The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-27
BY T. 3. EATON.

"Oh, Taps" she cried. are you real
ly going away tomorrow"
Tonight. Patty" said he. smiling
down at her. I'VE 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
We'll, did she?" she persisted. You
needn't answe;. Taps. I see 1t in
that scowl of yours And you look
hurt and angry. too. DID she say
she'd marry you II you'd leave the
service7"
He smiled rather wanly.
You're not going tor
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
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"
Il 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 Rowland. had, indeed.
intimated this last afternoon that II
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 II he 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 homoWard
pointing prov to suit him
Evelyn was still heart-froo II he
could believe her letters. ari in few
weeks now he would see her.
During his absence Rear Admiral
Rowland had reached the age limit
and been retired He now lived IN
an imposing house in an exclusive
suburb near thu navy yard.
No sooner was he landed than Taps
Scudder headed thither 1t was
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 rafting back
toward the little suburban station.
motor car came whirring into the
driveway. A horn honked It's strident
warning. He turned about. There
was a cry from the car; Instantly II
stopped j.
"Oh, Taps. Taps. dear, I'm 80 glad
to see you-so, so glad!
He looked at her dazedly. He could
not realize the change In her that
six wears had wrought. Could this be
the little spindle-shanked girl he had
left behind the syringa bush at the
navy yardo He muttered In bewil-
dered fashion:
patty, For goodness sake
Patty" .,
You've grown handsome, Taps
she declared. Why, you're awfuily
DISTINGUISHED looking-not 30 boyish
as YOU were. Aren't you GLAD you
STAYED in the service'"
You bet | am, IL get my reward
for 1t" said he
What was that" said she.
"Do have to ask your said he.
No. Frankly, you don't" she de-
cIared i've remembered 1t every day
and every hour since you left. But
didn't suppose you had"
And YOU haven't changed a OIL
about your ideas of the service!' ne
asked at last.
why should | when you look 80
norfnctly splendid in a Uniform
Taps'" she asked.