Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-01-25

knew and could talk to one Of these
brave soldiers.
"You have been very good to help
me. I've liked talking to you, too"
said Madge simply, as they neared the
hall where she supposed she and her
soldier would part forever, because I
don't know any of the other men In
Company B, and 1t makes me happy
to have talked to one of them on the
eve Of departure"
Sand / don't .:now another young
lady in Stantown. That's why I felt
so out of sorts when 1 had to come
out"
"Why, that's strange" commented
lMadge. II thought all the men in Com!
pany B were from this section"
Company B-yes, so they are,r
agreed the man in khaki, and then
changed the subject as he followed
Madge into the room where the pies
had been received
A near neighbor of Madge's, who
receiving the pies, eyed Madge narrow-
ly, and then the man in khaki, Madge
colored, and the man seemed to guess
the cause Of her confusion.
you're thinking that those ladies
will wonder who l am, and perhaps
you are wondering yourself. May |
present myself. I'm Bob Fairfax" II
was Just In time. The critical neigh,
Dor had eyed Madge with such disap-
proval that Madge turned her newly
acquired information to account, and
lintrpduced her companion, adding,
with q pretty little laugh, mfr. FairfeS
was Just walking out tho lane to SEE
my aunt and grandmother, when he
met me with the pie, and I'm SO glad,
for I never could have managed alone.h
Somehow the usually tlmid Msdge
,Wtstered up courage enough to ask he's
solder to como home With her for
luncheon, and while She left him OF
the front porch she had q hasty inter9
view with her aunt; explained how
they had met and the reason she had
introduced him to the critical neight
Dor, and It was for that reason per,
haps that she received the young
STRANGER in khaki into her house and
invited him to share their dainty lunch
con.
The young soldier got on famogsly
with Madge's aunt and grandmother
vowed that he had rather stay With
them than Join In the festivities In the
arrnory, and when Madge went to don
her Red Gross apron and veil preparE
tory to serving at the banquet MI,
Fairfax was still dallylng with the Old
ladies', walking teisurely through theM
garden paths and admlring all Of the
Iaunt's favorlte flowers In way thai
Convinced her that he was 20 perfect
gentleman" And being sure he waA
such, she had no Objections to ofes
when he suggested that he escort the
pretty little Red Cross waitress to Tho
hall Of the banquet.
They parted at the door Of the hall
and Mr.. Fairfax held his hand out fol
10 farewell.
Tf / never see you again, little
apple-pie lady, may tell you that this
has been the sweetest day Of my llfe,H
and as Madge murmured q "good-by--'
but surely I'll see you at the banquet;
perhaps you'll be at my table," he had
left her.
Madge, who had expected so much
from that banquet, was keenly dlsap'
pointed. In spite of the splendid Of.
feet Of the six hundred soldiers as they
marched with blaring trumpet and
beating drum into the hall for dinner
she seemed to feel that something was
missing. And as she had time to scan
the faces Of the men who sat at tho
long tables, she knew that she was
right. Her soldier man was not there
Why hadn't he cared enough for heE
to stay to the banquet?
1t was past nine o'clock that night
when Madge, with cheeks flushed wifi
fatigue, excitement and dlsappoInt(
ment, stole out of the hall. She had
promised her aunt to come home with
nelghbors who lived near her, but she
dreaded the trip up the lane with
them. Having finished her share OF
the work, she skipped out, and started
homeward alone.
Fairfax stepped to her side before
she had gone ten PAGES, and so content
did they both seem just I'm the con,
seriousness Of being together after their
three-hour separation that Madge for
got to ask him why he had not been
Mt the banquet.
AS they turned into the lane she
asked him. II didn't want you to
know; but I'm not one Of Company b
at all. I'm only movie actor; my
company is Of the film sort, and we
came out this morning to take some
pictures with the soldiers in old STAN
town as a background. | was to ap-
pear to be one Of them, so this was
my costume. Then the rest OF the
crew went back to the city, and be-
cause my heart yearned for the coun-
try 1 told them I'd come back on q
later train. Then / started out the
lane, and met you. l was going back
after left you Just now-but 1
Couldn't couldn't leave you without
finding out more about you. / don't
care much for the girls meet in the
studios. The only kind Of girl could
ever love is a girl like you"
"And just for that you stayed out
here and waited-and went without
dinner-oh, you must be very hungry
I'm hungry, too. / didn't stay, though
the Guards were going to walt on the
mattresses and dance with them later.
You see, you IRE the only soldier boy
care about. SO let's go and tell aunt
about It, and maybe she'll get us sup
per together"