The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-29
ROMANCE IN KHAKI
BY MARY FREDERICK
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newsps
per Syndicate)

Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
'The flag has come. girls, and such
q 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 we'll. He came In
on the afternoon train, and If I'm not
mistaken. was in a soldiers uniform,
too. Better not show his face round
these quarters, though, eh, juliet" she
continued.
Julia said nothing. but If 1t were
not for the gathering twilight the 9th
es's 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 1t 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 unfurling
Of "Old Glory" Carrying 1t around
to the front Of the house, she braced
Il against the balcony over the large
piazza, and with the flag, beautiful
silk one, and new staff on her arm,
ascended 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 1t, Jimmie" a tow-headed
chap was muttering into the ear Of his
companion. "She'l 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, a boz at each end
Of the ladder snickering at the Joke
they were playing on Aunt julie.
Brother Bob's twins, for such they
we're. bore the reputation in the neigh
borhood Of young terrors, and 1t is
safe to say they did not have to work
overtime to live up to that repu-
tation.
II our little patriot failed to witness
the villainy Of her young nephews, a
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 nrma, and realized the predica-
meut she was in, little cry escaped
her. "Well, 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.
It was practically dark, and the lone
Illness Of the silent street appalled, her
80 that she was soon in tears. Try
hard as she might, she could not keep
her 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 assistanceT"
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 1t came again.
might I be Of some assistance"
Her voice a trifle unsteady return
ed: "Why, yes. If you will get lad
der from the back shed. and let me
down, 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
RonY. As he neared the ton she found