Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-05-12
BOTH Love And WAR
BY JUNE eAHAN.

%SOpyliSiilb 1o11, Wy lAiS Ih4SSA&AS ~NS"Sk'e
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
iher place thereby.
"Tomorrow-they've been billeted
upon us! We're to have 20 of them
>over night. In the name of the gov
,ernment!'" Knocked 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-
yised 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
tar back from the main road, and 1t
was to be expected that, sooner or
aater, the family would have to shell
ter some Of the many troops that were
starting out on their long march in
support Of their colors.
Unusual guest rooms were turned
into ready:to-live-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
scoek almost frantic with her efforts
at cooking. She had apple peelings
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. 49,, -es-.> -'.a--,
j, Even when the soldiers began to
approach the house on the following
afternoon Gretchen was still in her
enfolding kitchen apron.
1--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
you-too good!" >-a
"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 mans
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 them
1t 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.
"I'll be comfortable bodily, but you've
upset my comfort of mind. Good
night"
"Good-mornins;," she said to the SOL
dier when she saw him next morning.
"It's good-moraing and-good-by," he
said, gravely. How pretty she was in
the morning!
$50 early!" exclaimed Gretchen.
eve march in an hour" he told
her.
Neither one spoke. They stood be-
meath the great elm tree near the
dining room. Gretchen's eyes were
on the lawn.
"I-can't you give me something?"
the soldier finally stammered. "a
misunderstanding of your own?"
he asked.
Gretchen did not reply. She looked
about helplessly. "This-my handker-
.chief-is all l have" she said at last.
The soldier took it. It had deli
cate, subtle perfume that he knew he
would never forget. He put it inside
his jacket II shall carry it till / see
you again or"
Don't say st." Gretchen cried.
"Don't!" It was one of the few Sc
rious moment of her gay young life.
The soldier laughed, but the mirth
was forced. "All right-tNl 1 come
back then? And when the good old
band plays The Girl I 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.
'Pm not anybody else's," Gretchen
isaid, 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
1t in farewell. Tears rolled down her
cheeks as the hand nkayed "The Girl