Among Chose Waiting

Lake County Mail, Issue 11, 6 August 1947, Page 5

Among Cho se Waiting

Thg clock above the bookstall pointed to fifteen minutes past ten when Caroline Lindsay' hurried into Aberdeen station. She laid down her small case long enough to buy a couple of newspapers and a magazine, and then walked quickly across to the platform for the Glasgow train.

Caroline was very small, but she was so slim and straight that she gave the impression of being taller than she was. and her dark head, with its short curly hair —damp now from rain—had a proud tilt to it. Her eyes were blue — an unusually clear, vivid blue. People always noticed Caroline’s eyes. Her

brow was square, but her chin was

pointed, and her mouth sweet and rather ft childish. She was never quite so sure of herself as she pretended to be. The train'* wa's fairly busy on that Saturday, but Caroline found a seat at a small table In a Ibrllvaaw coach and. settled herself. The papers lay unheeded on her knee. She had othei thing’s to think,about. She had Alistair. Alistair Petrie’s narrow diamond ring was on her linger, and Alistair himself was in her heart. After the years of separation he had come safely back to her. How precious the dream was to her that she cherished during these years—that, at last she and Alistair would have their own home together, would build up something permanent and secure as a bulwark against the uncertainties of life —as a compensation for the .years that were lost. Security—a home among their own folk; she filled the empty hours without him with the warmth of lier dreams. And now it wasn’t to be! “Is this seat engaged?” She looked up with a start to. find an elderly woman beside hdr. She was carrying a Moses basket, and in the basket was a sleeping white bundle. Caroline .shook her head with a smile, and the woman laid the basket on the table with a sigh of relief. “You don’t mind if I put this here, then? ”

“Of course not.” Caroline moved her handbag and "loves out of the way. “Will yon he all right here, Frances?” The woman turned to the girl who had followed her.

“Of course I’ll be all right!” The girl lifted her ease on to the rack and pulled her hat from her fair head. Her pleasant voice had a slight accent which Caroline could not place. The train was almost due to leave, and the excited elderly woman was full of advice and instructions about the ■journey. Caroline’s interest flagged. She leaned back in the corner and stared unseeingly out into the grey of the drizzling, morning.

Four years—four whole years since

► she met Alistair Petrie, merry-eyed and handsome in his R.A.F. blue. He was stationed a.t Dyce, and they had a month together before he was posted south, and then overseas. Four weeks—it can pass in a flash, and yet it can alter the course of a life for ever! .

They were engaged when he left, and she had his , mother’s address in Glasgow so that she could go to visit her.

“Carol, Carol —darling!” She could see him standing here in this same station—with doors hanging and the whistle blowing, just as was happening now. His voice was hoarse, and she could feel his fingers digging into her arms. He must have known then that the parting would be a long one. “You’ll wait —won’t you?” Caroline nodded. She could not ,speak. She waited —almost four years. The war was long over before Alistair came hack, with his brown face browner than ever, and a row of ribbons beneath his wings. CaroliM, was very proud of him, hut far, far more- important than that —

she loved him! They ivevc together again. The past was over and done with. They could look to the future. They could settle down, marry, and have a home, like thousands of other young couples "who had been separated. The precious dream could l*cc«me glorious reality. But it did not!

“A marvellous opportunity! ” said Alistair, exultantly. “South Africa’s a great country. You’ll like it!

Caroline stared at him in dismay “South Africa? Not for good, Alis-

tair — ? ”

“My darling! ” When he smiled at her his eyes crinkled at the corners, and she found it irresistible. Don’t talk as if it were the end of the world! You’ll lie able to come out to me in less than a year, and T’ll have everything ready for you—and be counting the days till you get there, too! “ But I don’t want to go! I’m not the kind of person who wants to go travelling over half the world. I want to stay here —among our own folk! ” Some of the light died out of his eyes. “ I’m sorry you’re taking it like this, Carol. It’s a grand opportunity — and it’s my job It means promotion, and —and you must try to understand —” “ But you don’t have to go. The firm wonVA give yew a job here ” Her voice trailed oft’ as she saw the expression on his face.

“ I know they would—but an opportunity like this doesn’t come twice! You’ll soon get used to the change, Carol. It’s not as if we were old—we’re young! young! I just couldn’t miss this chance.” “Hot even for my sake?” “That’s hardly fair! ”

“Well —you’re asking me to give up everything I love —my family —my home ”

“ I hope it’s not me you’re givingup! ” His smile was rueful, and she melted then. The tears were not far away. “Oh. Alistair —I can’t bear the thought of another separation! ” “ Neither can I—but it won’t be for long. We ought to be together in less than a year. I’ll be waiting—with all the flags waving and the band out! ” “ But —South Africa —for good ” She could not return his smile. “Don’t say it like that! We’ll have our own home—just as we planned. Surely wherever we are together will be home for us both! ”

It was hard to resist him—impossible to explain to him. She wanted the dear familiar things of home—the feeling of belonging. She loved Aberdeen, the slow, kindly speech, the well-known faces of her friends, the clang of the trams rattling down Union street, the granite buildings gleaming in the sunshine after the rain, the salt tang of the sea that came in the wind. She knew that she would be homesick for it even in Glasgow—or in London —but to say goodbye to it for years! To be only a visitor in her native land, to drag out her roots and transplant herself td the other side of the world — leave her mother and father, her younger

sister and brother, the people who loved her —that she could not do, even for Alistair.

Her heart gave a painful jolt, and she remembered his pleading voice. “Carol, darling—marry me now! We can have a couple of months together, anyway, before 1 go.”

. “You must give rne time to think! “ You don’t need time to think. Either von love me or you don’t! ”

They had not quarrelled, hut there had been a breach, and the breach was not easily healed. It was as if a cold wind blew across the warmth of their love.

To-day she was going to see him, but ' there was no lilt in her heart as there should have bpen. She must make up her mind, he said. But it was so difficult. She didn’t want to go. Maybe she was a coward —but she didn’t want to go! Home, her own loved ones, the little familiar everyday things of. life—they were part of her, woven into, the very fabric of her existence. How could she turn her back on them—for over! (To be continued).