The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-30

Martha Marshall never remem bered, afterward, what she said tt Bill when he asked her to resigl from Air Transport. All she remem bered was the sick surprise the sud den aching sense of loss.
 She loved her job. She loved tht busy office, the ringing telephone She loved the feeling of competence and usefulness, the heartering self respect for herself as an individual that came at her desk.
 And her check meant a great dea to her. To give it up was to fact the bleak prospect of months anC months of emptiness. To face day! of housework. Days of washing days of bed-making, days of caring for the children and of listening tC Eugene'S endless, unchanging com plaints about business.
 "I wouldn't mind," she thought helplessly, .'if it were necesSary-i1 it were sensible. But it iSn't!"
 Yet though the blood pounded in her temples, though her knee. felt queer, she promised, of course Afterward, she had that to cling to Bill had asked, and she had prom iSed.
 She told herself that Bill wanted her to quit so that she and Pau Elliott wouldn't be thrown together any more. "He trusts me. He does trust me. But he thinks this way it'll be easier"
 Maybe he was right. She set hel lips. Only 8 few months, after all Perhaps it wasn't much to ask. Per haps knowing that Bill could have no doubts, no fears, while she lived at Helen's would be worth this price
 So, the day Helen came home from the hospital, she asked gaily s'Think you can stand me around the house until Bill gets out of the ArmY?"
 "Helen's face, glowed. Martha! DO you mean it? Darling, 1t would be wonderful! But you mustn't un- less you really want to. Don't dc 1t just because-because I need you.
 of course I want to! There's only one string to it. I've simply got to get my car and Butch"
 ''The children will love him." The children did love him. They loved him almost to death. Poor Butch, whose life had been peace flll and easy, was forced to fetch sticks whether he felt like it or not His maps were interrupted by child Ssh fingers pulling at his tail or 1 tweaking his ears. The baby climb ed up on his broad back and used him for a pony. Genie tormented him until Martha wanted to scream
 Martha had written a letter oi resignation to the Chief. His an- ewering letter expressed regret, en- closed check to cover two weeks vacation, which we feel you have amply deserved"
 Paul, who had left the hoSpita Che day after Suzanne's outburst had not written or phoned. Martha understood that. Just as he mus understand the reason for her re- signing.
 One of the bright spots of living in the little bungalow of Bayville was the fact that it was close enough to Bills camp for regular Sunday visits at trifling expense Once Europe and the children piled Into the car and looked around the camp. But most Sundays Martha drove up alone in the old car Eugene's mechanic at the garage had done good job of rejuvena- tion.
 1 Bill and Martha and Butch spent Sundays which were almost, if not quite, the equal of the blissful Sum- days they had known before Bill became soldier. They tramped the woods beyond the camp, they sal for hours in the car, talking and making plans for the future.
 Once in a while, Bill asked caSu- ally, "See anybody from home?' She always said, "No. How would I?"
 ] The camp became as familiar tc Martha as the field outside Ali Transport once had been. She ever made the acquaintance of a pi- quant little person who was the wife of a Regular Army sergeant and who bragged about having lived on army posts from Schofield, ir Hawaii, to Fort Davis, in the Canal Zone.
 '.Me," said Aggie Moore gaily, I'm Q maneuver widow from way back Always swear I'll stay home-anc always come trotting along" She &ent Martha a shrewd glance, there 4n the NCO clubroom, where Sht had invited Martha to wait while Bill secuted around after his pass f'It keeps them happy, you know NO little green snakes sliding under the bunk, no wonder who's kissin her now blues"
 N Martha laughed. But the bloot lvas warm in her face. Aggie Moore went on, matter-o of -factly, "Yol can't make a soldier out of a guy the jealously bugs been eating on And let me tell you, in the Arm! like every place else, it's the gir
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