The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-01-14
AND BARBARA
By HARMONY WELLER.

Copyright, 1914. by the Mcclure Ne vs.
paper Syndicate.
Even after war had been declared
and the troops were actually on The
march, Barbara Heathcote failed to
realize the gravity of the situation.
Comfortably ensconced in her great
country bungalow, surrounded by ser,
wants and every luxury, she did not
see the necessity OF worrying about
a war which would not upset her
own we'll ordered existence.
Barbara had not stopped to realize
that the little village In Bedfordshire
was right on the line of march.
1t was with great surprise that she
found herself watching an Offices
retreating from her door having bil.
leted a score of soldiers on her.
Where will these troops sleep?"
she asked OF her old servant.
ION the veranda, Miss Barbara, ali
in the garden" replied Jenkins, mo 9
excited than the soldiers themselve 3.
I'VE will feed them in the servants
hall"
In the evening when a score pr
more of tired but laughing soldiel s
in khaki came trooping through Il 9
great hedge gate Barbara watcht z
them with quickly beating heat.
Somehow and without warning a
sharp emotion gripped her. She tried
to stifle a desire to cry, and wondered
why she should feel so helpless all
of a sudden. The men were big ard
brave and we're going off happily 70
fight for their country and their
womenfolk
She looked again at the men, now
going toward the back of the house,
and their war kits brought fresh emo
ton to Barbara's heart. They were
going to battle for perhaps months
and maybe years with that small pro-
vision of comfort. She turned from
the window and to the telephone.
Jenkins she called down to her
old servant, see that the cook pr :
vides the best of everything for thef 2
men. Spare no expense or troub g
to make them comfortable"
When she had hung up the receiver
Barbara felt a trife more like her.
self. After all, she was ~regrettina
the entrance into her life of that score
Of brave men. Barbara felt the sting
Of her own weakness and the utter
uselessness of her life.
Even M servants are doing some
thing for those men, she told her
self when she heard a burst of laugh
ter from the direction of the lower
dining hall. So long did she sit IN
the darkness hat before she knew i
the troops billeted on her had ceased
their laughter and flung themselve
down on veFanda and garden lawn tc
WOO sleep as best they might. Bar
bara jumped up and went swiftly into
the moonlight among the soldiers
They arose as one man at her coming
and stood looking at the slim white
figure.
Il can't stand it TO have you sleep
ing out here" she said breathlessly,
you must ell come inside. | will have
all the room necessary" She smiled
when they demurred, and commanded
in a most adorable manner. please
let me have my way" she said. !
have never done anything in my whole
life for any one save myself. Please
let me do what | can now" And
because she was crying Barbara hast
ened to help Jenkins make up the
many beds in the great house.
The troops remained only until the
morning of the third day, and when
they had marched off with their
bands playing and a smile on then
lips Barbara wept as If her heart
would break.
Bedfordshire was impossible to her
after that. The life of ease and lux
ury was not to be borne. She could
not sit idly by and wait for news
from the front; she must go and he
a part of that working contingent ar 4
do her mite.
Barbara knew that somewhe
some day. after the great war W
over she would again stand besis :
the young lieutenant commander VITO
had slept beneath her roof on tae
way to battle. His eyes had toll her
hat he would come back to her and
Barbara was living only for tina day
and for the good she might do be
worthy of him.
Il am glad" thought Bari ra,
that / lived ON the line of N CHI
ing. Otherwise | might never I'VE
known Lieutenant Commander I ke-
ly." She smiled soStly and added, md
yeti must surely have met Inn