The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-05-28
A Voice From
The Trenches in
France Sent
Louise Into
the Arms OF
Another Man

TT WAS the afternoon before Memorial
i Day. Louise Norris was in the sunny
old box-hedged garden cutting long,
stenmed red and pink tulips. white and
pink hyacinths, purple and white lilacs
She had promised the chairman of the
Cemetery Committee that she would send
= goodly supply Of flowers to help deco
rate the graves.
Il was very still. and Louise paused
suddenly. to stand dreaming with far
away look In her big yiolet-bluc eyes II
was hers that she and Lee had grown
lip together Where the magnolia tree
now stood there had once been 8 sand
pile ri was here that Lee had told her
what she had always known. what
everybody In the old North Carolina
town knew--tist Lee Robinson loved
her. II Was here that he had told her
good-by that April day after his enlist
ment two years ago when he had left
for an officers training camp. And it
was there on the white stone bench under
the magnolia tree that Lee had said
good-by again on a clear. cold, shining
November day Just after he had been
ordered TO France to help make the
world safe for democracy.
Such gallant and handsome young
lieutenant Of field artillery he had looked
In his smartly fitting new uniform
Louise was never to forget that last
brave smile as he passed through the
garden gate.
''Afis' Louise. honey. you all must coma
quick. an excited Voice called.
CLARIFIED. Louise turned to see tho
~ faithful Negro servant OF more than
twenty years come painting down the
6Hgstone walk from the big Colonial
red brick house Whist has happened
sally9 You look as If you had seen >
ghost
Honey. hits no ghost. but tra tallest,
handsomest, nyest man you syer laid
yotr pretty eyes on Hes wattin' la the
hall He dons come ali the way from
Germany or France. donr know which.
Jest to see you He's that good friend Of
Mhrse Lee'B what dcna saved his life
once. but couldn't frustrats de Lord or
the Germans the neg time
mot Captain Dalefr Louise gasped
almost dropping tha dowers.
That's 1t. That's his name. he sho
Ia great locker and the incest deep
kind OF voice !"
Western drawi I suppose Els home
is in Montana Loliise munhled some
what incoherently as she shifted the
flowers TO her left arm and began to
push and pun at her shining, wayy
black hair. "oh, Sally. look so awful"
she walled. II Just knew he would come
sonaa day. and for him to see me In this
old knitted dress"
Honey. you-all Ia the prettiest girl In
North Caroliny. You knows 1t, no matter
what you got on. Honest child, with
that white dress, tittin' you 30 close. and
that blue scarf and with them flowers In
your arms, you look like picture out
Of book
Louisc's heart was pounding as Il abe
had been running uphill when she passed
under the fanlight above tho front door
and entered ths wids, dim, cool hall
A tall young man In an immaculate
oltve-drab Uniform, nore handsome,
Louise quickly noted. than In the pic
ture Lee had sent, came hurrytnp to
meet her with both hands outstretched.
His warm brown eyes smiled into her
wide, almost frightened ones. One biz
brown hand closed over hers and held 1t
tight. He looked down at her full, allur-
ing young lips.
Perhaps I should have wired you,~ he
said. My ship docked three days ago,
but wanted to surprise you. You see"
his voice funbled little. then gained
confidence, while his eyes held her own.
''I've pictured this meeting q dozen diff
ferent ways and couldn't resist the i'm
pulse to see how you would look If I
walked in on you like this"
Lets go out on the porch" Louise
suggested 8 little uncertainty. I'll have
Sally fix some lirneade.r
CEATED on an old hickory settee,
~ Louise said: 80 this is why haven't
had letter for so long. Your letters
have been such delight. Life is very
hunadrum, and sad. too, In Norwood
these days. Everything Is changed. So
many have not come back yet and so
many never will. It's good of you to stop
of to see me. when you must be so eager
TO get back to your home"
i've had two reasons for coming here
right or" Captain Alan Dale said very
earnestly You see -
Sally appeared suddenly with tall
frosted glass tinkling with Ice cubes
and topped with aromatic fresh mint.
Captain Dale viii stay to dinner,
Sally" Louise said, 'and I'm sure that
after months along the Rhine, Southern
fried chicken and beaten biscuits viii be