Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-04-13

PAUL When did you conner I'm
ever so glad to see you'll"
Just yesterday. I'm staying with
Blanche"
"How nice! Isn't her apartment
pretty7 And isn't PhIlIp-well. Just
almost too good to be truel"
@Yes guess he Is Though
Blanche is lucky"
Mary sat down. pulled off her white
gloves and took off her hat.
as everything all right at Lady
Blanche farm? OF course. or you
wouldn't be herel Are you going to
stay long?"
"0nly q few days"
1--WE must try and make them pleas
ant for you. Hannah is giving din
ner for me tomorrow--Tm sure she'll
want you to come. And there are sew.
eral good plays In town"
ITS awfuIly kind of you. But I'd
honestly rather not be asked to din
ner. IL came just for-for rather
special reason"
"Yes7' said Mary. still lightly.
I'm going to enlist
Mary, pouring tea, did not answer.
"Ive-Ive had a devil of row
with mother"
Mary handed him the cup. ''You
would. OF course she said quietly.
do you think | did wrong?n
.No--I don't think so. Tell me
more about It."
"She's all right. physically. though
she insists she's a nervous invalid.
And she's all right financially, too, II
she'll only be careful. I'VE were In
debt, rather, after Blanche's wedding.
but I've paid that all up. I've used
some capital Of my own. Now she can
keep Hod and Myra to work for her
and have plenty OF money left over
| for food and clothing and taxes and
everything that can think Olive
been over 1t all pretty carefully. I've
told her she could have my share
| of our income, too, as long as | was
gone That's fair, isn't 1t, Mary7"
Il should think II unexpectedly
| fair. What branch of the service
| do you want to enter7r
1.-THE marines. II they can't get
into a scrap on sea. perhaps they will
on land
.sYes--l suppose Cousin Violet, when
she saw she couldn't stop your going.
advised the quartermaster's depart
| ment or something like that?,'
How did you guess7 / felt there
were lots of other men who could 90
| into that, men with families. mean,
| or who weren't all right physically.
There's. nothing the matter with my
| heart; found that out from David
| Noble before he left. 1t was Dnvid
who first put rhe idea OF going to war
Into my head. I've had plenty of
| time to think 1t over since. and I'm
sure I'm doing the best thing. But
I'm sorry to have qnarreled with moth
er. Cousin Jane took her side, too.
and your father No one seems to
know there Is war, In Hamstead,
/ hardly. | tried to make them see how
| felt. couldn't. I'd made up my
| mind to 60. anyhow, but hated going
| like that"
Yes" said Mary. 1T must have
been hard. And Tm-Im sorry, Paul"
Sorry I'm going?'
"Oh. no. I'm glad you're going. I'm
only sorry they couldn't see that you
were right to 60 and that 1t made your
going harder. suppose 1t is hard
enough. anyway"
Paul put down his cup and came
| and sat down beside her on the sofa
MARY" he said, his voice trembling
little, II haven't any right to ask, of
| course, but would you tell me?-Are
| you going to marry Mr.. Hamlin7'
mo. I'm going home, very soon
now. I'll try to make them see your
| side, In Hamstead. | don't know
| whether | can, but I'll try. And that
there is war. And that they must
wake up and help to win 1t, II they
don't want to perish In It."
"Would-would you marry me7"
For minute the girl did not an
swer She sat looking into the fire
and In spite of It's bright reflection,
Paul thought that some of the lovely
color had suddenly left her face.
Il thought" ne went on, taking
\ courage at not being instantly re-
pulsed, that II you would-we could
have just week or so together before
enlist. We could 60 to some quiet
little place by the sea-neither of us
has ever done that And while | am
gone, could could remember it
and look forward to coming back to
you, that way again"
Suddenly he knelt down. and half.
buried his face liz the soft folds Of her
dress. "Mary-I've been so lonely
without you all winter. I've wanted
to talk to you-about New York, and
the farm and the War-about every.
thing | was interested In and think
ing over myself. I've wanted to try
to make some things easier and pleas
| anter for you. | never knew before
that home, to me. meant-1ust you
/ Mary want you So"
IL