The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-03-31

"Go on"
II was a prisoner several months,
you see. l couldn't write then. Even
after the armistice was signed, we
weren't released right off. And then
for while, l wasn't we'll"
"You mean you were starving"
swell, wasn't hungry, anyway"
said Paul, lightly. "But I'm all right
now. And I'm home, You won't
mind, will you. If don't tell you more
than this, just now? We-the men
who've been there-don't like to talk
about it much. Won't you say you're
glad to see me? All the rest Of the
family has. Mother had Mysteries, of
course, but she was awfully glad, just
the same. couldn't help knowing
that. And Blanche-well Of course
Blanche and l both broke down
little. l didn't know, you see, about
Philip-or little Philip. Well. then l
went to the barn and found Cousin
Seth. He said l might find you up
here"
Now they were sitting on the old
boulder, hand in hand, as they had
done when they used to rest after
picking blackberries-
you're not strong" she said with
a great effort, "and you've had this
this hard climb to reach me. I'm
sorry"
For a moment Paul did not an
swer. Then he took the hand he held,
and laid it against his lips.
mo. I'm not strong" he said
huskily. Il know that. And | have
had to climb--to climb long way
to reach you. But I'm not sorry. I'm
glad"
"Paull You know didn't mean it
that way!"
II know you didn't, dear, but I did.
For it's true. But please tell me-
aren't you glad I'm here, at last?"
"Yes," said Mary. very low indeed.
"Then. may tell you-anything |
want tor"
EYES," she said again. lower still.
do you remember what you said
to me-that day in Boston-about
what loving really means?"
YES" said Mary third time. though
1t was only whisper now.
'Well-that's the way love you.
You were right didn't then. But l
have learned to, since. At first it was
just dreadful physical longing and
raging grief because hadn't got what
wanted. I'd felt so hopeful-so sure
that day went to you in Boston,
that I'd get my week-but all the time
the things you'd said about how you
loved me. kept hammering themselves
into my stupid brain, making me see
more and more clearly that, even then,
I didn't care for you like that, or it
wouldn't be my own disappointment
I'd be thinking most about 1t would
be the way I'd treated you. from the
time we were youngsters-taking all
your loneliness and goodness for
granted-and then throwing it away"
Don't, Paul." she said softly.
"Don't speak of that. or even remem-
Der it any more. I've forgotten all
about it,"
81 haven't" he said between his
teeth, II never shall, never can, I'M
less-l can atone for it. l began to
forget that had lost you--and to
wonder how"
"How you could get me back?"
"Not even that-till afterwards.
Only how l could make things up to
you. Whether there was anything on
earth l could do to make me worthy
to come to you and say was sorry,
whether you were proud of me or not.
That I'd got to change inside. I'd
reached that point by the time got
to prison, and then 1t was weeks and
weeks before I could think at all.
But when l could-it was what kept
me clean"
"And there wasn't any pretty little
French peasant" he said, after a
long pause. And in that one simple
sentence, Mary understood, though she
could not answer, all that he was
trying to tell her.
He misinterpreted her silence. He
hlSS6u ucI AduQ 0SuAAt uIOppCu IL
gently. and rose.
sit was wrong of me, maybe, to say
all this to you-so soon." he said.
'.But l saw Mr.. Hamlin just before l
sailed for home. He told me-that-
that you hadn't changed your mind
about him, and that he knew you
never would. He told me. too, that he
knew you'd refused Thomas Gray.
Sylvia sent me a message once, by
David didn't get it until after she
died-telling me never to stop fight
ing for you. If had to die fighting.
thought for while. that was 60
ing to die tighting-then in that Ger
man prison. l was afraid for while
that l wasn't even going to die fight
ing-that 1t was to be starving rot
ting. Now know I'm not going to
die at all-not for a good many years,
mean-but I'm going to live fight
ing. Do you remember. when l was
little chap. how used to stand in
the front yard. whenever | wanted to
see you, and simply boiler. Come over