The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-24
BOTH Love And WAR
BY JUNE GAHAN.
Copyright, 1914, by the Mcclure Newspa-


| Copyright, 1914, by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)
"The soldiers are coming! Hurrah!
Hurrah!" sang Gretchen Armour, as
she danced into the family living
room.
"Coming?' When?" gasped her moth
; er, laying down her book and losing
her place thereby,
"Tomorrow-they've been billetec
upon US! We're to have 20 of them
over night. In the name of the gov
ernment!'' noc,ied Gretchen, trying
to initiate the deep bass of the mans
voice who had been at the door with
the news.
Let me see," said Mrs. Armour
taking the slip of paper her daughter
waved as she still sang her impro
vised song to the good old Scotch tune
CT the 'Campbells Are Coming" DC
be quiet for a moment ard let me
think, Gretchen
The old Armour homestead stood
far back from the main road, and il
was to be expected that, sooner OF
later, the family would have to shell
ter some Of the many troops that were
starting out on thei: long march in
support Of their colors.
Urusual guest rooms were turned
into ready.to-ive-in chambers, couches
and cots were brought from attic and
basement until the place looked like
a veritable dormitory.
In the kitchen Gretchen drove the
cook almost frantic with her efforts
at cooking. She had apple peeiings
everywhere, doughnuts in every avail.
able platter dripping their grease,
chocolate filing on the fire for the
cake that was not even started and
which Gretchen said she could make
later.
Even when the soldiers began to
approach the house on the following
afternoon Gretchen was still in her
enfolding kitchen apron.
"We shall not be much trouble" one
of the officers in uniform told her,
after she had mingled with them as
they sat about and rested after the
long days march. It's too good Of
yoC-too good!'
"Good?" cried Gretchen, her dim
pies dancing back and forth as she
talked. Why, it's too good to be
true to have you here. It's the one
spot Of joy in the whole WARRIOR mel"
And then, until it was time to have
supper, the two talked and Gretchen
learned. much Of the young El-.2,'s
home. He told her he had wanted to
go to the front all the time and 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.
But Gretchen managed to see him
before they all turned in" She ex-
tended her hand to say goodnight.
Goodnight" she said; 81 do hope
you'll be comfortable"
"Comfortable?" the soldier said.
''Ill be comfortable bodily, but you've
upset my comfort of mind. Good
night"
"Good-morning," she said to the SOL
der when she saw him next morning.
It's good-morning and-good-by," he
said, gravely. How pretty she was in
the morning!
so early!" exclaimed Gretchen.
1--WE march in an hour" he told
ker. IT,.
Neither one spoke. They stood be-
meath the great elm tree near. the
dining room. Gretchen's eyes were
On the lawn.
'T-can't you give me something?"
the soldier finally stammered. "a
talisman-something of your OWN"
he asked.
Gretchen did not reply. She looked
about helplessly. 'This-my handker-
chiefs all I have" she said at last.
The soldier took it. It had a deli
cate, subtle perfume that he knew he
would never forget. He put it inside
his jacket. 81 shall carry it till I see
you again Or"
Don't say it." Gretchen cried.
DON'T" 1t was one of the few Sc
rious moment Of her gay young life.
The soldier laughed, but the mirth
was forced. "All right-till I come
back then? And when the good old
band plays The Girl / Left Behind
Me- this trip may think Of you as
my girl?" he asked.
Breakfast was being called from the
house. May II" he persisted.
I'm not anybody else's," Gretchen
said, simply.
And when the troops passed along
the main road and the soldiers who
had been billeted on the Armours
joined them Gretchen stood beside
the gate holding fast to large square
Of linen that had been pressed into
her hand when the soldier boy shook
it in farewell. Tears rolled down her
cheeks as the band played "The Girl
[ Left Behind Me-" and she wiped
them again and again with her sol
lier boys handkerchief.
Mans Conquest of Nature