The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-21

Frank family ever since I came back to Sumner. Dad brought all her children. A Warren has stood beside the Franks in every crisis in their lives. I can't let them down now"
 'sThis is not time for your knight in shining armor' philosophy" Emily broke in angrily. "You're too idealsitic, Alan, too ethical. And what does it get you? Noth- ing! No one appreciates what you do, the sacrifices you make Come down to earth. This is a matter of dollars and cents After all, you have your own life to live, Alan"
 "A doctor can never call his life his own"
 And if you don't go to St. Louis, what will Dr. Peterson think? You've already written that you'd accept his offer. I've hoped, I've planned" Emily saw her dream castles tumbling.
 Peterson may understand. I'll try to explain. And if he doesn't-"
 "If he doesn't-then your chance to be professor-to amount to something gone forever"
 It would always be like this, Emily knew. Even if Dr. Peterson did ac- cept Alan's explanation, even if Alan went on with his plans up to the last minute, even if they were ready to step on to the train to leave Sumner forever, there would always be something like this to hold Alan here. He could not break away. He would not. He never would. The ties were too strong.
 And Emily? What did 1t mean for herr She pondered the ques- ton. Endless years, just as this last one had been?
 Although she wanted to scream out her hate for Sumner, for Its people, even for Alan, she strove for self control, for she knew that this moment must be the turning point in her life.
 A thought of Eric flashed through her mind. Eric offered opportunity to escape all this. But as quickly she put him from her thoughts. This was her problem and Alan's. They must settle it alone, without interference of third party.
 Could she let her dreams of re- turning to St. Louis go? Could she resign herself to days and nights of loneliness? Could she ever be content as country doc- tors wife.
 She wanted to cry. Tears might break Alan's resolve to stay here tonight. But would that settle the problem, once and for all? Her happiness was at stake. This was the showdown and there was no use in postponing it. She had to know what Alan wanted now, to- night.
 That she loved Alan, she knew. But whether she loved him enough to remain here, buried in Sumner, she was not certain. Alan loved her - as much as he could ever love anyone No doubt of that. But his profession came first. She was outside, alone. An ever-widen- ing gulf of misunderstanding was them. They were grow ing farther and farther apart. Where would it end? She buried her face in her hands, tried to think clearly.
 
 Alan realized, too, that final de- cision must be made tonight. If he failed to comply with Peterson's virtual order to appear tomorrow, there likely would never be another chance. A hundred men, older. just aS skillful as he-all experienced available in Europe. They would gladly jump at the op- portunity and Peterson would be forced to accept them.
 Peterson was placed in an awk- ward position. With vacancy on his own staff, refusal to accept one or more of the refugee physi- clans might be construed by the commission as an- and any excuse ne might offer would seem ridiculous.
 And what of Mrs. Rowland? and Grandma Frank? They had a voice in this, to - a pleading, persistent voice that would not be still.
 If Emily would only understand. If only something could change her SO that she could see his work as he saw it. If she could even become a part of it, helping rather than hindering him.
 Suddenly Alan knew what he would do. He squared his shoul- ders, faced his wife.
 
 What are you going to do?" Emily asked him calmly, evenly. i, Alanshad known she would be like this in crisis. No tears, no hyster- ical pleading.
 I'm staying here, Emily. I'm wiring Peterson that the whole thing is off. don't want to be a professor. I want to be doctor and that's what I'm going to be-"
 He went to the telephone. Emily