The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-02
IN WAR TIME
BY LIZZIE nj. PEABODY.
1910, by the Mcclure n
per Syndicate.)
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Wearing her brothers farming
clothes Harriet Wynne, with mis-
chievOus black eyes, cheeks glowing
through tan, and her thick dark hair
cut short, looked as nearly like a
healthy, handsome boy as Il girl could
look, as she planted and hoed, on the
sunny hillside of her fathers farm.
Suddenly she threw down the hoe, ex-
amined the blistered palms of her
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 pur-
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 had 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 twinkling blue eyes of young
stranger in the khaki uniform of the
q. S. A.
Her first 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 h1rf
gather lots Of mud and grass stains"
remarked the stranger; and Harriet,
ashamed, angry and bit envious, for
she envied the right of every man to
wear a soldiers uniform, copied her
brothers manner as she tartly replied:
Il suppose you've heard of the man
who once made fortune by minding
his own business"
The sergeant laughed good natured-
ly as he said, you win, but are you
always SO grouchy just before dinner
time? I'm hungry enough to be
grouchy myself" Harriet's answer was
to reach hastily for her lunch and di-
vide with him; and they grew very
friendly, as they ate, although she
talked very little, fearing to betray her
secret
Sergeant Ames, liking the shy boy,
who proved to be. such an attentive lis.
tener, talked freely. Tomorrow" he
said, 81 go back to camp. Soon after
that we shall be on our way to France,
and we shall be glad to go. Our men
are the equal of any in all the world, if
not better than most.
Looking at his watch, he exclaimed
well Ills time to go!" and rose from
the bench.
1t was then that Harriet as she saw
him standing there looking every inch
soldier" suddenly discovered that
wherever this boy went her heart
would go with him. "Shall writer"
he asked, and she answered eagerly
IF you will. 1 am Harry Wynne of
Hillcrest." 81 am Joe Ames," he re-
turned, land will send my address"
Then he strobe away after saying
goodby; and for Harriet, the long
waiting time began. After a seemingly
endless time the letter came A brave
and cheerful letter; and among camp
happenings he wrote: 20 Boy Of the
Lilac Bush, you never can imagine
things as they are here, or the thrill
with which we think Of the wonderful
things which may happen between
dawn and dusk, and dusk and dawn
but I'm glad to be here to do mans
part"
She wrote him CHEEKY, courage-fn-
spring letters as the dreary winter
passed, and then a letter came from
kindly nurse who wrote that he was
in the hospital and wounded.
Harriet sat down to write immedi- |
ately, hoping to catch the next mail;
and wrote so hurriedly that she had |
no time to read what she had written
but she had not heard from him since |
She was thinking Of him as she sat |
knitting on the vine-shaded, flower |
scented porch one beautiful afternoon, |
and looked up quickly as man I
stepped up onto the porch floor. Sud |
denly her face went white, as with "a !
hasty, panied glance she noted the
empty sleeve: and she rose quickly.