The guardian., 1940-11-02
America Wins
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By RICHARD HILL WILKINSON
Mcclure syndicate-WNU serviceJ
e-WNU ServiceD

dI4U lOlil fil4lAAs Al WIN ISAbSA I'LL
borther Chet came down from Rot
tersham. He was wearing the uni
form of a corporal. Peg'looked at
him and there we're tears in her
eyes; it seemed as though she would
burst with pride.
"Oh, Chct, you look simply Won
derfull I'm so proud of you'll
could almost weep" And she did.
She brushed away her tears and
laughed. 1T won't take very long
to whip them, darling, to teach those
Midlanders they can't sink our
ships" She searched his face. "Is
Cary coming DOWN."
Instantly Chet sobered. "T believe
so. He couldn't get away until this
evening. Cary doesn't think as you
and I do, Peg"
Peggy knew a feeling of approhen-
sion. She wouldn't let herself be-
Geve that her fears were justified
When Cary arrived she was alone.
He swept her into his arms.
Hello, darling Sorry I couldn't
come down with Chet-Good heav-
ems, what's wrong?"
Nothing. Nothing except that
expected you'd be wearing uni
form"
I see" Carys face grew sober.
So it's got you, too?"
Got me?" Peggy's eyes bIazed.
If you mean the spirit of patriot
ism that every true blooded Amer
lean should have at a time like this,
the answer is yes"
All right, honey. No need to
get upset. I didn't mean to con-
denim you for the way you feel
You're young and you can't know
the meaning of war"
Can't I? Well, let me tell you
this: I know that your country
needs you, needs every man avail
able Our ships have been sunk,
our people killed, our honor insult
md by a nation that has had her eye
on US for the last decade. l know
that every citizen with a drop of
loyal blood in his veins should stand
ready to defend his country!"
Defend it-yes. When it needs
daGending I'll be there. But not
when an American vessel carrying
suppIies and ammunition to another
warring nation has been torpedoed.
That isn't invasion"
Cary Easton, you're a coward
and a traitor to say that"
"Of course, I'm afraid. Who
wouldn't be? Who isn't? Why"
But Peggy had turned and fled.
1t was a month later that Peggy
read in the papers about Cary's en-
listment. She sat down and wrote
to him She loved him, and loved
him in spite of everything.
Cary answered her letter. He had
thought over what she had said.
That's why he had enIisted-because
he loved her and wanted her more
than anything. More, even, than
life. He tried to see her, but at the
last minute his regiment was
shipped south and from there it en-
barked three days later for the war
zone.
Within the month she heard news
Of her brothers, death-shot down
on the battlefield. An honorable
death, the dispatch read.
This was in May. In September
she stopped hearing from Cary.
There was a terrible ache and pain
in her heart, a fear, an emptiness.
Hope remained alive, but it was a
miserable hope.
In December an armistice was
declared. According to the news
papers America had won the war.
The Midlanders had been sup
pressed. There was rejoicing and
celebrating on all sides. The first
boat load Of returning soldiers came
home in January. Peggy stood in
the icy wind and watched them dis
embark. Cary was not among
them.
In May the last boat load arrived.
Peggy was not at the dock to meet
it. She had given up hope. And
yet hope lived again when she heard
knock at her door. She opened
1t and looked at the man standing
there. After while she recognized
him. It was Cary-what was left oi
Cary. Something caught at her
heart; sob escaped her lips.
Hours later they sat in front Of
the fire, and Peggy looked up into
the bitter, distorted features of the
man she had sent away, and said:
Things are going to be just the
same, darling-just as we planned
II want to get married at once. t"
Don't be fool, Peggy. Why
there's nothing left of me. Do you
think for a minute I'd ruin your life
by marrying you? Lord! I'll never
be able to work again as long as
live. I'd be a millstone." He
laughed bitterly. "I-only came
back to show you-that was right"
Peggy reached up and kissed
nm. Then she put him to bee
and left him. For hours she sal
alone in the living room, planning
how they'd live together, how they'c
get along, how she'd take care Of
him.
The next morning she stole into
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