Evening star., 1934-05-27


base ball team, twisted in his seat while
Prof Torrington. A B.. PHI. D., d. s.,
and the rest of 1t, droned on and on
about the life cycle of some insignificant
and miscrosopic organism First Jimmy looked
out on the elm-Studded campus, then up the
freshly kalsomined ceiling above him. Event
ually, however his slate-blue eyes wandered
four rows down and three seats left and focused
on the back Of the blondest-and prettiest-
head in the class. Judy Todd and Jimmy
Whitaker, out by the reservoir on the preced-.
ing night, had sworn that they would wait for
one another and be married even If it should
take 100 years.
When Prof. Torrington finally finished and
dismissed the class Jimmy waited out on the
steps for Judy. 1t was the last of the day, and
the late May afternoon, calm and green was
giving promise of an evening with Judy that
would be a replica of the one before.
Jimmy stood flicking pebbles at lantern
hung on the side of the building and fresh
man, overcoming his awe of a senior through
the class-leveling medium of base ball, grnned
at him.
How va feelng?"
Swell" Jimmy grinned back at the freckle-
faced youngSter. "Why?"
Il was thinkn of our Memorial day game with
Merrywood. Your arm o. K.?"
Sure it's o. K. Memorial days week off.
Peanuts What's your hurry?"
ITS goin' to be a big day." Peanuts said. ir-
relevantly. "The Governors comm down, too
Sure your arms o. KIP"
Its O. K," Jimmy said Well beat EN-
Peanuts. Don't stay awake worrying about it."
Its goin' to be the biggest day Huntington's
seen in long time" Peanuts was quoting
his fathers breakfast table conversation
''parades and bands and the ball game and
fireworks at night. They're goin to dedicate
the Soldiers Monument, too. The new one.
I'd like to be playin' in your place, Jimmy"
"You will, some day." Jimmy said from the
heights of 20. Beat it, now"
Here comes your girl"
Judy came down the steps and Jimmy
- thought Wouldn't these guys get thrill
If kissed her instead of Just saying hello?"
But he just said, Hello"
Judy, being a woman in spite of being 49,
Just gave him smile and squeezed his
They turned across the campus, short-cutting
the walks and giving the gardener Mysteries
by treading unthinkingly on his carefully nur-
tured grass. Love, in May, pays no more at
tention to gardeners than to locksmiths
Back in the marbled coolness of the drug
store, with their elbows the sticky-topped
table and two dreadful concoctions in front of
them they got down to their serious problems.
Shall we tell your mother?"
They said it together, and then looked at
each other and laughed.
Judy said Il think we ought to wait till we
graduate. Then they won't think we're chill
dren any more"
IN be 81 in 1912 months" Jimmy said.
SIN not child"
"I know darling" Judy was really a woman.
And have job when graduate and we
won't have to wait very long
DO you think I care how long we have to
waltz" Judy asked.
Il know you don't" Jimmy said ''but-"
But why?"
Il think a man ought to get married and
have children when he's young"
He went crimson while he was talking and
Judy took one look at his red face and burst
out laughing.
"I don't see anything to laugh about Judy.
My mother was only 19 when born"
Judy stopped laughing Mrs. Whitaker, in
1917 one of the most popular young matrons in
Huntington had bid Jimmy's father good-by
when he sailed for France. He had left
Pvt. Whitaker. At the end of the companys
first engagement he was Corp. Whitaker. And
when, with revolver in his hand and Ger
man machine gun crew lying dead at his feet,
German sniper's bullet had ripped through
his wife's picture and stopped his heart, he
had been Sergt. Whitaker. In lined case in
Mrs. Whittakers chiffonier were four medals
and letter signed by Gen. Pershing. And the
first name to be carved on the new soldiers
monument which had so excited Peanuts was
that of Sergt. James Whitaker, KILLED in
Action and Cited for Extraordinary Bravery
Under Fire"
~ hand
II didn't mean to laugh, Jimmy. Honestly
didn't. But you looked serious"
I'm just impatient, I guess" Jimmy said.
81 love you so much, Judy. And it all seems so
far away, if say it won't be long. Even
week is long time.
GOO u know Judy said. my father was killed