Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1914-05-06
WAITING FOR PATTY
BY T. 3. EATON.

a lieutenant, junior grade, in the
navy.
Orders had come detaching him
from duty at the yard and instruct
ing him to join the Comorant for sea
duty.
He stood on the steps Of the ad-
miraFs house-the admiral was COM
mandant of the navy yard-a scowl
on his face and heart within him
like several tons of lead. Evelyn How
land, the admiral's daughter, had just
refused him again, and tomorrow he
would be at sea for he knew not how
many years. The Comorant was head
ed for the Philippines.
Still ,scowling, he began to walk
down the path. A syringa bush on
the little lawn was in full bloom.
Behind the .syringa bush sounded a
childish voice singing popular song
1t ceased as he moved down the path,
and Patty Howland, with all the i'm
pulsiveness Of a dozen years coupled
with very strong likes and dislikes,
sped from behind the bush and threw
herself into Taps Scudder's arms.
"Oh, Taps" she cried, are you real
ly going away tomorrow?
Tonight, Patty" said he, smiling
down at her. 1--WE sail tomorrow.
And you've just been up to see
Evelyn"
He NODDED.
And she turned you down again."
"That's not nice way Of putting
It," he chided mildly. t.
"Well, did she?" she persisted. "You
needn't answer, Taps. see 1t in
that scowl of yours. And you look
hurt and angry, too. Did she say
she'd marry you if you'd leave the
service?"
He smiled rather wanly.
You're not going to-"
I'm sailing tomorrow on the Co
morant," said he.
well, don't you leave the service,
Taps-not for Evelyn nor anybody
else," she said
Why" he asked.
"Oh, well, for one thing just be-
cause, and for another because you
are so awfully, awfully handsome in
a uniform"
"That last is the best reason. Pat
ty." he laughed. Just for that
won't leave the service"
"Well, don't, Promise me you
won't"
81 promise"
He stopped. She lifted her pretty.
childish face and kissed him resound-
ingly, not once, but over and over.
Then he went on down the path, the
incident forgotten. He was scowling
again and his heart was sore within
him. Evelyn Howland. had, indeed,
intimated this last afternoon that If
he would leave the service she would
marry him.
The next day he sailed on the Co.
morant. And it was very depressed
Taps Scudder that cruised about the
Philippines.
He wrote Evelyn often-it seemed
to be his only solace, that and wait
ing impatiently for the letters from
her. They were all Of the same gen.
eral trend. Why did he stay in the
service, especially when he had plenty
OF money? He couldn't really care
very much for her if ne wouldn't leave
the service for her sake.
Taps read those letters and bit his
lips and paced the hot deck, and six
years went past in this way.
Then he was ordered home. and the
waters did not foam and hiss half
loudly enough beneath the homeward
pointing Prov to suit him.
Evelyn was still heart-free, il he
could believe her letters, and IN few
weeks now he would see her.
During his absence Rear Admiral
Hcwland had 4ched the age limit
and been retired. He now lived in
an imposing house in an exclusive
suburb near the navy yard.
No sooner was he landed than Taps
Scudder headed thither 1t was a
splendid place, with spacious grounds
and long. low rambling house set
among Lombardy poplars.
Taps stood at the wide gates admir-
ing it. The carriage which had
brought him thither was rattling back
toward the little suburban station.
A motor car came whirring into the
driveway A horn honked its strident
warning. He turned about. There
was a cry from the car; instantly 1t
stopped.
"Oh. Taps, Taps, dear. I'm so glad
to see you-so. SO glad!"
He looked at her dazedly. He could
not realize the change in her that
six years had wrought. Could this be
the little spindle-shanked girl he had
left behind the syringa bush at the
navy yard? He muttered In bewil.
dered fashion:
Patty! For goodness sake
Patty"