The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-07-06

tiently until the train came in.
Simon was meeting her at Water
loo. Three-quarters of an hour
more! She looked at the ring in
the little velvet case. Yes, she
had it here quite safely.
Now the train was racing to-
ward London. The even rhythm
of the wheels seemed to sing a
song. "Soon you'll be with ST.
mon. Soon you'll be with Simon. !"
She looked at herself in the little
mirror she carried with her. Yes,
she was glad she'd come in uni
form. There was flush in her
cheeks and her eyes were shin
ing. Lane was wrong in saying
there wasn't much glamour about
Air Force blue and those rather
severe caps. 1t depended on the
way you looked at it.
There was glamour in what they
stood for. It was a good life they
all led in the service. It was sat
isfying to know that they were
doing something useful. Funny
how long it took people to realize
that a girl didn't join one of the
women's services because she lik-
ed to see herself in uniform.
She could see Simon now as the
train came to halt. She swung
open the door of her carriage.
Simon oh, Simon!
Hello, Cherry. How good it is
to see you'll"
No more than that; he didn't
kiss her But she hadn't offered
to kiss him. She felt little shy.
They hadn't met for so long,
"Your train was nicely on time,''
he said.
Good. I didn't want to keep
you waiting. I hope it wasn't
difficult to get away?"
"Oh, no, I managed that all
fright"
Of course he had! Otherwise
he wouldn't be here. What was
all this? Were they making po-
lite conversation? But it would
pass, this momentary stiffness be-
tween them. Perhaps it was only
to be expected. It was easy to
say "All my love, darling" in a
telegram when the recipient of
that telegram wasn't standing
there before you.
I've got the car here. I don't
know where you want to go. It's
the beginning of the month and
I've got little petrol"
us Dorking very far?"
"Dorking?" He stared at her.
mo, I don't think so. Only about
twenty miles or so. Why? Do
you want to 60 down there?"
i would rather like to-"
He looked puzzled.
well, I think it's quite a pleas
ant run. We could lunch at Bur
ford Bridge. That's just before
we get there"
Il think I'd rather lunch in
|Dorking."
He smiled down at her. ''Darl-
ing, you do sound mysterious!"
''Do -"
She got into the car and, glanc-
ing at him sidelong, caught him
looking down at her. She put out
a hand and he took it and held it
for a moment. Lets make this
a nice day." he said softly.
Il think we're going to-"
$50 do I. Only I don't quite
know why we should spend it in
Dorking. I'd rather thought per-
haps the cottage
She didn't say anything to that.
II things turned out as she hoped,
perhaps they could go to the cot
tage afterward. They could wire
Mrs. Greene. It would be easy
to cut across country. She'd al
ready looked it up in map. Oh
yes, she had planned it all out
very nicely. If things turned out
as she was praying they might.
The country looked lovely
There was an early promise Of
autumn, the time Cherry loved
best.
ANY news at the airdrome?'
Simon asked.
eyes, quite bit, and some Of
it, I'm afraid, not very good"
Il say, I'm sorry. What's been
happening?"
She told him, grief coming
back to her as she talked about it
Il knew John Harrap quite