The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-03
EVENING STORY
On Furlough.
BY FANNIE BARNETT LINSK

On FurlOugh.
BY FANNIE BARNETT LINSKY.
Lieutenant Hanlon and Sergeant
Farrell-to see DR.. Carroll, please"
and a flash of admiration came into
the usually impassive, countenance of
Sims, the butler. as he took in with
one all-appraising glance the uni
formed figures before him.
"A fine looking pair Of soldiers
was his silent verdict. but aloud he
said: I'll tell the doctor you have
come"-and he waved them into the
large reception room that forms part
of every doctors home.
Gee" said Scott Hanlon Che of the
lieutenant-hke decOrationS), this is
sure some fine place. Our doctor man
must certainly be man of means. al
tho he never tried to make US think
so when he talked to u.s."
81 know it, Scott, but that's just
what made everybody like him So"
replied Sergeant John Farrell. late of
the One Hundred and Seventh ar
tillery. 81 know a few boys in the
trenches that'll never forget him, and
I'll wager any one of them would
cheerfully give up his life for old
Doc"
81 guess you're right, Jack. I al
ways knew he was a big man, but I
never thought that he had left all
this behind, to go over there and take
care of the boys; and as for anyone
ever giving up anything to help old
Doc, why, l only hope 1 have the
chance some day, for I'll sure never
forget
''Sh!" came warning whisper from
! his brother officer. as footsteps
sounded in the hall. The draperies
parted and once more Sims, the but
Ter, made his appearance.
BEG pardon, sirs," he said, "but
the doctor was called out quite unex-
pectedly, but he's expected back any
minute. Mrs. Carroll went with him,
but if you'll please make yourselves
Mary will be down directly" And
taking caps and listers from the two
guests, Sims withdrew once more with
an apologize cough.
Again left alone, the two men talked
in undertones. kind O. queer that he
shouldn't be here to welcome us, don't
you Think" said Jack to his COM
panion. Hes had our letter now
over two weeks, telling him that we'd
spend the last three days of our fur
10 with him here. However" as an
afterthought, II suppose a doctors a
afford to have all this" and once more
his eyes wandered with an admiring
glance around the luxurious fur
nished room. '1 guess I'll leave our
small offering here till by and by"
he added. carefully depositing on the
table a large and bulky package which
up to now he had been holding.
Miss Madeline and Miss Mary
| they must be the twins that Doc was
forever raving about" said Scott. "Can
you picture me dandling a chubby
3-year-old on my knee and saying:
| 'Ooos ducky darling is oo?'" And two
hearty masculine laughs peeled forth.
| forgetful for the moment of their sur
roundings; but only for a moment, for
a slight noise made both men turn.
| The twins, indeed-but nothing
chubby or three-year-old about the
two young ladies who stood in the
doorway. Quite the contrary; tall.
slender and good-looking- least
such was the mental verdict of two
young men who saw them for the first
time.
lieutenant Ranlon," spoke up one.
slightly taller than her twin, and she
looked inquiringly at the two young
men.
"I am here" said Scott. as he step
ped forward.
"I am Madeline Carroll" said the
girl, holding out her hand, land this
is my sister Mary. Then you" turn
ing to Jack, as Mary and Scott were
grave1y shaking hands, you must be
must be-" and she made pre-
tense of looking at well-worn letter
| that she helQ IN ner ndnQ, you IluSl
be Sergeant Farrell"
"I am" said Jack so promptly that
they all laughed, and so the ice was
| broken.
We've been looking forward to
your coming for ever so long" said
Madeline, who evidently felt that the
burden of entertainment rested upon
her shoulders, land we were so ex-
cited when Dad got your letter saying
that you were coming today. because
well, you see, it's a very important
day for us-it's our birthday-Mary's
and mine. You see, we're twins
Yes, I know that" said Scott.
your Dad-we always called him
Doc, over there at the front-did moth
ing but talk about his twins"
He sure did" chimed in Jack. land
fScott and I thought that you were
about 3 years DID,"
What" exclaimed Mary. shocked
into speaking for the first time. why
we're 1S today" and she drew herself
up to her full height, as If to empha-
size the importance of that fact and
then blushed adtrably as she suddenly
realized that alleges were upon her.
/ Evidently" thought Jack, MARY
was the shy member of the pair'-but
he didn't mind how shy she was II she
only blushed like that
We'll, of course, we realize oul
dreadful mista.-e now" he said. look
ing straight into her eyes, but how
were two poor soldiers to know-Dot
always called you his twin kiddies'
Great Scott" he exclaimed as g
thought suddenly struck him, and go.
ing over to the table, he proceeded t.