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in a panic； that he was Franceward bound； but it turned out not to be so。
Not yet。 Chuck's letters were taking on a cosmopolitan tone。 〃Well；〃 he
wrote； 〃I guess the little old town is as dead as ever。 It seems funny you
being right there all this time and I've traveled from the Atlantic to the
Pacific。 Everybody treats me swell。 You ought to seen some of those
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California houses。 They make Hatton's place look like a dump。〃
The girls； Cora and Tess and the rest； laughed and joked among
themselves and assured one another； with a toss of the head； that they
could have a good time without the fellas。 They didn't need boys around。
They gave parties； and they were not a success。 There was one of the
type known as a stag。 〃Some hen party！〃 they all said。 They danced；
and sang 〃Over There。〃 They had ice cream and chocolate layer cake
and went home in great hilarity； with their hands on each other's shoulders；
still singing。
But the thing was a failure； and they knew it。 Next day； at the lunch
hour and in the washroom； there was a little desultory talk about the stag。
But the meat of such an aftergathering is contained in phrases such as 〃I
says to him〃and 〃He says to me。〃 They wasted little conversation on
the stag。 It was much more exciting to exhibit letters on blue…lined paper
with the red emblem at the top。 Chuck's last letter had contained the
news of his sergeancy。
Angie Hatton； home from the East； was writing letters； too。
Everyone in Chippewa knew that。 She wrote on that new art paper with
the gnawed… looking edges and stiff as a newly laundered cuff。 But the
letters which she awaited so eagerly were written on the same sort of
paper as were those Tessie had from Chuckblue…lined； cheap in quality。
A New York fellow； Chippewa learned； an aviator。 They knew； too； that
young Hatton was an infantry lieutenant somewhere in the East。 These
letters were not from him。
Ever since her home…coming； Angie had been sewing at the Red Cross
shop on Grand Avenue。 Chippewa boasted two Red Cross shops。 The
Grand Avenue shop was the society shop。 The East End crowd sewed
there； capped； veiled； apronedand unapproachable。 Were your fingers
ever so deft； your knowledge of seams and basting mathematical； your
skill with that complicated garment known as a pneumonia jacket uncanny；
if you did not belong to the East End set； you did not sew at the Grand
Avenue shop。 No matter how grossly red the blood which the Grand
Avenue bandages and pads were ultimately to stanch； the liquid in the
fingers that rolled and folded them was pure cerulean。
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Tessie and her crowd had never thought of giving any such service to
their country。 They spoke of the Grand Avenue workers as 〃that stinkin'
bunch。〃 Yet each one of the girls was capable of starting a blouse in an
emergency on Saturday night and finishing it in time for a Sunday picnic；
buttonholes and all。 Their help might have been invaluable。 It never
was asked。
Without warning； Chuck came home on three days' furlough。 It
meant that he was bound for France right enough this time。 But Tessie
didn't care。
〃I don't care where you're goin'；〃 she said exultantly； her eyes lingering
on the stocky； straight； powerful figure in its rather ill…fitting khaki。
〃You're here now。 That's enough。 Ain't you tickled to be home； Chuck？
Gee！〃 ‘
‘I'll say；〃 responded Chuck。 But even he seemed to detect some lack
in his tone and words。 He elaborated somewhat shamefacedly：
〃Sure。 It's swell to be home。 But I don't know。 After you've
traveled around； and come back； things look so kind of little to you。 I
don't knowkind of〃 He floundered about； at a loss for expression。
Then tried again： 〃Now； take Hatton's place； for example。 I always
used to think it was a regular palace； but； gosh； you ought to see places
where I was asked to in San Francisco and around there。 Why； they was…
…wereenough to make the Hatton house look like a shack。 Swimmin'
pools of white marble； and acres of yard like a park； and the help always
bringing you something to eat or drink。 And the folks themselveswhy；
say！ Here we are scraping and bowing to Hattons and that bunch。
They're pikers to what some people are that invited me to their houses in
New York and Berkeley； and treated me and the other guys like kings or
something。 Take Megan's store； too〃he was warming to his subject； so
that he failed to notice the darkening of Tessie's face〃it's a joke
compared to New York and San Francisco stores。 Reg'lar hick joint。〃
Tessie stiffened。 Her teeth were set； her eyes sparkled。 She tossed
her head。 〃Well； I'm sure； Mr。 Mory； it's good enough for me。 Too bad
you had to come home at all now you're so elegant and swell； and
everything。 You better go call on Angie Hatton instead of wasting time
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on me。 She'd probably be tickled to see you。〃
He stumbled to his feet； then； awkwardly。 〃Aw； say； Tessie； I didn't
meanwhy； sayyou don't supposewhy； believe me； I pretty near busted
out cryin' when I saw the Junction eatin' house when my train came in。
And I been thinking of you every minute。 There wasn't a day〃
〃Tell that to your swell New York friends。 I may be a hick but I ain't
a fool。〃 She was near to tears。
〃Why； say； Tess； listen！ Listen！ If you knewif you knewA guy's
got tohe's got no right to〃
And presently Tessie was mollified； but only on the surface。 She
smiled and glanced and teased and sparkled。 And beneath was terror。
He talked differently。 He walked differently。 It wasn't his clothes or the
army。