The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-11-07

after Mrs. Wilson pronounced her
toilet completed, Betty still primped
before the mirror. She must look her
very best, she thought, and later stolid
Ell PasOanS found a second turn of
the head well worth while as the fair.
skinned nOrthener motOred by.
AT the fort Betty wondered why
the soldier on guard assumed such an
aggressive position as she smiled her
prettiest and asked to be directed to
the proper location. 1T seemed" she
afterward told her mother, "as if he
was afraid l wanted to snatch his
rifle from him. Bobby's tent necesSi-
tated long climb on foot through a
sandy, uphill stretch, and it was a
rather GREATNESS Betty who stopped
before the tent to which she had been
directed. AS she saw TO one, she mo-
toned to her mother, laboriously max
ing the ascent, to wait below.
Betty walked a few PAGES off. She
could see no one in or about the tent
A bit off she saw a laborer cleaning
a 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 oyeralls! That man scrubbing a
saddle! Betty reeled. 1t was Bobby!
With an armed soldier behind him!
He was a prisoner. And he had told
her he had won a sergeant's chevrons.
Betty flew down the hill as she
heard the soldier says: HAS the skirt
gone nuts?" And Mrs. Wilson became
fully convinced she had been very I'M
wise to accede to her daughters plans,
as her arm was grabbed and she was
violently pulled down the hill by a
very agitated Betty.
stop, stop, Betty, my slippers ara
full of sand!" But her appeal brought
no response, nor could she on the ride
back to the hotel elicit any explana-
ton for the sudden demand that they
return Immediately home. But Mrs.
Wilson was too eager to leave the hot
climate to question very infinitely her
daughters change of plans.
The bellbOy had already carried
their valises into the taxi and Mrs.
Wilson was making a final inspection
of thei.' room to see that nothing had
been left behind. Betty stood diScon.
solately at the window, gazing at the
street below.
"All right, Betty" called her mother,
lets go"
Eyes, let's CO." repeated Betty in an
unwilling tone. She did not want to
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 a huge palm. The hotel guests
turned to stare at the unusual commo-
ton. Betty, my Betty" he called as
he caught up to her, come to me-"
And as she held off, "What is the mat
ter?"
Betty was choking. She could hard.
ly speak. But you're a prisonery'
"a prlsoner?" Bobby repeated ques.
tioningly. I'm no prisoner" His en-
phatic denial did not convince her.
"Oh, but l saw you this morning at
camp. You We're in Overalls, scrub
bling saddle, and there was a sol.
der with rifle behind you"
Bobby laughed loud and long. His
voice re-echoed throughout the lobby.
"Oh, you dear, dear Betty. Don't you
know soldiers wear blue denimS so as
not to soil their uniforms? And the
soldier behind me--thats my bunkie :"
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
a chair Imagine" she said, sum
mering in Texas!"