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"No?" He seemed skeptical "What else could it be? Helen loved him, didn’t she?"

"Oh, yes, but that was already understood Oh, Paul, I heard the rest of the story and it’s so beautiful, so co, you’ll see why she loved him as much as she did Sam helped her look to the future and step out of the past"

"You’re avoiding the question," he said

That confused her for a h to acceptthat answer by way of Western Union" The answer that was going to change her life…

"You can tell me now," he offered casually

"Before I do, you have to promise, on your word of honor as a United States ain"

"You think it was easy?" he demanded

"I don’t care if it was easy or not, you can’t ever do it again" His abandonht," he ain"

"Word of honor?"

"Word of honor," he agreed

He’d earned it now "I’m crazy about you, Paul Gordon Crazy Crazy in love with you If having the marines as your career means that much to you, then I’ll adjust I’ll find a way to make it work But you need to compromise, too, when it co job in order to follow you so Ruth expected after her ad stretch of silence

Then, "Are you serious? You’ll acceptin the military?"

"Yes Do you think I’d do this otherwise?"

"No," he ad about giving up the marines"

"Because of me?"

"Yes"

"You were?" Never once had it occurred to Ruth that he’d consider such a thing

"My dad and I have had a couple of long talks about it," he went on to say

"Tell me more"

"You already know this part--I’m crazy about you, too I wasn’t convinced I could find a way to live the rest ofI’ve already talked to ood possibility I’d be able to stay in the marines, but I’d be stationed in one place for a while"

Ruth slu deliciously weak, too weak to stay upright "Oh, Paul, that’s wonderful!"

"I felt like a fool," he said "I ht, but I didn’t have to force you to decide that very h"

"Pride carried randrandfather at the end of the war Their ro else she told us"

"She’s a very special wohter"

"I’ll tell you everything later"

"I can’t wait to hear it I’ht repeat itself," Paulif someday you’ll be my bride"

"That’s the perfect question," Ruth said, and it was perfect for what she had in hed deeply "I do believe I’ll send you that telegram after all"

Yes Yes Yes

Helen Shelton

5-B Poppy Lane

Cedar Cove, Washington May 9

Dear Winifred, It’s tie man she introducedin Oregon, where her fa man and I feel she’s chosen well Yes, my dear friend, I’ll ether It’s been far too long since we’ve had an extended visit I’hters I’ood Ruth and my sons know all aboutcopies for everyone in the family She claims this is ht… I’ll see you next week The warmest of wishes,

Helen LIBERTY HALL

Lois Faye Dyer

Acknowledgments

My thanks to explosives expert Skeeter Burnett