Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-06-29
A Little Love Story For the Fourth.

"Oh, my goodness j. said Annette.
81 thought you had more patriotism, Pc
ter"
Peter stretched his languid length in
the great wicker chair on the other side
of the tea table from which Annette dis
pensed afternoon hospitality in her rose
garden.
"Dear girl, he asked, "Who can meas
ure patriotism ? Because won't march
in parade with lot of buff and blue
idiots you choose to say that | do not
love my country"
"Arnold Adams is not an idiot" An
nette interrupted.
Peters eyes narrowed. "Then Arnold
Adams parades, does he, and makes a
speech to the accompaniment of appro-
pirate fireworks ?"
"He makes his speech in the after
noon," Annette vouchsafed. every
one seems eager TO help me out with my
Fourth OF July garden party but YOU"
"Dear girl, I'll come and pass cake
and listen to the Declaration, but | can't
parade in costume"
"Well, the men all look lovely in their
new uniforms" Annette informed him.
Somehow" said Peter, "a uniform is
associated in my mind with service.
There are the old regimentals of my great
grandfather, all stained with mud, and
the faded blue cap that my father keeps
in memory of Gettysburg is tlotched with
red." He shrugged his shoulders. "But
it's too hot this weather to dress up for
nothing"
Nothing - ohl' Annette flung out
her hands. 81 don't believe you'd fight
if there was war, Peter"
Peter leaned across the table. "Con-
sidering my ancestry" he said slowly.
"is there any reason you should think
that ?"
"Modern men haven't anu backbone" )"
she taunted.
"Don't 60 too far" he told her. "My
idea OF love of country is something deep
er than mere shouting for freedom"
"Love OF country is courage" she
said.
"You mean ?" he demanded.
"That Pm disappointed in you, Peter" Z"
Her eyes blazed. 81 believe you're too
lazy to carry gum"
"Stop p he thundered and stood up.
Annette stood up too. She slipped
from her finger a wonderful hoop Of dia-
monds.
There" she said, 'take it. If you
loved me you would see my point OF
view. 1t isn't that want you to wear
blue and buff; want you TO show your
patriotism"
"Ah-patriotism p Peter picked up
the ring. "If you ever want this again
you must ask for it. Annette. lam afraid
that otherwise | can never forgive the
woman who has called me coward"
81 shall never ask for il p she blazed
as Peter turned on his heel and left her.
When the great day came Annette tried
to interest herself in the decorations, the
refreshments, in Arnold Adams, who.
looking very handsome in his colonial
| uniform, hung over her, and when he
J made his speech his eyes were on her.
Annette didn'tlike his speech. ltsmack-
ed OF artificiality. There was in it so
much of stars and stripes and the glory
of country, but no depth of earnestneSS,
no deep appeal 10 the hearts of men.
When he had finished he came down
expecting Annette's praise. But she
didn't give it. Cant we get away for
a moment from these people?" she said.
"I'm so tired of the crowd"
"I'll take you up the road in my car, 4"
Adams proposed.
So il came about that fifteen minutes
later Peter Van Dorm, sitting on the hill
side, saw far down the curved road a big
red car and within ii a splendid gentleman
in blue and buff and a lady in arose
wreathed hat.
He saw something else, too. Just be-
low him little dirty, curly headed child
from the Italian settlement near by was
digging contentedly in the dust, right in
the path of the car that was coming
around the curve.
II took only moment for Peter to
plunge shouting down the bank, to catch
up the baby and cross the road. He was
safe, but the two in the car had whitened
at his danger. Annette was crouched in
heap as Adams brought the big machine
to stop.
"Oh, | thought you would be killed,
Peter"
Peter, with the screaming child in his
arms, smiled at her. at was nothing" "
he said.
81 should have thought you would have
been afraid" Annette began.
Peter stiffened. "You seem to think
that am always afraid, he said, and be-
fore she could answer he lifted his hat
and was gone.
All that evening she watched for her
lover, but he did not come. AT last she
could stand it no longer. She sat down
at the lemonade table and talked it over