New Britain herald., 1927-06-10

up to me-"
CHAPTER XXI
MRS. TRACY'S FIRST GRAY
HAIRS
"You see, mother dear, coul
not be the last Tracy and WEIGH o.
my ancestors. If I had not enlisted
never would be able to look m
grandchildren In the face"
In spite of her grief Anne Trac,
smiled.
All that morning Phillip had pro
claimed that he was not a margin,
man and now he was looking for
ward to carrying on the line ant
name of Tracy. Her trembling hant
was laid upon the rough brown hal
III benediction.
III you feel that way about 1t, m!
son, go, and God go with you," sh,
said. in a voice that was a prayer.
"Oh Rodney is going with me
mother"
Il am glad OF that. Phillip"
Poor Rodney Maxwell-everyon,
seemed glad that lie was going tt
war.
1t was a good thing that he ha6
not heard this "gladness" voiced The
second time, as the first time hi
heard it 1t seemed to him that hi,
cup OF unhappiness was running
over.
Part Of Rodney Maxwell's slow.
ness of speech and action was be-
cause he had always craved the love
of relatives and friends. He always
wanted to do something that would
make someone happy-he wanted
people to like him. His father anc
mother had both died when he Was
too small to realize his loss. Onl,
the most distant relatives were LEFT
behind. These knew that he hat
money enough to care for himself
luxuriously and because Of that con
sidered they had no responsibility,
in regard to the lonely child ane
lonelier youth.
1t was always hts fate to give
more than was given to him.
His love for Phillip was received
as a matter Of course by him, who
however, always depended upon Roc
to help him out of any scrape HI
might get into.
Rodney knew that Natlee Jone'
loved Phillip, but unconfessed ever
10 himself his heart was always say
ing that Wynne might fall in low
with someone else and then Natle,
might let him comfort her.
After his last talk with Natlee
however. where he saw that sh,
would never love any one bu
Wynne. Rodney hoped hewould b.
lucky enough never to come back.
Il must go and tell Rod, mother
and you must arrange to go down Il
the recruiting station and sign YOU
consent to let me 60"
Phillip Wynne Tracy ~ got vi
from beside his mothers chair ant
tenderly raising her to him he look
eddown into her eyes. The anguish
he saw there made him a LITTLE
ashamed of his affair with Lyra Hill
lard.
Mother he said, brokenly. III
come back I'll be a better son tt
you than l have been. Darling
mother. you must always remembe
that whenever l have hurt you i
was not because I intended to, 1t wa
because I forgot. II l had stopped
to"
He hesitated. He could not at Thu
sacred moment lie to his mother. HI
knew that however much he would
have stopped to think he would hav,
gone to Lyra Hilliard. He must ge
away and read that note. 1t wal
fairly burning his pocket. He mus
make arrangements to leave as soor
as possible.
He dro1ped his cheek down upor
the top. Of his mothers head and If
doing - was surprised to see here
and there among her black braids {
thread OF white.
Perhaps for the first time in hi!
life he told himself that his motheI
was too young to have this sign o
age or sorrow.
Would his life have been changed
II she had given her love as sh'
had a perfect right to do-to SOM
OTHER man? He didn't want to thinl
of this mother was only Mother
to him-she was not a woman will
human desire for the tenderness ant
love which she had never had. Fol
a single instant he contrasted he1
with Lyra billiard and was horri
fed.
He kissed her forehead and ther
her tear-filled eyes as he SILENT,
asked to be forgiven for all the sor'
row he had caused her.
AS though she could stand NJ
more, Anne gently pushed her sor
away.
This was good-bye-how man,
more times they would say those
dread words it mattered not-toda,
was the real break-today the rea
farewell was being said. Boil
mother and son knew that now. mo-
later when he really left her, theil
hearts were saying in unison good
bye"
Go, Philip must have a little
while to get myself In hand and theI
I will go down and sign my consen
to yo1lr enlistment
With another lingering cares.
Phillip LETT his mother and hastenec
to his room. He locked the door
thinking as he did SO. that 1t was tbs
first time he could remember tina