1918 Cedrus Yearbook

19 18 A few weeks later Robert Holsworth of the 102nd Aero Squadron of the American Expeditionary Forces in France distinguished himself in the art of flying so that he was given a machine of his own. His Commanding officer informed him that he must keep his machine out at least four hours a day and not more than six. He must make at least one landing other than on the camp grounds in order that he might learn to land on rough ground. A few days later Bob ran out of gasoline and was compelled to land in a meadow about twenty-five miles from camp. He went to a near-by farm house and was de- lighted to find that the people were Americans. They were overjoyed to accommodate a soldier of the Stars and Stripes and invited him to dinner, which was just being served. As Bob entered the dining room he came face to face with Frances. "Frances!" "Bob!" They exclaimed in one voice and the parents knew that their daughter's heart was not with the man whom they wished her to marry. For the next three months Bob's machine could be seen lahding almost any day in the same meadow. Sometimes he took dinner with the family; sometimes he stopped for a few words with Frances, but more often she went for a ride with him. At first Bob's conscience hurt him a little. Was he being true to his sweetheart back home? But as time passed on that feeling gradually wore off. Was she true to him? He had written to her many times but had not received a line from her. His mothe r had written to him that she had gone West. So the time came that he seldom thou ght of her. While Bob was flying over the sunny meadows of France, Bob's mother went bravely about her work, but always with a prayer on her lips th at the cruel war would stop and that her boy might return to her safely. Mary had gone to Colorado to keep house for an uncle whose wife had died suddenly. Her moth er had received Bob's letters but for some reason they had all been lost and Mary did not even know Bob's address. One day as Bob was coming in, his Commander told h im that he would take charge of an instructor's machine. From now on as a result he was kept so busy that he did not succeed in seeing Frances for several weeks. His form er machine was finally returned to him and was ordered to be ready to leave for th e firing lines in forty-eight hours. At the first possible opportunity he went to see France s. When he came in sight of the house he saw that there was a large gathering there. Now Frances' parents were compelling her to marry a ri ch French business man. He was a dull, rather elderly man who cared for nothing but bu siness and was marry- ing her because he thought it was cheaper than hiring a hou sekeeper. He was al- together an unsuitable companion for Frances, but his money at tracted her mother. Of this Frances had not told Bob, thinking that in some way sh e could prevail upon her parentsto give up their project. But the wedding day arrived with no relief in sight. As Bob landed he saw Frances running toward him with outsret ched arms. He also saw her mother start after her, then stop and walk slowly back to the house. "Take me away; take me anywhere," sobbed Frances, falling into the you ng soldier's arms. Bob helped her into the machine, and as the aeroplane rose from the gro und Frances told him everything. "Take me to Aunt Emily's"she said. "She does not approve of the wedding an d will help me." Realizing from what she said that this was the best plan of action, the young man throttled his engine to full speed, for the time set for his return to ca mp was fast approaching. 71