The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-11-28
Sunnering
in Texas
BY LINCOLN ToTHBLUM


man atrocities and the appalling cas-
ualtics she was shocked In very per
funetory manner. She felt as If such
things ought 10 horrify her, and nc
co-lingly would raise her hands, palms
outward in an attitude of diSmay, aud
with pretty shudder beg you 10 de-
sist. II was awful, just awful. II took
her mothers unexpected message,
"Bobbys enlisted" TO make the war
a vital thing to her. For, although
Bobby himself never knew what place
he held I'm his sweethearts affections
Betty had no doubts that Bobby ranked
ace high.
"Bobbys enlistedf" repeated Betty,
! incredulously. 'In what branchy
Mrs. Wilson advanced toward her
daughter Betty had not taken her
own brothers enlistment so to heart.
an the cavalry" she answered. rs
II not wonderful that he was accept
ed?'
There was a moments silence and
then Betty was crying But, my
dear" Mrs. Wilson comforted gently.
whatever Is the matter? Are you not
proud to hear itr
"Oh, yes, yes" came in choked
voice mufiled in the folds Of hand
kerchief hiding eyes already sadly red,
"but the cavalry is the most danger
u+ArIH IJa rot
killed most any time
A ring at the bell interrupted the
fearful grievance. AS Mrs. Wilson
opened the door she whispered hasty
word to the broad shouldered visitor.
"Where's Betty?' he called out In
husky voice as he entered the living
room and pretended not to see her.
Perhaps It was because Of the whls-
pered warning that Bobby was not
totally unprepared for the onslaught,
for with cry of "Oh, Bobby, oh, Bob
byl" Betty flung the tiny daintiness
Of her person into his arms.
1t required but short conference
between the two, consummated by the
approval of Mrs. Wilson, to decide the
trip to the leading jeweler in town.
And slightly longer conference placed
upon the rosy-tipped finger Of Betty's
left hand the warning solitaire.
And Betty sent him away smiling.
She had always felt that if her moth
err had not been so foolishly prejudiced
she would have made an illustrious
actress. Here her heart was crying
and breaking, but her eyes were dry
and there was "A smile on her lips.
And the train letter she had given him
was happy, jolly letter, full Of good
cheer, but she hoped he could see
where the tears had fallen on the
pages.
At the camp post Office it was not
long before the soldier detailed to sort
the mail knew to what troop Robert |
Denton" belonged without further ref |
erence to the address, for letters and
parcels, penned in a very feminine
script, came with such regularity and |
quantity that he often was compelled |
to remark to the fortunate lad, Il
wish you had to sort your own mail. |
You get more'n the whole regiment !
put together" At which Bobby would
smile and, tucklng box of candy I'M
der one arm and box of smokes"
under the other, would stride off read
ing whopper of letter, as he loved
to dub the voluminous manuscripts
which Betty spent numberless hours
to compose.
1t was the middle of July--a very
hot and dry July. Formerly Betty
had been the first to suggest vacation,
and early June as a rule found her at
the seaside. Mrs. Wilson was non.
plussed.
"Where are you planning to go this
season." she asked. II thought Of
Nanton Hook, Maine. The breezes are
so cool there"
Betty shook her head with decided
negative. perhaps you may be go
ng to Nanton Hook, Maine. But /
I'm going to FL paso, Texas.
Mrs. Wilson stared Texas for va
,atlon Texas in the summer! Was
Ter daughter In sober earnest? And
hen she remembered-and remember,
ng, she smiled. For close 10 FL Paso
vas Fort Bliss. And at Fort Bliss
veil, at Fort Bliss was Bobby.
AS the hours flew by when the train
'rossed the boundary line into Texas,
Betty kept wondering If there were
my end to the Lone Star state. With
n short periods the scenery changed ;
With unbelievable rapidly. AT early
morning she was travelling through .
region--huge, stately hills
Using majestically from the ground
'oon saw vast stretches Of arid desert {
and with its network Of irrigation
annals and bitches. Now Il was
lateau unrelieved save for the stub. {
les Of cactus plants and then deep {
avine from which the water had van I
he'd cons ago Night Of the third
ay brought the travellers TO the city !
( FL Paso. picturesque because Of s
s constant competition In archltec- '
IRE, language and population for
mericnn or Mexican supremacy. I
"Hotel Paso del Norte." Betty d. A