Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1942)

and how much of it was just an effort to talk herself into believing what she was saying. Sam Young kissed his daughter. "I'm very proud of you," he said seriously. "I'm glad you were able to figure all this out for yourself. I know I warned you — but that's not the same thing. Every person has to find out his own truth." Everything seemed all right on the surface. All evening long, however, Mrs. Young couldn't rid herself of the feeling that Peggy's happiness and future could not be settled quite so simply as this. And, when she and Sam were settling down for the night, she had to express her doubts. ¥'M afraid for Peggy, Sam," she ■*■ said. "You mustn't worry, Mary," Sam said quickly. "She's unhappy now. But she'll get over it." "Will she?" Mrs. Young whispered. "What do you mean?" "Well — I don't know how to put it, dear," Mrs. Young searched for the words. "She's so young, Sam. I'm not sure she's ready to adjust herself to something as big and important as this." "Mary," Sam reached across the space between the beds and took her hand. "We've got a job ahead of us. But we'll manage it. Let's wait and see what happens before we worry too much." This proved to be excellent advice, ___^___^^_ because the next afternoon, the whole thing was taken out of their hands. Carter came back. Peggy didn't have a chance to escape from him this time. He had walked up to her in the garden and caught her shoulders firmly, before she even knew he was there. "Peggy," he said. "Carter!" Peggy cried. "You didn't think I'd let you go, did you?" Carter asked. "Carter, I wrote you how I felt — " Peggy said helplessly. "It's so hopeless— it would never work." "I don't care why you ran away from Chicago," Carter said. "Everything's different, now. You've got to listen to me." He took her hand and pulled her toward the gate. "Let's go where we can be alone, Peggy." Even before he started the car, Peggy knew where they were going. There was only one place where they could really be alone and feel they belonged — their own hidden, lovely corner on the lake. Carter spread the car blanket on the grass and made her sit down. He sat down beside her and took her hand. He looked down at her hand. "First, I want to tell you that I've broken off with my family," he said quietly. "Oh, no, Carter!" Peggy found the words forcing themselves out of her. "I had to, Peggy," he said. He went on quietly, calmly, telling her how he had always hated the kind of life he had had to lead, how lonely he had been all his life, how he had been shunted from one school to another, from one servant's hands to another, how he had never felt close to his father and mother. "Now I'm free, Peggy," he said. "Now, I'm free of 86 the money, the pushing around. Now I can look at my future and know it's my own." Peggy reached up and smoothed back his dark hair gently. He caught her hand and kissed it. "Darling," he said, "I need you. I need you to work for and I'm going to need your help." Peggy leaned over and kissed his cheek tenderly. "Wait," Carter said. "It — it's so hard to explain. So many things have changed in such a short time." Peggy, watching the distress in his face, felt her heart contract with fear. "I've learned lots of things besides the fact that I couldn't bear to live the way my parents want me to live." He thought for a moment, his face very serious. "It's like this, Peggy. As soon as I met you, I knew I wanted to marry you. But I wanted to marry you right away. I couldn't wait. Now, I know we'll have to wait." "Oh!" Peggy said in a small voice. "Please, darling," he said. "You've got to understand. I don't want it to be like this. But there is a world and it's at war and I have a job to do — so have you — so has everyone." "I know that," Peggy said. "But why can't we be married, now, right away?" "There's no time, Peggy," Carter said. "I wanted you to know how I felt, how much I love you, before I told you this. We're being shipped TODAY EVERY FIRE HELPS HITLER! The President of the United States of America has designated the week beginning October 4, 1942, as Fire Prevention Week. Fire is always serious, but as the President pointed out in his proclamation, every loss of life, every interference with production, every loss of critical materials delays our day of victory. You can help your country by learning how to eliminate the causes of fire and also to combat them as quickly as possible when they occur. REMEMBER TO DO YOUR BIT PREVENT FIRE— PROTECT LIVES— PRESERVE PROPERTY away — tomorrow. I don't know where we're going and I couldn't tell you, if I did know." He caught both her hands. "Don't look like that, darling. I'm coming back. I'll have something to fight for, something to come back to — you and a whole life together. Peggy stared at him in silence. She had never faced this fact before. Carter's being in the Army had never had this reality before. Now, suddenly, it became terribly real, as real as bombs dropping nearby and the shriek of diving planes. Yet, somehow, she was not afraid. It was a strange feeling, but she felt strong and she felt she must let Carter know that she had found this strength, that she would be able to wait for him, no matter how long, and that he need not worry about her. She looked him steadily in the eyes. "I'll wait, Carter," she said quietly. And she knew he understood how she felt, how sure she was that the future was theirs, when he took her into his arms, at last, and kissed her. This was a new kind of a kiss, a kiss that held the promise of the world in it. All this while, Mrs. Young moved aimlessly about the house, fussing with this and that, her mind busy speculating on what was happening to Peggy and Carter. A car stopped in front of the house and Mrs. Young ran downstairs quickly. Peggy and Carter were just coming inside. Peggy looked up. "Mother, I'd like Carter to stay for dinner," she said, her voice calm and even and somehow very different. "I may not see him again for a long time. His outfit is being moved." Mrs. Young started to say she was sorry to hear this, but there was something in their faces, in the way they both held their shoulders square and proud, that stopped her. "Of course, dear," she said. But she stood a moment in the hall, watching them walk to the living room. They were not putting on a show of courage. It was real. Mrs. Young felt proud of Peggy. She knew many more troubles lay ahead for her, perhaps, but Peggy would be able to face them, now. She was no longer a child whom every wind of circumstances could hurt. Thinking of Peggy and Carter, wanting them to have as much time alone together as possible, Mrs. Young avoided the living room, until she heard Sam's voice booming in a now almost forgotten way. She hurried in from the kitchen. "Where's your mother?" Sam was just asking happily. "Here I am, Sam," Mrs. Young said. She eyed him curiously as he came toward her. Sam had changed, too, since he'd gone out that morning. "I've got something for you, Mary," Sam said brightly, _^^^_^__^_ his eyes grinning slyly. He reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a longish paper. "Here — a present for you." Mrs. Young unfolded it. "Why, Sam!" she cried. "It's the deed to the house. You've bought it back!" — ^-— — ^— _^_ "Not exactly," Sam said. "I made a down payment, though." "I don't understand, Sam." "It's simple," Sam said. "Curt Bradley met a man in Chicago who said he wanted to buy some land for a summer estate and Curt sent him to me. He bought the Coronet Lake property — all of it." rPHERE was an air of celebration •*■ about the dinner table that evening. Looking around the table, Mrs. Young felt that they had much for which to feel grateful. We're all safe, she thought. Peggy is safe in her love and in her newfound strength and understanding. She watched Pepper and almost smiled. He's safe, too, she thought. He feels free to speak out and laugh and joke, without having to worry about hurting anyone's feelings, or starting a flood of tears unexpectedly. And Sam's safe, she thought. He's sure of himself again. He's found his faith in himself again. Mrs. Young leaned back in her chair. She was happy. All around her were the people she loved and she knew she need not worry about them, now. No matter what happened to them now, she knew they could all face it. They could face it, because they were together, close and loving one another, ready to help one another, ready to understand. RADIO MIBBOR