New Britain herald., 1927-06-27
{ wDA McCONt GIBSON

Would you like to go to tn, opera tonight. Mother?" he asked.
 "Yes, Son. I'd be delighted to go.
 And don't you think" he said that we had better go to the tailor! so that I can have some new civil ian clothes made. It will only be { short time now before l am out O. uniform"
 Then you have decided to sta! over here, Son?" asked Anne. hel voice trembling little.
 "Whether l stay or not" Phi answered, "I'd like some English clothes. All the Bond street tailor: have a branch over here. hope you will help me to get discharged on this side. don't think l could stand another trip back like the one i I had coming over. That doesn't sound very brave, does it? But com. ing over, you know, I had definite object in view. There was a heroic gesture before me. As someone ha: said, we started over as heroes and I at least would be going back as disabled man, unless l was dis charged on this side"
 "Of course, Son, I'd love to have YOU 20 back with me, and we will start things in preparation for that right away"
 Mother" asked Phillip abruptly. Fare you in love with Major Aux land?"
 "Why do you ask me such a thing" .- "Well. I've been wondering just what I would do on the other side. if, when I got back there found you had determined to make him your husband"
 Anne smiled. That sounds rather l funny, Phillip. If you ask John falkland about it, he'd say the last thing I had determined upon was to make him my husband"
 "Well, if you want to put 1t ar- other way, Mother mine, let's say has John Aukland determined 10 make you his wife?'
 "All of John Aukland's and my friends have said for the last 2o years he has stayed single because I have refused to be his wife,"
 "Are you beginning to think you have made a mistake, Mother?
 "I don't know, Phillip" "T don't like him." Phillip said the words impatiently. T cannot bear to see him hanging around you.'
 That's a characteristic of your fathers, Phillip. He was jealousy | personified, and yet he arrogated to 1 himself the privilege of paying his attentions to any woman he wished, even after he was married to me. Phillip, do you realize that If you marry this French woman. you Will cut me entirely off from your life ?'
 "Why. Mother, what do you mean?"
 II mean this. I cannot live here. You know that as well as ! do. Of course, I do not know how lonely you were without me, but it seemed to me that only half of me was liv- ing when you were away"
 "Mother, can you remember our meeting a few months ago, without realizing that I am nearer to you that most boys are to their moth CTS? I cannot think of my future life being lived where I might not be in corhmunication-where I might not see you every day"
 You couldn't do that, dear, if you married Pat"
 DO you mean that, Mother? Would you do that?" If by that you mean separate myself from you. would have no choice. I cannot live in France. l am an American by birth and edu- cation, and I am quite sure that Pat would not be willing to live in America. She is French with all the French ideas of life. There you have the impasse."
 "Then you will not give your con- sent to my marriage?"
 Not till after you are 21, and you know in France man has to have the consent of his parents of they are living. whatever his age. It is the family, not the romance, that is considered in a marriage over here"
 Are you intimating, Mother. that you will give your consent to my marriage with Pat after I am 21?"
 "Why. of course, Phillip. if you are faithful to your love and to her for that length of time. l would be very selfish not to give it."
 Twill you also wait and not give your answer to Major Aullland for that length of time?'
 Gladly. Phillip. especially as he has not asked me lately. and I am sure the time will come when you will thank me. You have demon- strated in the last two or three years that you did not know your own mind in regard to love and marriage"
 Phil got up from the chair in which he was sitting and walked to the window. He stood there a long