The Lamar register., 1918-01-30

| fieeting for Madge had been warned
! against these men. Though her grand
mother had consented reluctantly that
Madge help walt on them at the ban
I quet, she had warned her emphatically
not to smile at them, even IL they
I smiled at her. Her aunt warned her
especially not to speak to- them, eI-
cept, of course, as It was necessary in
waiting on them, and then but briefly.
Bnt the pie was slipping, and when
I the tall, well-built man in khaki stood
beside her with outstretched hands to
take 1t Just as It would have slipped
to the dusty ground, Madge had to
smile, and before she knew 1t she had
thanked the man. and they were walk
ing together toward the hall as II
they had known each other always.
As Madge and her companion walked
| through the streets In town she felt
with pleasure the eyes of neighbors
and townspeople who saw her walking
with one of Company b. Now. she
was like the other girls who really
I 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 l
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"
| "And / don't know another young
lady in Stantown. That's why ! felt
so out Of sorts when had to come
out"
"Why. that's stranger" commented
Madge. ~ thought all the men In Com.
pany B were from this section"
Company B-yes, SO they are"
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 I am, and perhaps
you are wondering yourself. May ]
present myself. Pm Bob Fairfax" II
was just in time. The critical neigh
bor had eyed Madge with such disap
proval that Madge turned her newly
acquired Information to account. and
introduced her companion. adding
with pretty little laugh, mfr. Fairfax
was just walking out the lane to see
my aunt and grandmother. when he
met me with the pie, and I'm so glad
for never could have managed alone"
Somehow the usually timid Madge
mustered up courage enough to ask her
soldier to come home with her for
luncheon, and while she left him on
the front porch she had hasty inter.
view with her aunt: explained how
they had met and the reason she had
introduced him to the critical neigh
Dor. and II 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 famously
with Mndge's aunt and grandmother,
vowed that he had rather stay with
them than join in the festivities In the
armory, and when Madge went to don
her Red Cross apron and veil prepare
tory to serving at the banquet Mr..
Fairfax was still dallying with the old
ladies', walking lelsurely through their
garden paths and admiring all of the
aunt's favorite flowers In way that
convinced her that he was IA perfect
gentleman" And being sure he was
such, she had no objections to offer
when he suggested that he escort the
pretty little Red Cross waitress to the
hall of the banquet.
They parted Mt the door of the hall.
and Mr.. Fairfax held his hand out for
a farewell.
IF / never see you again. little
apple-pie lady, may tell you that this
has been the sweetest day of my life"
and as Madge murmured a 'good-by-
but surely I'll see you at the banquet;
perhaps you'll be at my table," he had
left her.
Mndge, who had expected so much
from that banquet, was keenly disap-
pointed. In spite Of the splendid eff
feet of the six hundred soldiers rs they
marched with blaring trumpet and
beating drum into the hall for dinner
she seemed to feel that something was