The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-17
ROMANCE In KHAKI
BY MARY FREDERICK

1.-THE flag has come, girls, and such
beauty" Alice Davis announced to
her sisters as they gathered around
the table for the evening meal.
THAT makes me think, julie" the
other sister Joined in. II saw Rod
| Taylor in town this afternoon, and
he certainly looked well. He came in
on the afternoon train, and if Tn not
| mistaken, was in q soldiers uniform,
too. Better not show his face round
these quarters, though, eh, Jule?" she
continued.
Julia said nothing, but If it were
not for the gathering twilight the 9TH
ers might have noted the tears in her
eyes. For "Rod Taylor" was a name
she was trying to put out of her mind,
and finding it so hard to do. The
meal finished and her sisters on their
way to keep the evenings engagement,
Julia went out to the shed for the
ladder, preparatory to the unfuriing
of "Old Glory" Carrying it around
| to the front Of the house, she braced
1t against the balcony over the large
piazza, and with the flag, a beautiful
silk one, and new staff on her arm,
assembled to her lofty position and
was soon busily engaged.
She was, in fact, so hard at work
that the buzz of little voices below
failed to attract her attention.
"Cheese it, Jimmie" tow-headed
chap was muttering into the ear Of his
companion. shell hear u.s." all the
| time tugging vigorously at the ladder.
Finally, their evil purpose accomplish
ed, the two disappeared around the
corner Of the house, q boy at each END
| Of the ladder snickering at the joke
they were playing on Aunt julie.
Brother Bobs twins, for such they
were, bore the reputation in the neigh
borhood of young terrors, and it is
safe to say they did not have to work
| overtime to live up to that repu-
| tation.
| If our little patriot failed to witness
the villainy of her young nephews,
soldier of Uncle Sam coming rapidly
down the street, did not, for he came
to an abrupt halt at the corner.
AS Julia prepared to descend to
terra firma, and realized the predica-
ment she was in, little cry escaped
her. swell, suppose there's nothing
to do now but to wait for the girls
to come home" she bravely exclaim-
ed, sinking down on the floor of the
balcony.
1t was practically dark, and the lone"
liness Of the silent street appalled, her
so that she was soon in tears. Try
hard as she might, she could not keep
EEs thoughts from reverting back to
the evening meal and to what her sis
ter had said Of Rod Taylor. He who
had betrayed his trust. She found
herself saying his name over and over,
when suddenly from the darkness be-
low came voice:
"Can I be of any assistance"
Julia jumped to her feet, and peer
ed over the balcony to see the form Of
a man in the shadows below. She
made no reply until it came again.
might I be of some assistance"
Her voice a trif1e unsteady return
ed: "Why, yes, if you will get lad
der from the back shed, and let me
down, I will be greatly obliged"
The sound Of retreating footsteps
told her he was at her bidding, and
soon he was back again. She heard
him putting the ladder in place, and
to her surprise heard his footsteps on
the rungs. Evidently he was testing
its steadiness. No, he was coming up,
and Julia peered again over the bal
cony. AS he neared the top she found
herself looking into pair of brown
eyes, eyes she knew, and which held
her speeches. for the moment.
"Rod Taylor" she exclaimed after
long minute. "Why are you here, and
where did you come from"
"Why, JULIA" he answered, II have
come for you, of course. And why not,
dear. Didn't you receive my mes
sage?"
"But-but don't understand" she
returned. "You have never even an
swered my letters, and have received
no message from you, no, not even
a word since you left me-" Backing
away from the railing as she spoke.
"Can it be possible, Julia?" he re-
turned. "True, have been i'll in camp,
and quarantined for the last three
months, in fact so i'll could receive
no letters and, Of course, could not
write, but / did try to send you mes
sages through the boys, but guess 1t
was no avail after all. just recently
obtained my furlough, and came as
quickly as possible"
"But-your marriage" she inter-
rupted. "One Of the girls read about
1t in the paper and told me-"
"Oh, you little goose" he shouted in
glee, then more soberly: "Did you not
trust me more than that, little girlP
The only marriage was in was
mock one, and then I was the bride.
Just little fun the fellows were hav-
ing to pass the time away, while I
was recuperating. will show you
the nictllrp-n