The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-12-26
KHAKI"
BY MISS RUTH E. sURNHAM,
se&4eNAN&SeRRteN0Ne4eSSRNR

ago, She sat up and reached for her
watch as she looked out of the win
| dOw--G o'clock and n beautiful morn
ing She would take the canoe, she
thought, paddle around to the little
cove aud dream until breakfast time,
Her hostess would understand.
Ten minutes later she softly closed
the door of the screencd-in porch and
stood on the little float. The canoe
was gone! Perhaps Dick, the husband
of her hostess, had gone on an early
errand and would be back soon. She
sat down to wait.
II was all 50 familiar, the float, the
little camp with the sCreened.in porch,
the beautiful lake! How many good
times and happy days she had spent
there last season, sitting quietly on
the piazza, padding on the lake, stroll
Ing along the country roads! The pic
lures crowded through her memory,
and always beside her in them all was
a tall figure in khaki camping clothes
IA lazy figure, content to do her bid
ding, with apparently no other aim In
life than the pleasure at hand, 1t had
all been very pleasant and happy, and
then--he had proposed, As a chum
and playmate he had fitted admirably,
hut for husband she wanted man,
competent, commanding man, she
had told him, not IN lndolent boy In
| khaki trousers and flannel shirt. So II
had ended. Her friendship with his
sister had remained unbroken, but the
good times had ceased and now after
q winter OF hard work, she had been
glad to accept Sylvla's kind invitation
for the week end, with the tUClt I'M
derstandlng that the fellow in khaki
camping clothes should be absent.
Then rudely her dream was broken.
A canoe came gliding into view, and
there was something familiar both In
the craft and the straight figure pad
ding,
"Stephen!" she cried rs the canoe
scrappd the landing.
The tall, good.looking figure In the
khaki uniform of Uncle Sans army
looked lnarotv into her eyes until
her lashes dropped. Then he steadled
;hc canoe with n hand on the float
and held out the other hand.
Get in" he said, and there was
nothing indolent either about voice or
manner.
She stepped squarely into the center
! of the canoe, settled among the cush-
/ ions, and he padded of with steady,
clean stroke. Not word was uttered
until they reached little cove which
shut Off the view of the cottages. Then
he stopped and looked at her until she
could feel the color dye her cheeks.
"Where did you come frOmf" she
stammered, to cover her confusion.
"Had a few hours leave from camp.
Came on the last train last night" he
replied
"Did you know I was hcrc7" she
asked quickly.
"No, | didn't" Stephen replied, just
ms quickly; "but should have come
Just the same If had. had made up
my mind to go to Boston next week.
anyway, just to see you. I'm going to
France soon. very soon" He heard
her catch her breath sharply; then he
went on very quietly: you told me
last summer you wanted man for n
husband, not lazy boy, and 1t struck
deep, Uncle sam has been trying his
best 10 make man out of ME, and I'm
doing my best TO help him. They say
that absence makes the heart grow
stronger for someone nearer home,
but It hasn't my heart. jerry His
eyes held hers Until 1t seemed they
looked into each Others hearts. "You
do love me-" he said as he leaned
forward.
Eyes" said Jerry softly. She hat
found her commanding man.
Some two hours later Sylvia saw
tntUl luiu III iut huht uAih pun uf '''
canoe. Their faces told the story a
they came into the cottage, and sh'
! congratulated them warmly.
"But what really Is the difference
Jerry, between the lazy boy Of lns
summer and his bold young man be
fore usp" asked Sylvia.
"lIe was dreaming then; he's awak'
now" said Jerry as she held his arm
tighter.
ayes, but the real difference Is II
the khaki" explained Stephen. M
camping clothes were to play aroun'
in and enjoy myself, and did, too
but Uncle Sans uniform makes yo
forget yourself. Its khaki suit 70
a man who has hard work to do an
must be ever 'on the Job and with
: on and your goal before you, you Jus
: have TO 20 forward to victory"
= "In love or wari" laughed his si'
= ter.
!, The soldier smiled tenderly dow
' into his sweetheart's eyes.
& Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspap'
a syndicate.)
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