The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1928-09-21
Her Splendid
Knight
BY CLARISSA MACkIE


the crowds passing to and fro on the
splendid avenue. They were gather
ing for the Legion convention and that
explained Patricia's own coming. Had
she not driven an ambulance when she
was seventeen? Had she not run away
from home to do it?
School-day memories came and went
in her mind-boarding school days
| college. 1t was at college that she
| had decided to help win the war. SO
| she had gone TO Paris. 1t was there
| that she had met Peter Cook-not
| badly wounded, merely bruised and
| stunned and dismissed after week
| or two In hospital. And it was during
| this period that love and romance
| came and thrilled her to the core.
| Out of the wrack of battlefields came
| love and for week or two Peter Cook
and Patricia Lawrence lived with 1t,
promising faithfully to wait until the
| war was over
| And then came annihilation for
Patricia. A stray shell had burst
near by and she had been stunned.
While sAe was in hospital the war
| ended, and by the time Patricia was
copyaleseent her father had arrived
and carried her off. From that day
| to this she had never seen her Peter
| Cook, and she believed that he must
be among the unknown dead.
Now, she stood in the hotel window
and looked at the gathering of the
Legion. She wanted to be down there
among them. Perhaps she might see
Peter Cook
"Oh, Peter-Peter-" she whispered
softly and sadly wondered if he could
be alive sDd had forgotten her.
After xat, wearing her uniform.
she went down into the crowd and
once or twice met some one that re-
membered her. They talked together
of the war and of the great gathering
Patricia was walking alone when
she suddenly saw him-Peter-he
knight errant. He was as tail and
a decided limp and one arm was stiff.
Somehow, it was as If the stage was
set for play. She and Peter seemed
to be alone ia the avenue-and Peter
Cook was looking white and anxious.
The way his face redeemed and
seemed so glad, told her that he had
been looking for her-and now he
had found her-they had found each
other
Their hands clasped and they called
each other Miss Lawrence" and
"Captain Cook" After awhile they
went into small shop for cup of
coffee and now, for the first time, they
asked questions.
Il could not get in touch with you
at first" he said gravely.
She told him Of her stay in the
hospital. Il tried to find you, too, y
she said softly, ''and | have always
thought that you must have been
killed / am so glad to see you
THANK you,' he said simply. 81
had been free-I always meant to
make a search of the whole world un-
til | found you-and then, when
reached home, in the States. | found
that my father was on his deathbed
and that he had lost every penny
through some speculation or other
had a mother and a young sister just
entering high school. What could
do excepting TO care for them? | had
10 find place to work-my fathers
friends helped me to that-we had tC
sell the home in Connecticut-go to q
new place-and begin over again. My
sister is a senior in college now. Will
be married as soon as she graduates
Mother is well and happy-and I-ah
Patricia, how can | ever forget your
Must you?" asked Patricia softly
You are the daughter of a ricf
mani could not ask you to come
down to our simple plane of living"
Not even to make me happy" she
faltered
Not just yet, dear A little Will,
and l will come to New York and set
| your father. And now, tell me more
about yourself"
They met once more after that ant
then there were friends that Patriot,
must visit in England, a trip to Scot
} laid, and then home again, fearfu
that Peter Cook might come to Sc,
her during her absence.
MY dear Patsy" smiled her moth
er, Il cannot think of any such youn,
/. man-Peter Cook? Bowes will Civ
YOU the cards and perhaps you ma,
; find him. Who was he, Patsy?"
my night errant, mother, gon
astray with my happiness in hi
hands!"
You are sure of his love, Patsy /?
> Patricia laughed proudly.
$50 sure, mother, that / will wal
{ fer him-always"
After that, Patricia Lawrence wait
eG until the year waned and a ney
: year came, white with snow. Perhap
y har eyes were little sadder, her lip
J more tremulous, When something har
psned.
: Bowes brought card on his silve
y Etlver.
"Peter!" she whispered, and sh
/ nodded to Bowes. In an instant b
/ was there, coming with the rush of
y happy lover.
"Oh, Patsy" he said tremulousl,
n '9iy great uncle in Australia ser
Y for me and | went-he was dying
d | and ha has left uS evarvthinp-ha Us