YOUNG LOYALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 13 (Supplement)

YOUNG LOYALTY.

(By MICHAEL ROMAIN.) )

SHORT STORY.

■ It was Sunday, and the townlet of Perington lay deserted in the hot noontide. A young man and a young woman walked leisurely through the square, and presently, coming to a stretch of ' countryside, sought out a bench by the • road and sat down upon it. ( They had known eacli other since childhood, they had played and quarrelled together. When they grew up [ there was something new in their lives [ —dreams, love and difficulties. In Perington Tony Gray could see no future for himself beyond working in a I garage. He had a restless, ambitious nature and the strength of his manhood was upon him. "Joan," he said suddenly, "I must get away from here." Joan Castel's heart grew cold, for she knew what was coming. She had sensed it weeks ago in a woman's intuitive way. "If I could take you with me," continued Tony hesitatingly, "I would. But things aren't going to be easy for me. It wouldn't be fair on you. When I'm a success I'll come back to you. It won't be long." Joan's lips tightened. What could she say? Words that would keep him unhappy at her side? That would have been selfishness, not love. She could see that Tony was looking anxiously towards her. His destiny lay in her hands.

"You must do whatever you think [ best," she said with an sffort. i Tony frowned. There was indecision in his eyes. "Don't you understand, dear," said Joan I quickly. "I'll wait for you, no matter how long." — • • • * The expression of relief on Tony's face was a supreme reward. "I was afraid . . . ." he stammered. "You need never be," answered Joan firmly. On the day that Tony departed the sky was overcast. As his train steamed out of the station and his head and shoulders leaning from the carriage window became a blur, Joan turned and walked disconsolately off the platform. A sudden burst of sunshine made her loneliness unbearable and she wished that she had kept Tony with her, whether in poverty or discontent. She was shortly to suffer another loss, for her mother —her only surviving parent —was taken ill and died. After the funeral, Joan and her younger sister Helen had to make plans for the future. They had been left a little money, they had jobs. Should they give up the small house where they had been born and bred, and. go into rooms, or live with relations? "I'd hate strangers to come here," said Helen impulsively. ■"Couldn't we keep on the house?" "Just for ourselves?" asked Joan. "Why not?" Joan reflected. "Surely we're entitled to a home of our own?" pressed Helen. "I don't know if you want to go and live with stuffy relations or in poky little rooms _ somewhere." "I certainly don't," admitted Joan. "We're old enough to look after ourselves," declared Helen. When the "stuffy relations" heard of their plan they were horrified. Two young girls living alone in a house! It was unbelievable! , "We're not young girls," retorted Helen at a family council of censure, "we're young women." Joan's quiet determination was a more effective silencer. "This is what we've decided to do," she said, "so let's not argue about it." Then she fussed over uncles and aunts and presently sent them all on their way. The two sisters were In their house, alone. ♦ ♦ # * A year passed by. Tony wrote that he was working for an engineering firm in the North of England; that the work was hard and progress slow. Then Joan heard from him that he was sailing unexpectedly to Canada. A letter came from Montreal, another from Vancouver, after that —silence. Helen was her greatest comfort. "Don't worry, darling," she used to say, "I'll never leave you." "What about all the men who are running round after you?" asked Joan steadily. "They don't mean anything," answered Helen scornfully. "Even Edward Bradley?" suggested Joan, naming one of Helen's most persistent admirers. "Less than any of them," said Helen firmly. "When he starts any of that love nonsense, out he'll go—just like the others." Joan was sceptical. Once, passing through the house, she. heard raised voices from the sitting room. The door was open and, looking in, she saw Helen and Bradley facing each other, both in such high tempers as to be oblivious of her presence. "If you talk like that again." Helen was saying angrily, "you need never come into this house." "All rights-then," won't."

Turning, he saw Joan. His lips tightened, and for a moment he seemed on the verge of an outburst against her. But he controlled himself vvitil an effort and walked out of the room. * "What's the trouble?" asked Joan curiously. The front door flammed with a crack like the splintering of wood. "Just a stupid boy who's getting above himself," replied Helen lightly. "He'll have to learn to keep his place— like the others." • « * • Her sister looked at her searchinglv. "You aren't by any chance considering me in this matter, are you 1" she 'asked. "What matter?" "The matter of your being in love with someone." "I'm not in love with anybody," declared Helen unflinchingly. For weeks afterwards Joan watched her sister for signs of unhappiness, but whether it was present or not, nothing was betrayed. One evening, on her return from business, Joan saw a car standing outside the house; there was a man at the wheel. Suppposing that it was someone for Helen, she paid little attention to him and turned her face towards the trim hedge that flanked her home. Suddenly, as she laid her hand upon the gate, she heard her name called.

Her heart jumped as she recognised the voice. A moment later a man's arms were round her. "You haven't changed," he murmured tenderly. Joan could not speak for emotion and happiness. Tony had come back. "Let's go into the house," she said at last. Helen had not yet returned, and they were alone. "Now tell me all about yourself," said Joan. "There isn't much to tell," smiled Tony. "I've had good times and bad, but now I suppose I can call myself successful. I've made a fair amount of money and look like making more. The most important thing is that I've come to take you away." To Joan these words seemed the most wonderful she had ever heard until a sudden, disturbing thought flashed across her mind—Helen, her devotion. Something in Joan's expression must have betrayed that all was not well. "What's the matter?" asked Tony anxiously. "Aren't you free ?" "I'm not tied to anyone in the way you think," said Joan. "But there is someone else?" "Helen," answered Joan. "Since mother died, we've been living together.' "Well?" demanded Tony. "She's devoted to me," explained Joan haltingly, "and I am to her. After all the years we've been together, I don't know if it would be fair to leave her." "But surely you aren't going to sacrifice your life and happiness for her!" exclaimed Tony. "It's incredible." "You must give mg time to think," said Joan unhappily. She heard the front door open. "That's Helen. Don't say anything to her now," she pleaded. Tony looked sullenly beyond her. He had not expected this development and racked his brain for a solution. Helen strolled into the room. She : looked tired and worn, but at the sight ■ of the visitor her expression brightened. \ "Tony!" she exclaimed. "This is a surprise." ' She stretched out her hand. Tony grasped it coldly. i "Aren't you thrilled, Joan?" asked < Helen, turning to her sister. "Hardly," remarked Tony. "Don't" pay any attention to him," interrupted Joan impatiently. Helen looked curiously from one to ' the other. t "You haven't been quarrelling already, i have you?" she asked. ... ( Tony determined to take the initia- , tive. "I'm pro in g absolutely frank, he began. "I've just asked Joan to marry me, but she seems to think it's her duty to stay with you." "Of course she'll marry you," said Helen quickly. ' < I 1 "I shall do nothing of the sort, retorted Joan. "This is entirely my affair and I don't have anyone interfering. That's final." There was a momentary and uncomfortable silence. Then Helen smiled. • "I know you'll hate it, Joan," she said, "but I'm afraid you'll have to get married for my sake." "What do you mean ?" demanded Joan. "I was married myself a year ago— : to Edward Bradley. I kept it a secret because I didn't want you to be left alone. The day you heard us quarrel-1 ! ling. Edward wanted to tell you, but 11 . wouldn't let him. I knew Tony would | come back some day . . ." » • » • Joan and Tony had gone out to celebrate their reunion. They had invited Helen to accompany them, but she had refused. Alone in the house, Helen sat for a ; long time in front of the telephone, i attempt, to r ecaptMftSr th«U.ove i whJSit 3he£hafl abandoned? !

She lifted the receiver. "Perington 104 ... Is Mr. Bradley a t home ?" " i A pleasant voice answered her. "Mr. Bradley left a few days ago to be married. Can Ido anything for you ?" Helen's lips tightened. She replaced the receiver. For her sister's sake, the lie would have to be played out to the end. After that there was the future to be faced. She hoped that the courage and vitality of youth would give her strength against the barrenness of things. Presently, she heard the sound of quick steps and happy laughter, and she steeled herself to meet the returning lovers with a smile of young loyalty.