Tim's wife" she said ruefully. And the war office don't recognize a sweet heart in the same way. l suppose it's all right, but She shrugged her shoulders. Anyway, shall sec him soon," she added cheerfully.
 She and Nan were a great con trast. for Nan was tall and straight as willow, with blue eyes that