Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-07-31

paper Syndicate.)
The war Walt, this Is not q war
story. There are no bursting shells
or crawling tanks or trench dugouts
or spies In this tale, which concerns
an Nevent that happened in a little
backwoods town In Illinois six months
after the armistlce was signed.
The war is dragged In because 1t
explains the advantage acquired by
Herbert Drew wei Gilbert Post in the
battle for the love of Marguerite Ho-
bart.
When the truce, moved the lever
that changed the current Of troops
crossing the Atlantic westward in
stead of eastward, Herbert loomed M
in his home town one sunny, bird
chirping spring day wearing an over
e cap on one side of his head AMI
"brown bandages" on his legs, with q
gold chevron on his sleeve; while Gil
bert put in his appearance on a driz-
ely, dreary day a short time later
with just a hat and leggings covering
respectively his tOussled yellow hair
and his neither limbs, and a splash of
silver on his arm to denote he had
been in service "over there"
They were drafted IN the same con
tingent and they went to Camp Grant
together. At that time Gilbert had the
inside track with Marguerite, and
their engagement was generally con-
sjdered a certainty for the near fu-
ture. Gilbert was not so attractive
Us Herbert, who was a pronounced
brunette, but Marguerite felt a much
deeper affection for him, because she
thought she fathomed finer qualities
of character In hiLl, and because
well, just because.
So 1t was a losing fight for Private
Drew before he went to camp, but
shortly after he began his military
training his luck changed. Naturally,
Marguerite could not decline to an
swer his letters, for she had to do
her bit" for the soldiers, and ne CON
tinued his wooing by mail.
In this there was some advantage
for him, because he was a good CORE
spondent, while Gilbert was more or
less of u failure along those lines.
The big change in his fortune, how
ever, was when he was ordered over
seas, while Gilbert was ~relegated to
the depot brigade.
So Herbert Drew came back home \
hero, while Gilbert Post was just q
soldier, with no more glamour about
him than that afforded by his uni
form, and that did not last long, for
he shed his khaM for 'ciyies" as soon
as he could procure store clothes.
Herbert on the other hand, con-
tinued to wear his uniform, and 1t
certainly did add to his prestige.
Tales of his bravery in action WEI
published in the local weekly and
that drew a more brilliant glare about
him.
Marguerite, being a human girl,
most before she herself could realize
1t she was considering Herbert her
accepted sutton and Gilbert in the
has-been class.
Gilbert plugged along at his work
In the -four mill, where he had a job
that paid well for q town of that
size. He knew he was losing out
with Marguerite, for he realized what
the chances were with a gold chevron
against a silver one.
Both the young men continued to
call on Marguerite, but Gilbert bad
been cut down to once q week, while
he was aware that Herbert was at the
Hobart home at least every other
night. Then, her manner Of treating
him was different. She was still very
friendly and tried 10 entertain him
pleasantly, but he knew tne old spiri1
of comradeship that had once existel
was lacking, while the still deeper
feeling that had made itself evident
on some occasions before that fateful
CONSUMPTION act went into effect was
decidedly conspicuous by not being
there any more at all.
Gilbert made tile good fight, but
gradually it became manifest to him
that 1t was a losing fight. Finally
things came to a climax one night,
because he felt that he could not keep
silent any longer but just had to know
where he stood, on sand or rock.
"How is 1t, Marguerite?" he asked
as he was preparing to leave, after
his weekly call. Are you just toler-
ating me? Is that the way things
stand?'
She looked down at the toe of her
shoe and wiggled it a few times,
watching it intently, as If it were
something she never before knew she
possessed and was very curious con.
corning Its functions.
"Well, no. she said, after g. few
seconds thought. 81 can't say it's just
that way. l like you very much, Gil
bert; but l have realized for some
time that things are not just the way
they used to be-"
"Ir's-it's Herbert Drew, of course
Gilbert ventured, looking out the win
dow and bordering how dark it was
not just that part OF the world within
his view, but the whole universe
Manv q tima he had looked through