New Britain herald., 1930-09-20
WAR FORCES THE ISSUE

WAR FORCES THE ISSUE
 Dagger was waiting on the yer andah one evening for Vaneering to come to escort her to a dinner giv- en by one of the officers at Fort Sam Houston. When he drove up, something in his bearing as he stepped from the car attracted her. 'What's the matter, Jack?" she asked quickly.
 i've got my orders"
 His voice was dull and heavy.
 For France?"
 He nodded. Her own heart miss ed a beat. She stood, swaying.
 That's fine" she heard herself say strangely.
 He offered his hand, without re- ply, and assisted her into the front seat, got in, slammed the door, and threw off the brakes, grinding out of the driveway at thirty miles an hour.
 "When do you go?" she asked, then.
 Next week"
 "It's not very long, is t?" she an- swered.
 He muttered an oath, suddenly pulled over to the curb and stopped. Lets get married" he cried.
 "Married!" her breath quick ened "Why, Jack"
 'I love you,' he hurried on. q think you love me-don't you?'
 TT don't know
 "Yes, you do Dagger. You love me. I've felt it ever since we first met that night at the St. Anthony. You've felt, too. Why we couldn't have been together much moro if we had been married. And I need you, little girl, l need you more than you know"
 But I've only known you few weeks
 What does that matter? We people who've lived together for years. And you do love me don't you?"
 He caught her to him, and she experienced no distaste for the clasp of his arms. His face lowered his. Mechanically she drew closer to him, yielding herself with an abandon she had never known before.
 Darling, darling, darling!" His voice was low in her ears. She Q crushed them as if he'd drink the life from her throat. You will marry me-" he begged hoarsely.
 "Yes," she whispered.
 "Now? Tonight ?"
 "Oh, yes, Jack, IT want to-
 He kissed her a third time, then threw in his clutch and pushed the car for all it was worth.
 On, and on, in the night, stopping more than once to inquire the way to Justice of the Peace. The din Ter party was forgotten. Aunt Espy was forgotten. Uncle Jim, Howard, everyone. Each was wrapped in the other.
 An hour later they stood up be- fore a bewhiskered old man, and his agitated wife and farmland, and listened to the solemn gab- bling to set formula.
 "No ring?" the old chap inquired fretfully marking his place with a forefinger. "My, yew shore were in hurry, folks"
 Dagger stared helplessly at Va reering, whose answering gaze was more vacuous.
 Cant we - get married?' she pleaded
 $ The woman patted her shoulder.
 Don't yew worry, honey. I got a ring left by a feller got pinched afore Mister shoreman could spell the bonds onto 'em. That'n do."
 It did, but Dagger couldn't keer her eyes off the cheap gold circlet that presently adorned her left hand. A criminals ring. Was that suspicious for her and Jack? Non sense. What did the previous own ership of a wedding-ring matter If they loved-and at the thought her eyes shone dewily and her fin gers trembled under Vaneering's arm-that must be enough
 At any rate, she was married And when Jack stopped to kiss her her lips conveyed a silent message that made him tremble against her
 That was time of ecstasy. sharp and heady. And Dagger loved ii all: the drowsy clerk at the St. An