Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-03-21

known always and yet with whom now
she seemed to he so strange.
Don't YOU want to steal an hour
away from your desk ut headquarters
tomorrow and have lunch with me al
tCahOuSe on the outskirts of the au-
trnn wOOdS?" David asked. OBTAINING
Gladys by very gentle touch OH her
urn.
Gladys caught her brcatl,-and was
almost afraid lie could hear her catch
1t. What was the matter with her.
she wondered? Why did the touch Of
David Stuplcton make her heart leap
81 wildly, and why did his voice sound
so low and tender?
After she reached the house she re-
mclnhcred having promised to go with
him on the following day. She could
have shaken herself for having acted
like Il girl of sixteen instead of like q
woman nearly thirty at the mere invi-
tuition TO have 4 bit of lunch with Il
man whom she had known all her life.
On her desk the following morning
she found a note. 1t told her that the
president Hf the bank hnd had an nc
cident to his eyes the previous night
and would not he in the office that day
the last hut three OF the loan cam
raign. Therefore. that note went ON
t" Say, David Stapleton would be I'M
able to leave his desk for SO much as
n half hour.
Gladys did not know whether she
was disappointed or relieved. But
there was much work to do; the hu-
man tide of patriotic citizens flowed
constantly toward her desk MI day.
and she had little time in which to
think of herself.
Not so with the cashier-David
Stnpleton. His work had BECOME so
much n mechanical part, of his every
day life that. though his hands were
constantly busy, his thoughts were not
on Liberty bonds. On bonds they
might have been, but
The telephone rang. "Hello-Mr.
Stnpleton?"
"Yes-Gladys." he said, recognizing
her voice ut once.
1--WE just received my CALL"
Cali" exclaimed David.
"ies-didn't I tell you the other
night that you wouldn't be the only
one in France-bcfore long?"
''NO-yOu did not tell me-
Gladys did not reply. Each held the
receiver while no sound came over the
wire.
"You didn't. Glndys," repeated
David
II thought l had told YOU !
shall have to report ut once for phys
icnl examination. Then come m,
passports and then-safling! Won:
1t he wOnderful?'
"ieS-oh. yes. 1t will be quite won.
derful." said David. mechanically.
The world around him had gone
suddenly into the shadow-tl,c world
that had seemed so sunny, so well
worth living in. of late. But-of
course he himself would be going II
%the powers that be would hive him
and" r..
'fon don't seem very glad for me-"
came Gladys voice across the wire,
wistfully.
"Oh. forgive me-of course I'm glad
more glad than can tell you. but
But whnt!"
"Good-Dy. I'm coming over to yo,Ir
desk. l want to see you about some
bonds" David snid. abruptly. Some
one had come into his office and he
had been forced to speak quite cas-
ualiy.
Gladys understood.
When David approached her her
l,,s, lie,
prettily pink. Her breath came far
more quickly than she wanted it to.
want to buy bOnd?' she asked
jokingly. Gladys had way of jest
ing when she was playing for time
"fes;I want u bond the maturity
of which depends on fate, Gladys"
he said, sitting down across the desk
and trying to compel her to- look at
him. There were 10 others i'm thu
room at the moment, but the place
was as public as the whole out of.
doors
IL wonder If we have that sort
she GcInurred. looking over her card
Of Instructions
IL want no other sort" David snid
firmly. "Glndys, ! love you. DO mar.
ry me!'
Gladys could not speak. She haG
lost her power to resist him, and she
knew not what to say in acquies.
cencc.
Wont you, dear? Marry me be
fore you 60"
Gladys nOdded--a series of little
mods. and when she finally looked at
him her eyes were full Of shiny tenrs
that with difficulty she kept from tum
bling fOolishly down her cheeks.
Suddenly she brushed them away
She had seen some one coming. "Ot