The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-23
Continued from Page One)

Sybil the target of all adnairing
eyes.
In a doorway Lawrence, standing
aside for the women to precede him
through, put his hand on SYPHILIS
arm. There was something in the
way he did it. A possessive sort
of pressure, gentle and compelling
She was only 10, and it electrified
her.
DEFORE they left she had prom
I'D ised to write 1t was a girls pa
triotic duty in those days. She prom
ised also to send some fudge and a
cake, and asked If he needed sweat
ers or socks. That was patriotic,
too.
On Sunday the Thornes motored
again to Devens, accompanied by
Mr.. Thorne, who handed around
cigarets grandly. He took a liking
to Lawrence and invited him down
for dinner. The following week the
young man obtained a 24-hour leave
and spent most Of it at Thorne's
place at W1anno.
In the evening Sybil showed him
the moon over the water and walked
with him along the beach. Little
waves splashed nournfully on the
sands, and the moon scuttled be-
hind a cloud. The night was fear
sonely beautiful.
And Sybil was feartully lovely.
She stood with her face to the sea,
while the wind whipped her dress
Of misty stuff about her and blew
her hair to Johns face. Then he
took her in his arms and kissed her.
After that Sybil braved parental
displeasure and notored to Devens
every day. Her father, by permit
ting her to take the car, gave the
affair half-hearted acquiescence.
Her mother, though she admitted
John seemed like a nice young
man." frowned on the romance.
Then between Sybil and her
mother there grew a rift that was
common between mothers and
daughters those days.
"She's just furious" Sybil told her
father, because dare to think
about John instead Of thinking of
Tad every blessed minute. Her
boys in danger-and she doesn't
care anything about mine. I'm ex-
pected to worry about Tad all the
time. But I mustn't even think
about John"
Sybil strangled sob. eff John
has to go, I'll die" she said. "And
mother wouldn't care a Bit know
she wouldn't. Oh, daddy, I'm so
wretched!"
Intellectually her father patted
her shoulder.
There, there, Sybil. Do you love
him, little girl? It's been such
short time. Mother doesn't realize
I know. Naturally she's frantic
about Tad. Your mother is not as
young as she used to be, and she's
apt to be high strung these days.
Take things easy, Sib. God knows
it's hard enough to have Tad over
there"
TINE roads about Devens and into
l. Aver were dusty and not condu-
Give to romance, but beyond the camp
an orchard stretched where leafy
apple trees made welcome shadows.
A little away from the rest stood
a gnarled old tree with twisted
limbs and a crotch where two could
sit and love. Beneath it's shade the
two lovers chung.
Darling, darling :" When he
kissed her, he felt her tears in his
lips-salty, tangy-bittersweet.
Darling! Darling!" He said 1t
over and over.
"How old are you, Sybil?"
Eighteen" she told him.
$50 young" he whispered. 80
little, and SO young"
"Old enough" Her lips against
his ear were saying it.
mo, no, I can't" He held her
from him. "I might come back all
shot up. I mightn't come back at
all"
"Then," she told him bravely, "T'd
never forgive myself if I'd let you go
like this"
angel" He was kissing her hair.
Then she took the pins out of
her psyche, and shook it down, to
please him. So that he took it in
his hands, and let 1t slip through
his fingers, caressinglyy And the
next year, when Sybil had it bobbed,
she saved all that was cut away, in
memory of Johns kisses on it.
"Sybil-Sybil!"
"Oh, John. I love you So"
Before she went they had planned
10 be married that week.
Sybil drove home with her head
in a whirl and her heart full of
warm gladness. John would get a
furlough. Perhaps the family
would let them have the place at
Wianno for a few days. That would
be lots more fun than hotel, or
travelling.
And she would get breakfast
mornings-popovers and mullins,
ana puffy onelets, golden brown.
There would be wonderful days on
the beach. And nights, gloriously
long. They would swim in the
moonlight, and lie on the sands
afterward.
Sybil had a private conviction
that a week of love in June was
worth whole month of it in the
winter time. She Rugged herself
inwardly with little anticipatory
shivers. But presently her ecstacy
was Swallowed by grim forebodings,
and the fears of woman for her
beloved who is in danger.
But I will be brave" she vowed.
Sand I will make him very happy.
Then, if he should have to go, I
will send him with a smile"
Poor SYbil. PLAYING with dreams.