The Coconino sun., 1915-01-01
BOTH LOVE AND WAR
BY JUNE GAHAN.

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 bileted
upon us, We're to have 20 OF them
over night In the name of the gov
ernment!'" moCkGd Gretchen, trying
to initiate the dcrp bass of the mans
voice who had beCI 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 mpro,
vised song to the good old Scotch tune
of the "Campbells Are Coming" DO
be quiet Tor moment and let me
think Gretchen"
The old Armour homestead stood
far back from the main road. and it
was to be expected that, sooner or
later, the family would have to shell
te" some of the many troops that were
starting out on their long march in
support of their coors
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
cook 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.
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 than as
they sat about and rested after the
long days march, It's too good of
you-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 me-" .
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. Nnd then
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; q do hope
you'll be comfortable"
"Pll be comfortable bodily, but you've
upset my comfort OF mind. Good
night"
"Goodmorning," she said to the sol
der when she saw him next morning.
It's goodmorning and-good-by," he
said, gravely. How pretty she was in
the morning!
so early" exclaimed Gretchen.
We 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
alisman-something of your own"
he asked
Gretchen did not reply. She looked
about helpiessly "This-my handker
chiefs all have" she said a last.
The soldier tool, it. 1t had / deli.
cate subtle perfume that he knew he
would never forger. He put it inside
his jacket, 1 shall carry it till Sc"
you again Or"
Don't say il" Gretchen cried
Don't" II was one OF the few Sc
rious moment OF her gay young lille.
Inc sooner laughed, Dul tHe Hiti |
was forced "All right--till J conn |,
back then? And when the good Oh |
band plays The Girl | Left Behinc
Me this trip may think of you as
my girl?' he asked
Breakfast was being called from the
house. May ~" 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
II 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
dier boys handkerchief
Mans Conquest Of Nature.
Ma t,,o, holf captury ap(