The Lamar register., 1915-01-13
BILLETING AND BARBARA
BY HARMONY WELLER.

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 well ordered existence.
Barbara had not stopped to realize
that the little village In Bedfordshire
was right on the line of march
II was with great surprise that she
found herself watching an officer
retreating from her door having bill
leted score OF soldiers on her
Where will these troops sleep2'
she asked Of her old servant
"On the veranda. Miss Barbara. and
in the garden" replied jenkins, more
excited than the soldiers themselves.
We will feed them in the servants
hall"
In the evening when score or
more Of tired but laughing soldiers
in khaki came trooping through the
great hedge gate Barbara watched
them with quickly beating heart,
Somehow and without warning
sharp emotion gripped her She tried
to stifie a desire 10 cry, and wondered
why she should feel so helpless all
OF a sudden The men were big and
brave and were going on happily to
night 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 pro
vides the best OF everything for these
men. Spare no expense or trouble
to make them comfortable
When she had hung up the receiver
barbara felt triie more ike her
self After all. she was regretting
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 my servants are doing some
thing for those men," she told her
self when she heard burst Of laugh
ter from the direction of the lower
dining hall So long did she sit in
the darkness that before she knew II
the troops billeted on her had ceased
nd AnuV them agtWgE
down on veranda and garden lawn to
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 II to have YOU sleep
ing out here" she said breathlessly.
You must all 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 Il
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 on with their
bands playing and smile on their
lbs barbara wept as if her heart
~ ould break
ledfordshire was impossible to her
T. Ter 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 20 and be
Il part OF that working contingent and
do her mite.
Barbara knew that somewhere,
some day. alter the great war was
over she would again stand beside
the young lieutenant commander who
o. slept beneath her root on the
y ~ to battle His eyes had told her
MT he would come back to her, and
l"b1ra was living only for that day
End for the good she might do to b.
worthy Of him.
4 am glad thought barbara
that lived On the line Of march
tx. O;herWis. might never nave
known Lieutenant Commander Blake
l. She nilcd softly and added. And
yet must surey have met him
ZONE DAY"