The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-09
The Epe,,ins Story


Both Love ana War.
The soldiers are coming! Hurrah!
Hurrah!" sang Gretchen Armour. az
she danced into the family living
room.
"Coming3 When?" gasped her
mother. laying down her book and
losing her place thereby.
Tomorrow---they've been billeted
upon us!s We're to have twenty Of
them over sntkhts In the name Of the
government !. Knocked Gretchen. try
ing to initiate the deep bass Of the
mans voice who had been at the door
i with the news,
Let me see,-asaid Mrs. Armour.
takingk the slip of paper her daugh-
ter waved as she still sang her fmpro-
vised song to the good old Scotch tune
of the "Campbells Are Coming. DO
be quiet for a moment and let me
think, Gretchen
The old Armour homestead stood far
back from the main road, ana 1t was
/ to be expected that, sooner or later,
the family would have to shelter some
OF the many troops that were starting
their colorG The war was several
months old and there seemed to be no
end to the lighting. 1t was the least
| the citizens could do-to extend their
best hospitality to the boys who were
fighting for them.
l ~
| rejoiced, In. To =the mother, 1t was
only bringing the terribleness of the
war nearer to her rooftree. She had
no men folks to offer and she did not
begrudge this it'll help she could give.
But Mrs. Armour took everything Sc
riously; everything worried her in
prospect. Gretchen was the happy
go-lucky replica OF her late father. and
not even her mothers joyless attitude
toward life could dampen her enthu-
siasm.
IT shall made doughnuts and drop
cakes and chocolate layer cake and
apple pie and"
"And they'll all have to go into
hospital quarters before they're well
on the march, interrupted the moth
"Oh. thank you. mother. OF course
Hannah will make soup and cook
chops and steaks and all the substan
tial. unromantic things. but I shall be-
gin at once on doughnuts." she de-
c1ared.
Mrs. Armour was about to add that
doughnuts had never been connected
with romance in her mind. but-well,
/ that minds had changed since she was
a girl. Her daughter was gone before
she could utter the remark
Her thoughts turned quickly to the
| more practical side of their pros
pective hospitality. Soldiers. she
knew, could sleep out of doors, on the
porches. anywhere. But Mrs. Armour
was going to give the boys the best
she could and she began Immediately
to plan for their welfare.
Unusual guest rooms were turned
into ready-to live-in chambers.
couches and cots were brought from
attice and basement until the place
looked like veritAb1e dormitory.
In the kitchen Gretchen drove the
cook almost frantic with her efforts at
cooking. She had apple peelings every
where, doughnuts in every available
platter dripping their grease. chocolate
filling on the fire for the cake that
was not even started and which Gretch-
en- said she could make later.
Even when the soldiers began to APP
preach the house on the following aft
ernoon Gretchen was still in her en-
folding kitchen aIEon. ner naturally
maiden's at herG lovers first kiss.
Curls had strayed from beneath the
frilly lace cap Gretchen said she must
wear to be tidy In the kitchen. and a
dust of powdered sugar near her lips
made them most attractive.
eve shall not be much trouble" ono
Of the officers In uniform told her. after
she had mingled with them as they sat
about and rested after the long days
march. Its too good OF you-too
good!'
"Good?'' cried Gretchen. her dimples
dancing back and forth as she talked.
! srWhy, it's too good to be true to have
you here. It's the one spot OF JOY IN
the whole WARRIOR me!'
The soldier laughed and whir1ed his
hat round and round in his hands. He
lived in the great city near by but he
had never seen girl like Gretchen IN
all that vast population.
There's little JOY In everything"
he said. ''if you just try to find it. The
greatest joy I've found-up to now" he
said pointedly. ''is the band music. You
just can't help being thrilled ana en-
Unused when the band begins to play
that stirring martial music. 1t Is a
long way to Tipperary,' but there is
much by the wayside that Is good to
see''
Sometimes I think it's easier to be
in the fight than to be back home with
with everybody gone and you don't
know where they've gone TO-. sald
Gretchen. with a. plafntive little catch
look straight ahead instead OF at her.
He must not look at her too much.
Perhaps you're right" he said. Il
left a mother and two sisters and
they took it pretty hard" he said.
! And then. until it was time to have
learned much Of the young mans
home. He told her he had wanted to
go to the front all the time ana that
| he hoped to come back-he believed he
would return. And then
! It was the supper's arrival that had
| interrupted his story, and Gretchen had
to help serve the many soldier boys.
and the young lieutenant with whom
she had been talking watched her go
from one to the other offering them
this and that and chatting and laugh
ing with them. In his youthfulness he
wanted to shoot some of his fellow
officer then and there instead Of watt
ing for the enemy to do it.
| But Gretchen managed to see him be-
fore they all turned in" She extend
| ed her hand to say goodnight
"Good NIGHT" she said. ct hope you'll
l,o fa1a.,s