The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

148 parents you have been as welcome here as if you were our own daughter. But Sy]l- vester Barnes is an estimable young man. Your uncle says that he is very prosperous in business. In every way it would be an excellent match. And as for calling him a slacker, that is hardly fair. Is it the poor boy’s fault that he has flat feet and weak eyes?” ‘‘T am inclined to suspect that his feet are more cold than flat,” Nella remarked, spitefully. ‘‘ At all events it was positive- ly disgusting to behold his obvious joy and relief when the draft board rejected him. I made up my mind then that I would rather die an old maid than become the wife of such an undesirable citizen.” Her blue eyes twinkled. ‘I told him so, too, in plain, unvarnished terms.” Mrs. Palmenter was shocked. “That explains why we haven’t seen anything of him for the past few weeks,” she muttered deprecatingly. ‘I was won- dering what was keeping him away. How could you do such a thing, Nella! You must write to him immediately and apolo- gize! Mrs. Palmenter was a_ strong-minded woman who ruled her household with a rod of iron. Her husband was as clay in her hands; her niece, despite her spirit, was more or less afraid of her; even the cook quailed under her displeasure. There came now a glint to her eyes and a look of de- termination to her austere countenance. ‘You will write to him at once, and tell him that you are sorry that you hurt his feelings,” she insisted. ‘‘ You will assure him that you—no, you had better make it we—that we shall all be glad to see him whenever he cares to call.” ‘““Oh, very well; I will write that if you wish,” Nella assented with a shrug. “I suppose I was a bit more rude to him than was necessary, and if you want him to call at the house I have no right to keep him away. But I tell you flatly, Aunt Martha, that I am not going to marry him, no mat- ter how much he pesters me with his atten- tions.” ‘We will discuss that later, my dear,” was the cold response. “ In the mean time, I want you to promise me that in future THE ARGOSY. when you go out alone in your runabout you will avoid the roads between here and the camp. Then there will be less danger of your meeting any tired soldiers and hav- ing demands made on your—er—patri- otism.” “But I like to ride past the encamp- ment,’’ the girl objected, pouting. “You will give me your promise, or you will not be permitted to take out the car without an escort,” was the stern ultima- tum. . Nella surrendered. In justice to her it must be said that she faithfully adhered to her promise, too. From that day on, when she went for a spin in her runabout, she resolutely resisted the temptation to head for Van Cortlandt Park, the site of the military camp. Fate, however, seemed to be against Mrs. Palmenter. In the first place, sev- eral weeks went by without any word from young Mr. Barnes, in response to Nella’s note of apology. And although the girl continued to avoid the roads which led to the encampment, she nevertheless, when out motoring not infrequently encountered men in uniform who courteously asked her for a “lift.” It seemed impossible to travel along any road without meeting a soldier. Such requests were always promptly and cheerfully granted. Nella had not prom- ised her aunt to refuse them. It would have been impossible to have exacted such a promise from her. She would have let herself be burned at the stake before she would have consented to compel a weary warrior to walk when it lay in her power to save him the exertion. Even if the soldier happened to be young and hand- some it did not detract from her patriotic fervor. _ II. NELLA had motored out to Hastings-on- the-Hudson, two towns north of the Van Cortlandt camp, one evening, and had just turned to begin the homeward trip when a tall, good-looking, young man in khaki approached the red runabout. “Guess I'll travel with you, partner, if you’ve no objection,” he said in a mat- oO Comicbooe S CO