Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-16
THE EVENING STORY

what's past. there's plenty to do for the
future Dick had looked at Lucy as
he retorted but the girl, bitterly disap-
pointed, had turned away.
You are not going to take his ring
when he's a coward?" LucyS cousin
spoke hotly as they brushed their hair
| before going to bed.
WHO said he was a coward2" Lucy's
face was hidden by her cloud OF light
brown hair. $780,
He practically admitted it. Why
Goes he never tell anything he's done.
All the other fellows have done so well,
why. Lucy, If you married him he'd
never look out for you
II love him aud that's enough" said,
the girl stoutly, "he doesn't boast, that's
ALL" but her heart was very sore. She
| longed for a change TO hcro-wOrshlp,
but II her idol had feet of clay she
would do her bsst to conceal the fact.
Lucy her father said the following
day. there are some ugly rumors about.
| Dick Percy hints that he deserted on
| the eve of battle. shall forbid him
the house ana you'll have 70 return his
ring"
Put, father" ,--,5a. - -
| Don't try to- argue he's a coward
and I'm ashamed Of d.: daughter OF
mine who would permit herself to care
| for poltroon"
| SO finally Lucy removed her engage
ment ring, but she lacked the courage
| to return 1t. She could not bear TO
| picture the look In Dicks frank. gray,
| eyes when she told him the reason. so
| she weakly said nothing Her parents,
seeing the ring had disappeared. nat
urally concluded that their daughter.
had broken the engagement, and when;
letter came in his handwriting stern
John Miller returned 1t to the sender
without saying anything TO-, Lucy.
about 1t. .---. T,
1T would just unsettle her." said Mr.
Miller to his wife. .-...
| II guess there Is nothing worse than
coward" so Lucy tried to console
herself II could not be realty happy
with one, but wonder why he dous
not try to See rile?"ft
Two days passed. the towns people
regarded Dicks still face curiously. but.
after his single rebuff when he had
called and asked for Lucy, he had made
no further attempt Ito see her The
returned letter he took. from his lock
box under the interested scrutiny Of the
| postmaster, whose son had died abroad.
>:"Come to the movies tonight; Lucy;
there is a good war picture on,Y urged
Percy. delighted at the rupture be-
tween the engaged couple, !.
| The third reel was just unfolding
when shrill cry Of "f1ren reused tho
movie fans from their absorption. Lucy,
! who had been lost in poignant Tefiec.
/ tons of the past, started to her feet,
/ shrieking. Percy's face was chalk white.
as he stormily pushed past her and
| elbeWed and kicked his way past q
| row of girls and citildren. '"Ch. we're
| trapped in here. I'll never be able. to.
get out" he moaned In deepest self
pity as he knocked down a woman in
| his mad rush. Dreaming, he rushed on.
Lucy stood perfectly still. her voice
dwindled to silence, through sheer ter@.
ror. Flames came from the stage and
| the theater was rapidly filing With
I smoke as the. maddened people fought
their way out. 49, -,
A tall figure lifted Lucy and with o.
keen look at the struggling mob carr
ried her swiftly out a side door Dick,
you saved me-" Lucy,s ciinging: arms
were about his neck, but he disentangle6,
himself. ..-..- u - ..-.-.f ::
7"You are all right; have To- EetEback
and help the others he said hlskily,
with longing look at the little white
face upturned to his vsI.
| "aDick, stay; want to explair1---''
Later" gently but nrrdly he pulled
his coat away from her and plunged
back into the flames. s
Lucy, her face streaked with tears
and smoke, bt with an ificredible joy
pounding within her. made her way
home. Something had come away IN
her hand when she had selhshly- chung
to his coat, but she was not conscious
! of the object until she had finished
telling the story Of Dick'sr act 10 har'
family. .sF
as your hand hurt?'s asked her
cousin Just as Dick came up the walk
I with the news that the fire was out.
WHY" Lucy's face grew radiant as
she Enclosed her fist. Dick, you never
| told me you won this" She held g
distinguished service medal In el1eF
smoky hand. "a. =
."Oh, that" Dick; flushed under the
smoke stains, why that is all past
What want to know Is about your
ring Have you lost :it?p, .-lJla,.. :. !.
| Lucy, under the eyes of the family,
who were visibly ahashed at their cruel
mistake as TO his character. fugnble6
at the neck of her blouse and pulled
out long blue ribbon with, a ring
dangling at the end: Here it is, Yo6
see., Dick I've always been a coward
and" - - >; -
Dick looked puzzled Guess the
fright was too much for you, Lucy.
Coward is an ugly word"
IT want to show that medal TO Percy
said Lucy suddenly with happy eyes.
"You can't" laughed her cousin: