Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1944-06-09


ly through the binding snow, The
dumpy gray-green figure Of the Stat
ue OF Liberty doomed mistily ahead.
Anne Haywood pulled her beaver
coat closer around her and leaned
against the rail. the icy fakes Of snow
sharp against her cheeks. She was
coming home. In few moments
she'd be in New York again. Her
father and mother would be at the
dock to meet her.
She took a deep breath and wiped
me snow off her long dark lashes.
II was wonderful 1t was wonderful
to be cold again. and smell the
smoke. and hear the low below Of
fog horns and the sharp high toot of
the tugboats going busily back and
forth. How sl,e'd ever thought fer a
minute she could leave it, she didn't
know. The first sharp singing rain
chilling her bones had done some
1iliis tNti dVl hlildiy w iCl. iN'i y
thing had fallen into place with a
fash of breath-taking clarity. She
looked back. little pain still NOV.
ing in her heart, her head perfectly
clear again.
Don Aware was right. She'd have
been mess She'd either have
gone militantly feminist, like tho
women Of her mothers day who
picketed the White House. and
chucked her weight about Directing
to customs and manners that didn't.
to her, make sense, or she'd have
given in. But she wouldn't have
done that.
But 1t was funny how quickly the
cold wintry fog had dissolved it all,
like an orchid when the frost
touches it. Though not really. Don
Alvaro was right about that too. 1t
had got mixed into her. some way.
softening and warming something
that had been too brittle and cold
before Her spirit was richer than it
had been-she knew better now what
life was about And there wasn't
any pain now. She laughed sudden
ly. 1t was marvellous to be alive
. E. and to be home again.
I'D better write to Pete, guess"
she thought irrelevantly.
The ship nosed into the dock. The
sailors let down the ropes and
slipped the gangplank into place.
Anne ran across to the long ramp,
looking for her father and mother in
the crowd OF people waving and
laughing Suddenly she saw them.
"Angelsl" she cried. "Oh gosh.
it's swell to see you'll"
Her mothers mink coat was cool
and sweet against her face, and her
, fathers chin was rough and slightly
stubbly. as it always was by the
end Of the day.
'Ips 50 wonderful to see you!"
Her father blew his nose violent
| ly. There's friend of yours around
here somewhere" he said There
he is"
For a moment Anne stood there,
perfectly still.
/ "Pete"
| Hello, Annie" Captain Peter VIII
cox said.
What on earth are you doing
here?"
He grinned.
I've been transferred to Wash
ington. | wasn't good enough for
the front-line trenches"
He looked at her intently for mo-
ment. Then he grinned again, took
her arm and elbowed her through
the crowd to the car waiting fol
them in the wintry street.
Outside Annes home the snow
swirled through the naked branche,
OF the trees and pelted icily agains
the window panes Anne stooc
watching it for moment. Their
she drew the heavy damask cur
tains together, holding them tightly
an instant before she turned anc
came blindly over to the sofa Ii
front Of the blazing log fire. Pett
stood there watching her, the lonl
ash Of his cigarette growing I'm
noticed between his fingers. Her IA
Their and mother had gone upstairs
Anne stood staring down at the leap
ing, cracking flames.
Suddenly Pete jerked his cigarett
into the fire and took a quick strid
toward her. He stood for a momen
looking down at the bright ben
| golden head. Then he raised hi
hands and gripped her arms.
ANNE" he said. Look at me
| Anne"
She shook her head Everythin
inside her had dissolved into a liqui
/ agonizing fire at the strong sur
touch Of his hands, and the new dc
termined iron in his voice.
II can't pete-1 can't" she whis
( pered
He drew her TO him and held he
hard and tight against him, his lip
hot against her hair. Then he raise
her head and kissed her lips Sh
chung to him desperately
"Oh, Pete What fool I was
Don't let me so ever, ever!
The tears sprang clear from he
long curling lashes and poured dow
her cheeks. He held her close I