The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-07-03
Reconstruction
Romance
II
BY DORA X. NOLAN
Copyright 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

Just three months from the day on |
which the armlstlce was signed a |
mammoth ship, largest of all things In |
the world, steamed into the harbor of |
the metropolis of the Western heml-
sphere. Every person on the west side
of that city was made aware of its ap-
proach. for giant siren cleared Its
throat and let forth n long.drawn-out
below. which died down TO gurgle,
rose and fell again and again.
The siren, located on the roof OF a
skyscraping building, was fulfilling a
mission quite different from that for
which It had been designed. 1t had
been installed to give warning Of enc
mics In the air should they come. Ger
man air raids2 Who remembered. now.
that they had ever been feared?
One OF thousands who had helped to
make Of that fear a thing to be
laughed at, and who was now leaning
over the rails of the Levlathan re-
ceiving the tumultuous welcome of flag
and steam whistle extended by the
city. was Sergt. Charles Brenden,
| typical of all for though slight of
build and OF medium height, he was
well set up, with clear blue eyes and
| possessed of that confident air which
belongs to n man who has proved him.
self equal to any emergency.
II might be hours before they
doclSed. The huge craft was surround
ed by tiny. putting tugs, pulling, push
Ing and coaxing. like ants as they
force an object far larger than them
selves to do their will. But they were
| home home! And the welcome was
all they had dreamed. Eagerly their
eyes searched. the shores for well-re-
membercd landmarks; gayly they
scrambled for the papers. cigarettes
and candy thrown. on board from the
small craft bearing the mayors COM
mittce OF welcome.
Charles thoughts ran on ahead. or
course. after today, things would quiet
down. They would ehtrain for camp
for rehabilitation. Then to the city
that wonderful city whose jagged sky
line he recognized In almost every de-
tnil. And right away after that his
Job In the city Office Of an out-of-town
silk mandatory.
On Saturday morning Brenden was
mustered out, and that afternoon he
arrived IN town along with many OF
his comrades. The hurry and hustle,
; jangIe and clatter Of the trafiic was
music to his ears.
The avenue was decorated in his
: their-honor. The scene thrilled al
most as much as on the day when
their ship entered the harbor. Charles
crossed to Sixth avenue and took the
L--no underground route for him to.
day. To feast his eyes on the life and
movement Of his native city appealed
more than a greater speed.
Alightlng ut Sixty-sixth street
Charles proceeded straight to his old
boarding place. And then the welcome
began all over again, for Miss johnson
answered the bell; and she was one Of
that rare species, a kind-hearted lady
For an elderly spinster her kiss wa'
not n bad imitation OF what a mothers
might be. Anyway. II seemed like tina
to Charles. who had no recollections o.
the genuine thing.
His room was awaiting him. Its las
occupant having been unceramonIousI.
ousted In his behoof. Everybody re
joiced at his return. Elderly Mr.. Beck
with blew him to dinner and shov
that night. Sunday was spent In look
Ing up some friends.
SO altogether this wnr veteran o
. twenty-three was In happy moo,
Monday morning when he starte,
ting back on the job pretty soon ant
to say "hello" to the Office force.
II was so early that only old Gruber
}. the jnnitor, was on hand but he start
0 ed the welcome and It grew Ms tn
force gathered for the daily grind
9 Only two others besides himself ha,
J. left the office for the service and h.
D was the FIRST one back. SO Charlie
!, knew most Of the staff and soon me
: the others. They bombarded him witt
questions and. Of course. were thanke,
again for his Christmas box.
II "But who sent that dandy warn
H sweaterT Brenden asked "rhe car,
|I read From girl with brown eyes
\ His eyes followed those of two chap
Il who stood nearby to the edge Of tn
little group--and straight into those o
Il girl. She was good to look upon
and Charles looked for long second
before he fell to the fact that the eye
| Into which he was so rudely starin
were brown and beautiful. Just theI
the door opened mud the group precIpI
lately broke up. The girl was gone
with the rest. and Charles was lef
l standing alone. ms the manager en-
J. tered the room.
4 Mr.. Huber greeted the returned sol
1 der In his usual bluff manner: what
s you back. Brendcn?" And after shak
, ing hands added: Come into my OF
. fee In five minutes"
Z Promptly the boy stood before tn