The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-13
A YANK TN
THE R. A. F.
CHAPTER Il
Nv HARLAN THOMAS

A1At 4 Tn -
The Hunt came trotung over the
Hill. The Kentish village into which
II vas heading resembled any one
Of those through which TIM ana
Roger had sped. with intermittent
stops. the night before. II was
green with the first hint Of spring.
Hollyhocks and eroeuses were COM
Ine into bloom. The blacksmith. the
draper and the journeyman tailor
were At work At their open doors,
ENJOYING the sun and listening to
the horns and tire barking hounds
as they neared. Finally the riders
appeared IN the lane. They were
women. young and middle-aged, all
correctly turned out. and mounted
on spirited horses. A lone man led
them - the elderly Master Of the
Hunt. in a red coat. one OF whose
sleeves was empty and pinned TO
his side. They greeted the VII
layers. the dogs snuffled and the
Hunt trotted off between the stiles.
Standing at the corner of the
weatherbeaten lane. Carol and
Morley had watched the brief pro-
cession pass. Both she and he we're
wearing loose sport tweeds. Morley
smoked a pipe as he leaned against
the old graveyard wall.
We'll, now I'm sure of it." Carol
said. turning to him.
OF what >"
She smiled gently. "Therell all
WAYS be an England
Morley laughed. "of course"
They turned up the narrow lane.
Carol gazed around at the sunny,
ivied scene "Everythings so love-
~. You'd never believe there was
war on"
Il wouldn't be too sure he said
as they went up the steep climb.
Dad or some of his Home Guard
might pop out of a bush at any
moment At her side ne murmur-
ed. "Parschutists. you know
Can you imagine how silly
parachutist would look in this
lane ," she laughed.
He turned mockingly severe.
My dear young woman. this ia
not lane, This is the Pilgrims
Way - the oldest thoroughfsre in
England"
The Pilgrim's'" she asked.
looking back along the ancient
walls. Il thought they only had a
rock. You know, at Plymouth
Massachusetts,.
He stood at the wayside for a
moment and closed his eyes. Just
do as I'm doing, Carol-and then
you can see them all. passing here
before you - Romans - Saxons
Celts-Normans =" He shook
off the mood and pointed rapidly
up the road. e. and Fords'"
A Ford station wagon came
down past them, hitting every
bump. A broad-beamed. efficient,
determined Englishwoman in a
floppy hat was driving it, They
stood aside to let her pass. she
waved at them. Then they turned
off into the pastures and reached
rugged fence with a stile. Nor
ley jumped over, and then turned
to help Carol. She stood a moment
on the top rail, gazing out upon
the countryside. Far off, beyond
the sheepfold and between the yew
trees. there rose a rambling manor
house, with high, bracketed Chin
neys, quaint dormers and creepers
climbing up the masonry.
Morley was watching her as she
gazed. Il wonder if you could pos
sibly have any idea what all this
has meant to me-" Carol said Quiz
city. My coming here and staying
in that lovely old house that looks
as if it had been here forever"
He helped her down. The apple
trees were in first bloom. Wild
flowers had pushed up through the
vernal grass. Morley stopped and
gathered bunch for her. Blue
eornflowers were among them.
Finally ne said amusedly, The
part you We're in last night is the
new part. Built in about 1850.
That other wing dates back TO the
Norman Conquest. OF course no.
body's been in it for years"
Maybe its still full of Nor
mans" Carol said brightly.
4 can assure you that at least
its not full of ghosts"
And TO think that back home
Continued on Page Thirteen