Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 233, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1917 — BEFORE THE WAR [ARTICLE]

BEFORE THE WAR

By DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

Arllne had broken their engagement because David had given up a splendid position to join the army. He had given no reason for his desire to become a soldier save that he had a “hunch." At least that had been David’S way of putting It. But the “hunch," as David slanglngly expressed It, had been a force so strong that he had been quite unable to resist its urge. Something, some thread of destiny, had drawn him from his exceptionally remunerative position and tied him firmly into the army. So David went his way in khaki and Arllne continued her life, missing David far more than she had reckoned &n. A year or two dragged past Arllne found one or two men whom she accounted friends, but front time to time she compared them with David 'and found them lacking. She was not aware that she was comparing them with David and would have scorned herself for it David had deliberately left her to join the army, and she did not even know that her erstwhile sweetheart was now Lieut David Cornwall. War began blasting its horrible way in Europe before Arllne realized that soldiering was a noble calling. She knew, too, that should America join the conflict she would want more than anything in the world to be in a position to help her country and its brave men. Not knowing that she, too, was the victim of a hunch, she went to one of the great New York hospitals and found herself making definite arrangements to enter as a probationary nurse.. It was fortunate that there was a vacancy.

Arllne figured that, entering the hospital in 1914, she could be a trained nurse In 1917 and should the war continue so long she could go and help in a foreign hospital. She did not like hospital work. It was the last profession she would have asked of herself, but she struggled desperately with duty’s grip about her. And still Arllne was unconscious that she, too, was following that mysterious thing called a hunch, even as David had followed his. All unknowingly she was steering her bark to the head of the stream where she and David had parted. She was in her third year of training when America entered the world conflict. Khaki-clad men were everywhere and sons of the navy in blue and white. The first time she saw a battalion of soldiers, new to khaki, hiking along the city streets, her heart squeezed up into her throat. When she returned to the club for probationary nurses near the hospital and went Into her narrow room and flung herself on her narrow white bed she still heard that steady shuffle of marching feet, z As she lay on that slim little bed in the slim little room it suddenly occurred to Arllne that some power of which she had not been conscious had prodded her along this nurse’s path. She knew, too, that David had been guided along his soldiering way in that mysterious manner. He now would be one of the first to go overseas at his country’s call. And with this personal remembrance of David a sharp little pang stabbed her heart. David’s feet would be shuffling even as those of the marching men whom she had seen; David would march to battle; David would enter the firing line; David might ■ Arllne shrank from the thought of what might happen to David.

Without a moment’s hesitation she went down to the office and telephoned David’s home. She had not forgotten the familiar number. She had only expected to get his address from some member of the family, but David’s voice answered her. When each had recovered from the palpitating silence that followed the hearing of the other’s voice after practically five years of separation, Arline said softly: “David, I wanted to tell you, before either of us is called to the other side, that I understand why you Joined the army. Hunches are great, big, wonderful things in life. I am sorry I spoke to you as I did and want to know if you have forgotten me. I will finish my work at the hospital In two months and hope to sail with the first lot of Red Cross nurses. I don’t want to go away without seeing you.” Arline blushed hotly. David’s laugh over the phone was so possessive and so tender. Arilne had not known a laugh could be so thrilling. “And I don’t want to go without seeing—and marrying you, Arline.” David’s voice was steady. “We have loved each Other all this time. I know it and I think you do, dear.” “I have always had a hunch that some wonderful thread of destiny would bind us together, dear ” David said very softly.