The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-04
c SERIALSTORY
 WAR AND A WOMAN e...a BY sETIy IT. ", M.lAeE .... i've

afterward. I was in prep school, and then at the Academy And al- ways there was the Kings home to go back to-"
 She realized, suddenly, that he was explaining. Explaining about Marcia. They had been thrown to- gether 50 much. She seemed to hear Marcia's voice again. 'T've loved him since I was knee high"
 Queer, that it was that same ele- ment of propinquity, of long ac- quaintance, which had drawn her to George.
 "My-my fiance-has been a friend of Daddy's long time, too, ? she was saying. He likes the same things Daddy does. They have long arguments over what did or didn't happen in ancient Rome. They dis cuss Caesars campaigns, and the meaning of obscure passages in the Aeneid."
 They were talking around the important point, she knew. Re- membering the words she had flung at him last night, she went on, They're both-both bitterly opposed to big navies and arma- ments and all that. They think the common people of the country don't want them. They think all that leads to war"
 "The Services are very cliquish and headstrong," he admitted. INC use saying we don't take the atti- tude that war is inevitable"
 But that's a defeatist attitude That brings 1t so much closer-just admitting that 1t must come!" The color rose in her cheeks. If you could see Queensville, see all those young boys learning the finer things. Learning the arts of peace how to be doctors and lawyers and scientists. Realizing what a war would do to their lives"
 But just by having us on hand they're safer than they would be ii they didn't have us," Jimmy said Say we're necessary evil" His eyebrow quirked. Did he think her childish? without the armed forces, Linda, this country wouldn't be in the strong position 1t is ir to talk peace. To enforce peace"
 But you can't enforce peace Just the word enforce. :"
 Do you think all the nations oi the world are apt to scuttle their battleships and dismember their fighting planes?" Now he was ac- tually smiling. Tt seems to me they tried that once."
 She felt the sense of their argu- ment slipping away from her. Her head ached. T guess it doesn't mat ter what think" she said wearily. ''It doesn't matter what hundred million other small, unimportant men and women in the country think. We're not in the saddle. The handful who are, are running us. Oh, where are we now? How far have we gone? I wish we were in Mobile!"
 Jimmy glanced at his wrist watch. we've lots of time. The plane doesn't leave until 10:35 to- night"
 Ten-thirty-fve. It wasn't even dark yet.
 Would you like to stop and get some coffee?"
 There was gnawing emptiness inside her, she realized. That would be fine," she told him grate- fully.
 But even across the little table in the roadside lunchroom, the ghost of Marcia stood between them. Three hours she had given herself. She had more. Much more. But always and forever, there would be Marcia.
 They were riding again. "A funny name, Turpentine Still," she mur- mured drowsily, after long time, as sign swam into her vision.
 He didn't answer. Linda closed her eyes. She never knew how long she had slept, but when she awoke, all warm and refreshed, her head was on his shoulder. She sat up swiftly, blush prickling under her fair skin.