The Washington times., 1934-05-14


She reached for paper and be-
gan to write. She liked Bills
breezy dash and the warm, i'm
petuous sweetness of words
whispered against her cheek.
Yet now she could we'll wish he
were not returning.
She felt lost and in such
doubt. 1t was seven days since
she wrote her last letter to
Kevin, a. long letter which she
purposely made interesting and
merry. Tucked away toward
the end was this paragraph:
Not a word from the wan
dering youth tonight or last
night! Seven days since a line
has come from you. I've
answered your letters three to
one and more -. but this, my
gallant gentleman. is the very
last unless you take time this
very moment to scrawl three
words across a blank white
page. Three words it is or your
little old sweetheart will take all
promises back; she'll tread the
primrose path and scribble no
more to the unanswering void"
She air-mailed the letter.
There was time by now for an
answer to have come. She
found it easy to excuse him.
Days fly quickly when one is
busy. He had not forgotten mo-
ments of a dear communion.
His eyes, his hands, his lips had
not lied. He meant all he said.
Yet now there were these ru-
mors. 1t might be true that
Hildegarde had come 5000 miles
to claim him. Perhaps she had
some claim.
This was the thought that
downed her. 1t could so easily
be! And without any remote
wish of his. Yet he would be
lost. More cruelty than in
death.
Her quick imagination saw
him tormented and unhappy;
saw him hoping for escape and
finding none. At first she would
not let the faintest shadow of
this fear edge into her mind;
but as the days passed it en-
tered and grew.
Until finally she thought Of
writing directly and asking
end the uncertainty. At least,
then she would know what to
face and gather the strength to
do it.
Bill wrote on the last page Of
his letter:
"Pippin wire me at the Am
bassador Hotel, Los Angeles, on
Thursday. want to know you're
saving the date and glad to do
it. come heaven or high waters.
If you receive this letter in time.
and I'm sure you will. don't
wire but send a good kind letter,
saying you love me in gentle
yearning way as of yore. Say
it and send it. Dear Pippin, you
will"
Bill wrote this and felt happy.
He had all Pippin's letters in his
wallet. He read them over and
thought with high. laughing
confidence: She does not know
how much she cares!
Bills Plea
He recalled the night they
were lost in the mountains and
she had settled against him in
that sweet, trusting way, so
sure he was Galahad. He re-
called the tears streaming down
her cheeks as she stood in the
pallid morning light while he
leaned from the cabin and
waved good-by.
He took the ring he had
bought, stuck it with her letters
in his pocket. She loved him
or she would!
He bade his mother good-by.
She followed him about with
warm, anxious eyes. She was
strong woman yet with a fragile
look. Her hair was fluffy but
the blonde of it all silvered.
Eyes brown like his but net
work of lines at the corners.
Yet Bill thought his mother
young because of a girlish visit
fulness even in the tones of her
voice. She had lost her hus-
band early in a. tragic way and
before life had paled; she re-
tained a girls dream that love
is everything.
"You will go the southern
route, Bill? 1 hear it is more
safe"
Mother Pride
"I've crossed the continent
twice and no mishap. Don't be
worried for mel"
But you're so impatient now.
You will not fly at night?"
mo, I won't. I mean to get
there, mother"
Ellen Lodge smiled and held
to her sons hand. She said,
wistfully: You are very much
in love?"
Bill laughed in his mothers
face: when you see her, you'll
know why"
II like her picture and things
you've told me. Give me time
to arrive for the wedding, won't
you?"
Ample time for that. am
not sure she'll have me-"