New Britain herald., 1928-09-13

round with every Tom, DICK and
Harry. You think. :"
Il think he told her, that
you're luxurious little barbarian
that's what L think. l think you
need someone to look after YOU.
And I'm begging for the job. Oh,
Sybil, you adorable child, with you
hardboiled ways. Come. and let
me baby you, and keep you from
all that's hard and cold and hurt
full"
She leaned against him CRATE
fully.
Il feel like the girls in the comic
sheets, Craig. This is SO sudden. p"
You darling." he cried. and
moved to take her in his arms.
Just a minute. Just minute"
With both hands she waved him
away. sit still like a good little
boy. The lady of your heart must
ponder"
But you're SO deliberate." he
protested.
you told me to think it over, :"
she reminded him.
And over his shoulder as he
drew away, she saw another figure.
Pathetically boyish. With the sun
on his hair. and the light OF love
in his eyes. A phantom in khaki.
And she saw his mouth grow hurt,
as she gazed. And his outstretched
arms drop to his sides. Could
she break faith with the dead?
She thought of her father. as she
had left him an hour ago. And he
seemed to her more piteous even
than John, who had died in his
youth with his heart full of love
and dreams.
It must be dreadfully hard &c
grow old, and die. Particularly
when you knew that Death was
only around the corner, lurking
waiting-ready to spring. and to
choke. John had been spared all
that. He never knew. oh, the
blessedness of never knowing!
Six months ago her father was
so strong and happy. Robustly
alive, florid and laughing: and his
| little light mustache bristled and
, looked full of ife.
Six months had made a frighten-
ing change. His eyes--they used tc
be bright and China blue. The.
n n
t. ars so they made her think. witt
lump in her throat, of blue bells
under water His face was drawn
and wan. Pain had left its mari,
and the horror of death. His mus.
tache had grown white and look ed
limp and detected. Sometimes ht
gnawed savagely on its ends.
She remembered what he haG
said that afternoon.
II want to see you happily mar.
ricd."
1t was the first time he Rad ever
said it, but, before today. she hat
read the desire in his eyes. Some
times when they talked of Tad:
marriage; sometimes when she told
him the wedding plans of Other
girls; when children came to visi
them or when they talked together
of little houses and gardens
'Daddyd be so happy" she re
Elected, and a warm, lovely feeling
filled her heart How his dear eye!
would brighten. . But there
Lob Lob lr,h ~,
His name beat like a drum in he
ears. So that she put her hand
| to her temples. to keep him away
, Poor little boy. . II wa!
so long, long ago. A sort of dream
/ the Way he had loved her. anc
/ he way they had talked an,
I planned. How he loved her,
/ But he wouldn't if he We're alive
/ today" sh, told herself. He care,
J so f"artully hen because / wa
young and good, and he was youn.
and good, too, There isn't tina
kind of love when a girl gets Il
be % and knows lic Love at l.
is a beautiful illusion"
Sometimes Sybil felt as if sh.
! had died with John Law renee an,
/ been r"incarn,ted Nithin herself
and. having died. bad gone on liv
ing. SO that there had been tw,
/ Sybil Thornes-and one was dead
/ Perhaps the girl John loved wan
/ d"rod With him IN Elysian fields
( or slept by his side in soldier
grave. And tbs girl Craig Wante,
+ 20 ularrF-she wasn't really tn" cir
/ John Lawrence ioted. Thrn wha
If she did marry Craig? And hor
him children? JOAN I.aurenc
wouldn't corr. What 90 tile dca,