The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-07-31
IN WAR TIME
BY LIZZIE M. pE;.soDY.
Copyright, ls1S by the Mcclure NeWspa.
~. Der 8 yndlcatal N.

4 49, ttSuSA rLaus bnI utE lulck uhFk utl
cut short, looked as nearly like /
healthy. handsome boy as girl coull
look, as she planted and hoed, on tn,
snnny hillside of her fathers farm
Suddenly she thEew down the hoe, ef
atnined the blistered palms OF hes
1 hands, and then glanced at the sun
It's near lunch time, she thought.
Dropping to the ground, she pulled
| the wide, soft brim of her hat over her
face, shut her eyes and rolled away
on her course toward the fragrant pnr.
pie lilac bush. which grew near the
open gateway by the quiet country
road.
Meanwhile the shade and blooms
had tempted young Sergeant Ames,
and he lad just seated himself ON the
old bench beneath the big bush when
he espied the supposed boy rolling to-
ward him. That is how It happened
that Miss Harriet arrived at the goal
flushed, breathless and smiling, to look
into the twlnkling blue eyes Of young
stranger in the Khaki uniform Of the
U. S. A.
Her fist thought was to apologize
for her unladylike behavior; her sec
ond to act as well as possible the part
which she had assumed. Rolling
stones gather no moss, but rolling boys
gather lots of mud and grass stains"
remarked the stranger; and Harriet,
ashamed, angry and bit enVious, for
she envled the right Of every man to
wear soldiers uniform, copied her
brothers manner as she tartly replied:
Il suppose you've heard Of the man
who once made a fortune by minding
his own business"
The sergeant laughed good natuced-
ly as he said, "You win, hut are you
always so grouchy just before dinner
time? I'm hungry enough to be
grouehy myself" Harriets answer was
TO reach hastily for her lunch and dl-
vide with him; and they grew very
friendly, as they ate, although she
talked very little, fearing to betray her
secret.
Sergeant Anes, liking the shy boy.
who proved TO be such an attentive lis.
tener talked freely. Tomorrow" he
said, II 80 back to camp. Soon after
that we shall be on our way to France,
and we shall be glad TO 50. Our men
are the equal OF any In all the world, il
not better than most. -
/ Looking at his watch. he exclaimed,
well 'Tis time to go !" and rose from
the bench.
1t was then that Harriet, as she saw
him standing there looking ''every inch
a soldier" suddenly discovered that
wherever this boy went her heart
would so with him. "Shall write?" |
he asked, and she answered eagerly: /
III you will. ] am Harry Wynpe OF J.
81 am Joe Ames," he re-
"and will send my address"
Then he strobe away after. saying
goodbX; and for Harriet, the long
waiting ttme began. After seemingly
'ndless time the letter came. A brave
md cheerful letter; and among caIap
he wrote; 30 Boy Of the
Lilac Bush, you never can imagine
hlngs as they are here. or the thrill
With which we think of the wonderful
lhngs which may happen between
avn and dusk, and dusk and dawn;
Mt I'm glad to be here to do mans
art"
She wrote him CHEEKY, courage-in-
piring letters as the dreary winter
assed, and then a letter came from
kindly nurse who wrote that he was
/ the hospital and wounded.
Harriet sat down TO write immedl-
teiy hoping to catch the next mail;
nd wrote so hurrledly that she had
0 time to read what she had written;
ut she had not heard from him since.
he was thinking Of him as she sat
hitting on the vine-shaded, flower
rented porch one beautiful afternoon,
nd looked up quickly as man
topped up onto the porch foor Sud
enly her face went white, as with a
asty. panied glance she noted the
npty sleeve; and she rose quickly.
nd with a sob threw her arms around /
Is neck.
The pretty girl in the fluffy white
ress had entirely forgotten her role
; a boy, but when the newly promoted
Ames, rising nobly TO the
:casion, placed his right arm around
er and gently drawing her to a chair, "
It down beside her, she remembered, =
I'd blushing deeply, whispered: ''E[ad u
~ guessed?" "Not until your last
tier" he replied, softly, although all
,ur letters puzzled me. I wondered
NV mere boy could write such wise. ]
lpful, hopeful letters. In the last, + 6
ink you forgot the part you were
aging, and wrote your thoughts as G
ey came TO you. When l reread :
Is; Every day my heart and :.
oughts 20 ont to you, and every Il
y. I pray for. your safe. return, I s
opped to review In my mind the IT. Il
Incidents of the day ! met you, aud o
came 10 me That little black.eyed I;
4 hadsbeen joking. and that the Joke
d been upon yours truly; but l en- :,
yed II so Immensely that the doctors =
d nurses wondered at my suddenly
gained spirits and frequent smiles.
on after that. was ordered home"
And you viii stay over here now"
ked Harriet, wistfully. ~
4 don't know" he answered thought.
ly, "but work which will count for =
r side will be found for my good