The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-27
EVENING STORY
In a~Canteen.
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

my day at the canteen."
Don't mind me, dear" Helen
quickly replied. I'D love to stay here
in your room and just read and be
lazy. You've entertained me to death
since 1 came here"
The girls were in the gray and rose
sitting room that Deris's mother let
her have for her own. They had had
their breakfast and were putting on
their sports clothes for an hour of
golf.
Suddenly Doris looked up from the
task of lacing her boots. II have it
I'll borrow Genevieve's' uniform and
you shall be a real canteen worker.
| ItH be lots of fun. Will your"
Helen demurred. She was not much
interested in canteening-at least on
this side of the Atlantic ocean. All
that life held of real interest to her
at present dwelt in a uniform some
where in France, and because the said
someone had no dependents and had
no allotmentS for the country to pay,
he seemed to be one of the chosen
few to have to remain on foreign soil.
Helen had not even heard from him
for weeks. The sight of soldiers who
had been fortunate enough to get
home would only make her more
I lonely.
II really would rather stay at home.
Doris" she said. Really"
"Oh, that's too pokey. And besides,
we need you. 1 just happened to re-
member that Genevieve won't be
| home till tomorrow. and you shall
take her place and wear her uni
form. It's a duck of a blue overall
with black patent belt and white frilly
collar and cap"
Helen saw that she would have to
go. Perhaps It wouldn't be so bad.
IAN right. I'll do my best. but do
leave me in the pantries to make
salads and don't make me wait on
table"
Wen see about that. dear. You're
far too pretty to be poked off in a
pantry
Helen waved off the flattery and
donned her hat. Hurry, Doris. j.. if
we're going to have any golfing before
we go to this canteen place. Where is
it, anyway"
"Oh, across the island bit-over at
Hampstead, near Field 2"
wherever that may be-" num-
bled Helen, who came from the mid
die west and to whom Long Island
meant very little.
At O'Clock the two girls were neat
ly attired in their blue canteen aprons.
and with two other workers. were
being driven in a comfortable closed
car to the bungalow on Meadow street
where soldiers and officers found rest
and recreation as well as good home
cooked meals.
lounge Helen could not restrain an ex-
clamation of enthusiasm. How won
derfully pretty. Doris
Doris knew that her guest would
fall in love with the place once she
had seen it. "Yes-we think it is most
attractive"
Attractive! I should say It was
| I've never seen anything so perfectly
arra nged in my life. And every big
comfy chair has a table beside it with
a book ard n drop light. Isn't the
| scheme of blue and yellow effective?"
! And Helen raVed on. moving from one
corner to another of the canteen and
eXclainiing anew at every turn. From
the blue bowls of yellow flowers to the
blue and yellow soft pillows that made
the big lounge look invitingly home
like. she was enthusiastic to her ut
most
After a while. when the workers
had arranged the tables, attended to
the cutting of bread and filling of the
water glasses. a stray soldier or two
dropped in for an early dinner or
bite of extra food.
IIelcn worked as il she had been
brought up to just this sort of house
work and made a charming and deft
waitress.
When there was 1ull in the work
the girls sat together in the pantry
and ate a sandwich or folded paper
napkins and had good time together.
lone of my soldiers ate four eggs"
laughed Doris.
"And I had a boy who had two
plates of that meat pie. and you Know,
how much Elsie puts on for por-
| ton. L nearly passed away when 1
took his order for a second portion"
"Oh, hear some one in the officers
room now! Who'll go? You go,
Helen. You haven't worked so hard"
| said Doris, pushing her friend forward.
The officers room was just off the
/ big dining room and had door lead
| ing directly into it from the porch.
Doris, being a regular worker, knew
! that there came to that room occas-
| ionally fat and grouchy major whom
they all disliked to wait upon. There
| fore, in Helen's ignorance-or inno-
cence-she had taken advantage of
! her and the girls were all laughing
quietly about it.
| Helen was gone 50 long that they
began to wonder what was keeping
her.
ut must have been the major and
| he's explaining just how long he wants
his toast toasted and his eggs boiled"
remarked Doris.
! IT'S taking a long time tonight"
/ added another girl.
Suppose we just happen out that
way-and look" said another.
Let's all CO." whispered Doris. I'VE
| can pretend we're fixing the tables"
! They all started in the direction of
| the officers lounge and looked care
| lessly in.
There was no fat, grouchy major
| There was no Helen,
| The girls looked at each other. 81
certainly heard some one so in there"
| Doris said \
"And-your friend Helen?" ques-
toned one of the girls who had envied
the newcomer her prettiness.
IL can't imagine" began Doris.
"Oh, listen!"
"Yes-I hear voices!" exclaimed two
of the girls in unison.
Out on the porch. dimly lit from
the yellow lights within, they heard
Helen's voice. Then they heard d man
speak.
Doris felt it her duty to go to the