Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-05-04
then | was-hurt-again, before | was
taken prisoner

after the armistlce was signed, we
weren't released right Off. And then
for a while, wasn't we'll"
"You mean you were starving"
"Well, | wasn't. hungry. anyway"
said Paul. lightly But I'm all right
now. And I'm home. You won't
|. mind, will you, II | don't tell you more
than this. just now7 We-the men
who've been there-don't like to talk
about 1t much. Won't you say you're
glad to see mel ALI 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 Bianche-welf of course
Blanche and | both broke down
little. | didn't know. you see, about
Philip-or little Philip. Well, then |
went to the barn and found Cousin
Seth. He said | 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 DiaEkDeFTleS-
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 moment Paul did not an
swer. Then he took the hand he held,
and laid 1t against his lips.
mo, I'm not strong" he said
huskily. 81 know that And | have
had to climb-to climb long way
to reach you. But I'm not sorry. I'm
| glad
Paul! You know l didn't mean 1t
that wayl"
~ know you didn't. dear, but | did.
| For It's true. But please tell me-
| aren't you glad I'm here, at lasti"
"yes," said Mary. very low indeed.
'.Then. may | tell you-anything
want tor
'Yes." she said again. lower still.
.'Do you remember what you said
to me-that day I'm Boston-about
what loving really means?"
.Yes," said Mary d third time, though
| 1t was only whisper now.
"Well-that's the way love you.
| You were right didn't then. But
| have learned to. since AT first II was
| Just a dreadful physical longing and
/ raging grief because hadn't got what
/ wanted. I'd felt 80 hopeful-so sure
| that day | went to you in Boston,
TINT I'd get my Week-bnt 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,
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 yeu, from the
time we were yonngsters-taking all
your loneliness and goodness for
granted-and then throwing 1t away
Don't, Paul. she said softly.
"Don't speak Of that. or even remem-
Der tt any more. I've forgotten all
about It."
II haven't" he said between his
/ teeth, Il never shall, never can. I'M
| less-1 can atone for 1t. | began to
| forget that ! had lost you-and to
| wonder how"
"How you could get me back7"
mot even that--till afterwards.
/ Only how | could make things up to
you. Whether there was anything on
earth | 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 | could think at all
But when | could--it was what kept
me clean"
"And there wasn't any pretty little
French peasant" he said, after a
long pause. AndSin that one simple
sentence, Mary understood. though she
could not answer, all that he was
trying to tell her.
He misinterpreted her silence. He
kissed her hand again. dropped Ii
gently. and rose.
ut was wrong OF me, maybe, to say
all this to you-so s0on," he said
"But | saw MIR. Hamlin just before
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 message once, by
David didn't get 1t until after she
died-telling me never to stop fight
Ing for you, II had to die fighting
/ thought for while that was 90
ing to die fghtIng-then In that Ger
man prison, | was afraid for while
that | wasn't even going to die fight
ing-that II was to be starving. rot
ting. Now know I'm not going tc
die at all--not for good many years
| mean--but I'm going to live fight
Ing. Do you remember, when | was
little chap. how | used to stand Ii
the front yard. whenever | wanted tt
see you, and simply boiler. Come over
Mary, come over?' And you always
camel I'm going right on calling fol-
you now. until I've made you come
| u,osrt un dawn poyy and ca.