Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-22
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
|. ROMANCE IN KHAKI
By Lillian NJ. Dondhue

ET1HE unusually quiet atmosphere OF
i the Pleasantvale station had an air
of volcanic disturbance about 1t. due to
the fact that young Joe s. was WELD
broom with unnecessary violence TO
the detriment Of whatever furniture lay
In his immediate vicinity. The clatter
OF n fileholder rattling to the floor added
to the commotion.
Have you killed the Kaiser yet,
Joey?'' inquired girlish voice from the
direction of the ticket office.
80 you're here, Miss M! GOOD
morning." drawled back the cause OF
the storm, which had abated.
3 A girlish laugh floated out through the
ticket office window.
'Tve either left my manners at home,
Joey S, or I'm still dreaming! l
did forget to say good morning didn't
.rYes," Joey scowled as he resumed his
dusty task. Never since her advent 10
: position left vacant by war conditions.
had Kathey NJ failed to greet her
little Assistant as she called Joey.
'why wouldn't fellows feellngs be
looking girl walks right past without SO
much! as seeing a fellow? Looked kind
OF peeved at somethin', too"
Meanwhile. the subject of Joey s
thoughts was having troubles OF her
own It was only the evening before
that John HI had been home. on
a long anticipated furlough. Kathey.
too had looked forward to his coming
with a certain amount of gladness, Tor
John had been her chum since ne was
large enough to carry her BOOKS nome
from school.
She had been a little surprised when
John called in his uniform. She had not
expected to see the slight stoop OF his
pailor Of indoor work change to the sol
dier tan. But he was the same old
John, full of anecdotes of camp life at
first then changing to descriptions or
soldier routine work. interesting at frst:
but becoming monotonous when retold
to Kathey Then her mind would ,re-
vert to Harold C, son of Pleasant
yaie's wealthiest inhabitant. No mention
was ever made of studies or work on
those long. blissful rides In Harold s
time to talk of anything but good times.
However, as Kathey remembered they
had seemed to be enjoying themselves
until John had suggested the walk: II
was altogether an old-time walk whicn
ended up at Kathey's orchard; John
had climbed the stonewall to pick a Few
of the choicest apples for her. he had
asked her II she had missed MN ana M
Kathey had told him she watched Tor
his letters from camp. This had brought
an eager light into Johns honest eyes
which had made her feel uncomfortable.
John had caught her hand then lmpul-
She remembered his words: "kathey,
dear. could you ever learn to like me
very much?- You don't know now
missed you away from home. | never
realized myself how much until J. re.
ceivcd the picture you sent. couldn
bear 10 let the other fellows see It, ana
then, all of a sudden, Kathey. here ms
voice. broke a trihe' L knew l ioFe'
you" ,,.os
Kathey had drawn away. astoundedi; d.
This from her old chum, John All
She could say was: Why, Jonn. !
never knew you felt that way. anu no
old friend was about to leave her never
to return. She couldn't look into m ms
eyes and cause the pain she knew sne
would find there. .x
ms he pleaded. "Kathey. dear. could you
ever love me?" -
She had been strangely silent, numb.
she couldn't speak. 1ohn ad Teaa hals ms Turned n
and then said gently, Never mind,
Kathey, I knew 1t was too much 70
ask" He had gone then after teli,
ing her that he was off for camp on 'he
next Kathsy's %eFa'"S& S&wllaered thoughts had had
kent her awake half the night, She
knew she didn't love John-.yet now
lonesome It would DC wtneui MID MID
to chase away all other thoughts. IL
was only yesterday; too Ita that ,ras ne nae iSe
conflded to friends that she was nS tnS
only girl--and when he was through
Here Kathey's reflections of Shs the
evening before ceased abruptly. She
was brought back TO earth and the
ticket office by the subject Of her.
thoughts, a certain well-known glee CLUB
voice singing popular song,
nNext Friday evening, kathey,' re-
sumed Harold talking hurriedly, for b!
this time Kathey's vivid color at the
unlocked for intrusion was reduced &c
normal. I'm coming back again for the
weekend. Don't forget" and iI then De,
see nv this mornings paper that there's
pretty stiff battle going on over there.
Might help out myself IL I wasn't chas.
inT my degree" Leaving the copy OF
the paper for Kathey to read. Harold
was OF with a carefree smile to the
II was almost time for the 80 to ar
z