Evening star., 1945-03-04
OVERSEAS WIFE
Continued from page fVeipe

Return cables from Avon S lamly arrived HSt'
Four days passed - word from Bill.
Then one morning Nelia the Western Union
boy coming up the drive. She squinted against the
sim then left her dishes hurriedly. Avon, this must
be word from Bill she called excitedly. Oh why
doesn't he hurry? That Freddy Bearsley - he rides
a bike in slow motion But it WASH Freddy Bearsey;
it was old Mr.. Sake himself from the Office. He said,
"Miz' Bassett - -" His face looked drawn.
old He held an envelope. His mouth began to work.
Give it to me-" Nea said Flame scared her body.
then it turned She stood holding it. watching
the old man go back downsfhe steps She heard Avon
CALL HAS it come? Has it Gomez?
Woodenly Neia walked into the room where her
daughter law lay dark eyes beautiful expectan;
the small boy who Bill in miniature slept beside
her bed. Nea watched the terrible widening OF Avons
eyes they met her own. She heard the anguish oil
her cry 1t much later that she opened the enve-
lope She knew, anyway. that it began. We regret
to inform you.
For days Avon i'll it seemed she would die
But there the weary night when the doctor sad
We'll, guess she'll make it now. But Nelia nothing
has kept that girl alive but your nursing" The night
Nela went outside and stared the stars and cried
out the terrible thing she had refused before to give
words. I've kept her alive. Why? So she can take
Bills baby away from me. It's not fair She felt
shamed when she'd said it, for what shed done she
had to do, for Bill. matter what the outcome
Avon began slowly to improve the weeks went
by but she seemed now even more withdrawn from
the world around her. She would sit for hours just
watching the baby never taking her eyes from its
small perfect face.
Letters shuttled back and forth between Avon and
her family Her name had been listed for first avail
able passage. In another month at most she would
be gone. But whereas she had never shared Bills
letters with Nelia. she read parts from her parents
if the saying of the contents aloud brought nearer
the day of her departure for home. She did not
to realize how some of the things hurt Nella. " ..
folly, Avon your going there as you did. IN the
first place. If you'd only listened. "
HE baby was three months old now, and every day
he grew closer into Nelias bewdered heart For she
had steeled herself against loving him too much
Mary Hester, in her senseess way had put the ques
ton bluntly: What will you do. Nela. when she
takes him? And for Nelia could find no answer
could only stare at Mary, not even caring that the
pain her face naked for one looking to behold
1t was then she had decided she would not let her
self love the baby too much She thought. I'm too old:
can't take things any more. can't take ii that should
hold him and rock him and lore him. and then lose HIM
Once when she'd bent over him and tiny hnger had
curled about her own. she'd pulled away in sort OF
anguish "Oh. don't do that to me, Little Bill.
She very careful after that, but because she
knew the deep heartache of the girl. she kind
as she could be: Avon, you look beautiful sitting
there holding him. Avon, his little eyes turn the
ment he hears your voice" And for Bills sake she
forced herself to smile
The last letter came from Avon's family on the
heels of her notice from the travel agency that she
to be ready the fourteenth to leave for undis
closed port of embarkation. 1t bulky letter.
filled with plans: