The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-11-28

/ after Mrs Wilson pronounced her
toll, completed Betty stu primpcd
/ before the mirror She must look her
very best. she thought, AMI later siolld
| El pasoans found a second turn of
1 the head well worth while az the fair
skinned northerncr motorcd by
AZ the fort Betty wondered why
the soldier on guard assumed such an
aggressive position as she smiled her
prettlest and asked TO be directed TO
the proper location 1T seemed, she
afterward told her mother "as II he
was afraid wanted 20 snatch his
rifle from him Bobby's tent necessi.
tated a long climb on foot through a
sandy, uphlll stretch and II was
rather brcathless Betty who stopped
before the tent to which she had been
directed As she saw no one, she mo-
toned to her mother, labonously max
ing the ascent, to walt below.
Betty walked few PAGES OF, She
could see no one In or about the tent.
A bit off She saw laborer cleaning
saddle. and behind him a soldier with
a rifle. She decided that she would
make inquiry OF him and advanced,
Can you tell me" That man in
blue overalls That man scrubbing =
saddle Betty reeled. II was Bobbyi
With an armed soldier behind hint
He was a prisoner. And he had told
her he had won sergeant's chevrons.
Betty flew down the hill as she
heard the soldier says: "lIas the skirt
gone nuts?" And Mrs. Wilson became
fully convinced she had been very un.
wise to accede to her daughters plans.
as her arm was grabbed and she was
violently pulled down the hill by
very agitated Betty.
stop, stop. Betty, my slippers are
full Of sandw But her appeal brought
no response. nor could she on the ride
back to the hotel elicit any cxplnna.
ton for the sudden demand that they
return Immediately home. But Mrs.
Wilson was too eager to leave the hot
climate to question very minutely her
daughters change of plans.
The bellboy had already carried
their valises into the taxi and Mrs.
Wilson was making final inspection
Of their room to see that nothing had
been left behind. Betty stood discon.
solately at the window, gazing ut the
street below.
"All right, Betty" called her mother.
lets go"
"Yes, let's GO repeated Betty In an
unwilling tone. She did not want 10
leave FL Paso, but it was the only al.
Tentative.
As the elevator stopped at the main
floor and discharged its burden Betty
stood aghast.
There was Bobby
Her Bobby. But looking surprisingly
military in a perfectly fitting uniform.
And on his arm were the prescribed
three stripes Of sergeancy! He
turned and saw her.
Betty" he cried out joyfully as he
made rush for the girl shrinking be-
hind huge palm. The hotel guests
turned to stare at the unusual commo-
tion. Betty. my Betty" he called as
he caught up to her, come TO me-"
And as she held off, what Is the mat
teri"
Betty was choking She could hard.
ly speak But you're a prisoner
"a prisoner Bobby repeated ques.
Iioningly I'm no prisoner" His EN-,
phatic denial did not convince her.
"Oh, but ! saw you this morning at
camp. You were in oyeralls, scrub.
bling saddle, and there was sol.
der with a rifle behind You"
Bobby laughed loud and long. His
voice reechoed throughout the lobby.
"Oh, you dear, dear Betty. Don't you
know soldiers wear blue denlms so as
not TO soil their uniforms? And the
soldier behind me-that's my bunkieW
As hotel guests and employees re-
turned to newspaper and duties they
pretended not to see the happy kiss OF
reconciliation.
Mrs. Wilson leaned weakly against
q chair. Imagine" she said, "sum
nering In Texas"