New Britain herald., 1926-12-17

broken by short, gasping sobs don't call me just-just a little little pal--tonight. Call mccall me your oh. Jim, you're going-gong away--to the war, I'll never sec see you again---I know, Iou'll-oh. k-kiss me, won't you Jim? Not as you've - you've always k-kissed me before-but-oh, Jim."
 | Tenderly he took the shaking form in his arms and drew it close. He bent his head and his lips touched hers. But the quick pas sionate cling of those lips of hers was something far different from anything Jim Elwell had ever known before. The blood leaped to ! his heart and then went pounding | through his arteries in hot, fierce drive.
 He felt the young breast held close to his own lift and fall in throbs of short, quick breath. After a minute he raised his head and drew her out from the shadow of the tree where he could see into 1 her upturncd face.
 The big fuil moon shining down through the leaves reflected its sil- very splendor in the dark eyes loo,:.- ing up into his and he saw there the light 'ne'er seen on land or sea-" He read there the old. old story of the things that are--the revelation of life. of nature itself. In their hu- mid depths he saw revealed the great underlying secret. the immort- al story Of the Universe. Jim Elwell was awake at last. He loved and was loved. With fervent exclamation, he kissed her again and again.
 Dear" he said, "and I was so blind.
 Her arms frightened around his neck. T love you. Jim. I can't bear to see you go away to war. It will kill me-"
 He tried to comfort her. tried to tell her that he was coming back safe and sound. With America in the war. dear, it can't last long. Why" he laughed bravely-"those fellows will be ready to quit the minute we land in France. You know that. honey. Don't worry. Jim doesn't want you to. It would make him feel badly if he thought you were worrying about him. Be brave, l sweetheart"
 | He held her close until her sob shaken body was still. Thirty min- utes later she left him to go into the house. But before she went she had l conf1ded in him another secret and given to him the promise he had ex- acted.
 "Yes, Jnl," was the answer she made 10 his question. T promise Not until you come back shall any. one except sister learn from me ouI secret. And if" her arms tight ened around his neck she was still for moment and then went on. fighting bravely to keep her voice from breaking-'if you don't-don't come back we'l-she and Twill keep it secret always But come back. Jim
 He would, he told her, and kissed her hands.
 "All right" she whispered. And now, my big pal-my sweetheart I'm going in and tell sister"
 She was gone, and once more, as she moved from the shade Of the trees. tho moonbeams fell across her lavender frock. Jim Elwell's eyes were brimming.
 He turned back into the shadow of the naples. He wanted to think 10 be alone for while-out there in the splendor of the Indiana night where he had found this sweet and wonderful thing, this fragrant rose Of loves young dream that had so suddenly bloomed in his life How could 1t be possible, he thought, that he had gone on all these years without seeing 1t before And to discover 1t on the eve, el- most, of his going away. perhaps never to return. The irony of it.
 And as he stood there thinking there came to Jim Elwell remem brance of many little incidents which at the time of their occur. renee had seemed of no importance to him.
 But now in the light of what he ho ,,i %oI 1,t self he would rather cut off his right hand than take chance of his other little pal being hurt. He was fully convinced now that he had done the right thing In exacting the promise. .. The three of them would catch the morning train for Chicago. He would telegraph Dick to meet them and The voice of his mother broke in