The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-07-26
SOPHIE KERRS SUPERB LOVE STORY xiEN-
Stay OFT or M LIZ E Gy
MiIElAA
Wy
By Sophie ker

ooh, but let me look at you"
she said, drawing away a little,
but holding him tight. "Why, |
do believe you're grown! And
what a proud, elegant uniform!
And the wings! Oh Howard -
you're grand"
He could say nothing but her
name, and he had tears in his
eyes like child wanting consola-
ton. Finally he stammered:
ct was too long. I felt as if all
this-and you-didn't exist any
more. That I'd never see you
again."
After his mother and Nancy
came in he found conference. but
all of them were too excited and
over-wrought to do much but he
gin sentences and leave them
half spoken. forgetting what they
meant to say in the overwhelm-
ing joy Of reunion. Nancy was
the calmest Of the four, but a
little awed by the intense feeling
of the grownups. She looked at
them in surprise and question.
But presently it was easier. They
could begin to breathe, to be nat
ural.
Howard sat on the sofa be-
tween Mary and Amy. Nancy on
his knees. "Everything looks so
wonderfully he kept exclaiming.
"Here it is, just as I dreamed
about it! It's all realw
Later in the evening people be-
gan to come to see Howard
Professor Ellert first of all. BEAM
ing at him, lamenting his own
age that he could not enlist,
working out schemes to get How
ard another step in rank-"It's
largely pulling the right wires,
my boy" = lingering Towards
insignia covetously and unwilling
to say a word about college af-
fairs or anything but the army
and the war. Professor and Mrs.
Lowe came in and the Dean and
two or three more of the faculty
with their wives. Amy noted
that the men were obsessed by
the war, but that the women
listened with a sort of futile
angry Impotence. She was glad
when they were all gone and
Mary. yawning, had kissed her
son and gone to bed.
Then Amy and Howard sat
down before the fire, her head on
his shoulder. their hands clasped.
"While Pm here and when we're
Alone" he said, "we're going to
pretend that it's just as always.
| don't want to talk about air.
planes or guns Or soldiers with
you, Amy. / want just my wife
and my home. Let's forget every
thing else"
"Tell me one thing first. Is
there any chance that you'll be
sent over, any time soon? / don't
want that in the background,
threatening me. If it's there, I'd
rather face it."
81 honestly don't know, darling.
Nobody can tell thing. My
work seems to be going all right
and l may be kept right at it in
definitely, or l might be ordered
up to the Long Island camp
that's where they give the final
training. you know = and even
if go there l might be kept right
on as an Instruction. | might
get overseas orders. l won't say
word, or do a thing to try to
stay in Texas. 1t wouldn't be
decent. I've been seeing too
many fellows who seem to think
this war is a great chance to
wangle Something slick for them
selves, and not war at all. / do
my stuff the best / know, and if
the orders come - well, they
come. There's the whole truth,
Amy darling, and the minute l
know anything else I'll tell you.
And now let's forget it. My time
with you is too precious to spoil.
l want to have every bit of it,
taste it, feel it, look at it, this
room with a fire and flowers
these walls safe around us. and
you, my very own, with me. I've
starved with longing for YOU"
(To be continued)