“Don’t you know why I hang around this House?” he said, in a very savige manner.  “Because if you don’t everybody else does.”

Dear Log or Journal, I could but think of one thing, which was that I was not yet out, but still what is called a Sub-Deb, and so he was probably only joking, or perhaps merely playing with me.

I said so, in a low tone, but he only gave a Groan and said: 

“I know you are not out and all the rest of it.  Don’t I lie awake at night knowing it?  And that’s the reason I——­” Here he stopped and said:  “Damm it” in a feirce voice.  “Very well,” he went on.  “I came to say Good-bye, and to ask you if you will write to me now and then.  Because I’m going to War half because the Country needs me and the other half because I’m not going to disapoint a certain young Person who has a way of expecting people to be better than they are.”

He then very suddenly stood up and said: 

“I guess I’d better go.  And don’t you dare to cry, because if you do there will be Trouble.”

But I could not help it, as he was going to War for my Native Land, and might never come back.  I therfore asked for his Handkercheif again, but he did not listen.  He only said: 

“You are crying, and I warned you.”

He then stooped over and put his hand under my Chin and said: 

“Good-bye, sweetheart.”

And kissed me.

He went out at once, slaming the door, and passed Leila in the lower
Hall without speaking to her.

April 30th.  I now intend to close this Log or Journal, and write no more in it.  I am not going back to school, but am to get strong and well again, and to help mother at the Red Cross.  I wish to do this, as it makes me feel usefull and keeps me from worrying.

After all, I could not realy care for any one who would not rise to the
Country’s Call.

May 3rd.  I have just had a letter from Carter.  It is mostly about blisters on his feet and so on, and is not exactly a love letter.  But he ends with this, which I shall quote, and so end this Dairy: 

“After all, Bab, perhaps we all needed this.  I know I did.

“I want to ask you something.  Do you remember the time you wrote me that you were blited and I sugested that we be blited together.  How about changing that a bit, and being plited. Because if I am not cheered by something of the sort, my Patriotism is going to ooze out of the blisters on my heels.”

I have thought about this all day, and I have no right to ruin his Career.  I beleive that the Army should be encouraged as much as possible.  I have therefore sent him a small drawing, copied from the Manual, like this: 

{1” tall figure of a man holding semifore flags—­his right arm is to the right and his left arm is up}

Which means “Afirmative”