New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-06-24

l
ed by the Germans. She Is in low
with me. With the money I have,
could probably. in a few years. pu
her factories on a paying basis.
Frankly. since Rod has gone,
have no yearning to 60 back t
America. The boys l used to know
are mostly those who did not ge
over here at all. The last two year.
have blotted out all the gay, incon
sequential pleasure-loving ideas. o.
lack of ideals. that I had.
Pat has suffered from the same
great catastrophe in the same wa,
that I have.
"she has lost her factories-he,
husband"
Let me see, Phillip. How old arc
you?"
why do you harp on that
Mother? What has ags to do with
it?. Do you know that l have never
been much interested in girl un-
less she was older than I? You will
forgive me il l say that probably
you are to blame for my predilec-
ton for older women.
Il have always associated so much
with you that you have spoiled me
for very young girls"
Phillip, please do not say that.
1t would break my heart II thought
that because you and l have been
so close together, you have been
cheated out of that glorious COM
radeship and understanding that
youth gives to youth"
Don't you worry about me, Mum.
don't feel that l have missed
anything, and for my sake. will you
reserve your judgment until you see
Pat? I know you will love 'Cherie.
She is the cutest youngster ! have
ever seen. really think she likes
me better than her mother"
"And so it's all off again between
you and Natlee, Phil?"
"Well from her letter, ! thought
she wanted her freedom. Did she
send me any particular word"'"
"She said l could tell you any
thing ] pleased"
There you see, Mother darling,
IL Natlee still loved me she would
have sent me some particular mes
sage"
Il asked her, Phillip, if she still
loved you
What did she say"
Her answer was: II thought l
did once, but now / don't know, and
l will not know until l see him
again."
Phillip laughed somewhat scorn-
fully. Il don't think the sight of
me at present would count much in
my favor, do you. Mother dear?"
well. there was another thing
that she said. and l am not betray-
ing any secrets when I tell it to
you, for she said might, if l want
ed to do SO. These were her words
i remember them, for I was
struck with their seriousness:
This war. Mrs. Tracy, has made
such changes not only in my life.
but in my outlook on life, that I've
got to see Wynne before I plan for
the future
when she receives my letter in
answer to the one she wrote me,
she will make a decision Immediate
ly. I've got to go to Rotations now,
Mother. You see, l am going to
the Alliance Franchise as we'll as the
Sorbonnc, which l cut this morning
for my visit with you. want to be
able to speak perfect French when
l leave France"
But. dear boy. thought you
just told me you were not going TO
leave France"
slip of the tongue. Mother dear"
Are you sure it was not a slip
back into wisdom? Be careful, Phil.
you know your impulsivencss always
has gotten you into trouble"
Il have told Professor Bouchet
that you are here. and that l am
coming to live with you. He has in
vited you to dine with him on next
Wednesday. Where are we dining
tonight, Mother dear?" asked Phil
lip. ignoring his mothers warning.
Il don't know. l promised Major
Auckland that we would go TO dinner
with him."
Il wonder If he knows that it is
strictly against rules of an enlisted
man to dine with an officer"
He possibly does. dear, but any
way, l am sure of one thing. and
that is. If he dimes with Mrs. Tracy
he will have to eat at the same table
with Private Phillip Wynne Tracy
w."
"Hurrah for democracy. Now that
we have made the world safe for it,
We might as well practice it"
Phillip, your hurt me by being so
flippant."
Il don't mean to, dear. but / con-
TESS am little curious to know
what the major will do when he
knows l am coming down to dinner
with you?"
I'm not. John Auckland. my boy,
vii be proud to dine with u youth
who can wear that medal you are
wearing
"Oh, that" said Phil, touching his
crolX de guerrer. Il don't very often
wear it. 1t looks very like swank.
you know, but l thought perhaps
you would like to see it,"
Anne Tracy took the bit of ribbon
with its dangling insignia in her
hand. Then she raised it to her lips.
you did not write me, Phillip"
she said, Just how you gained this
decoration"
| Il swan the Marne."
"Oh, Phillip" exclaimed his
mother, still holding his cross to her
cheek in caress, you and I will
have to visit it some day at the very
place you swan across it."