Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-01-10
The Capitals
Short Story
Love and Loyalty

By Edna Fsreiv.l Brooks

erty bond the badge at his button
hole clearly indicated. That he had
been glad to draw his savings from
the bank and invest them for the good
Of his country his glowing face plain
" showed. He was proud of 1t all.
and his form was erect and his step
brisk.
They've shut me out from real
service. although I'm twenty-one, but
I'll do my bit just the same. the best
/ know how" he observed to a pass
ing friend. Turned me down six
times" and Adrian Noble pointed to
his left eye. To the casual observer
there was nothing the matter with the
eye, but ii was sightless. In a foot
ball game two years previous fist or
heel had dealt the delicate nerve
blow that had rendered the eye use
less.
Young Noble was headed for the
home of pretty. popular Nellie Hay.
den. He was not in love with her,
never had been, but Nellie was one
of those natural-born queens of her
sex who led the way in anything GO
ing on. Since war was declared there
was not branch of the patriotic fem
mine adjunct service In which Nellie
did not have an interest, and incl
6cntally prominence.
She had been kindly to Adrian, and
had taken pains to commend him when
he recited d0lefully enough his re-
peated failures In passing examina-
ton for service. She had been SYM
pathetic, encouraging. sisterly. Adrian
always felt better after Nellie had
praised his activities in the local
band, of which he was cornetist, or In
parade of the home guard, which
he had been elected to lead and train.
Adrian passed into the grounds of
the pretty Hayden home not sorry to
have Nellie notice that he had Joined
the bond brigade. As he passed up
the bush-lined walk. however, he drew
aside into the shadow of the shrub
berry with a face abruptly changed
from sunshine to gloom. Upon the
porch was Nellie, bright, lively, fas-
chatting as ever. She was pinning
Red Cross decoration upon a visitor.
If It had been anybody but Ross
Norton, whom he did not dislike,
Adrian would not have felt so bad,
nut Ross Norton had been twice re-
;ected. and misery loves company.
The quick tears filed Adrian's eyes.
He crossed the garden TO secluded
spot, sank to rustic bench. and
buried his face in his arm. He did
not sob or cry out; but as he lifted his
face the tears were still trickling
down his cheeks. Then he sought TO
dash them away and smile and be-
come natural A few feet away stood
Myrtle Hayden, the sister of Nellie.
She looked ready to cry herself as she
approached the bench, sat down be-
side Adrian and rested her hand upon
his own with sympathetic touch.
"What is 1t, Adrian?" she asked
softly. She was not Nellie in rare.
ethereal beauty nor dancing, glowing
eyes. but still she was lovely. and
there was witchery in her gentle
ways that acted as balm to Abrams
wounded spirit. So he told her all
"YOu are too brave and just to
envy Ross Norton in his good luck"
said Myrtle. "Who knows but your
turn may come? And on. Adriani all
of us. even careless, Eighty Nellie.
know that you are loyal to the soul
You are doing your duty here at home,
Adrian. dear You can help us girl
workers keep the home fires burn
ing"
She cheered him so. her sweet per-
sonality so attracted him that he for
got or cared not to see Nellie after
all. He kpew he had found a true
friend, and he wondered why he had
not before noted in shy, gentle Myrtle
the grace and charm that had won
him back TO patience and resigna-
ton.
She was wise. thoughtful little
miss, this unobtrusive but industrious
Myrtle Hayden. and she so managed
Il that insensibly Adrian was drawn
within the influence of the helpful
circle of which she was the center, en-
gaged in cooperation with all war ef-
forts both at home and abroad. where
a woman could help Adrian had an
automobile and was kept busy on mis-
sions for the group of pretty, patri-
otic girls all more or less part of
real work. direct or indirect. for the
government.
81 don't want to drive you into ex-
lie, old fellow spoke a friend Of
Adrian one day. ''but I've a new ruling
making the enlistment of drivers for
war ambulances practically an official
part of the service"
Adrian spurred up magically. He
passed busy day investigating this
new phase of the military ensemble.
Myrtle. watching him bustIing about
and noting a certain new glow OF en-
ergy and excitement in his face. won
dered why.
She knew. two afternoons later. A
she and Nellie came down the street
there turned into 1t. prim. proud.
erect Adrian Noble in military uni
form. How grand he looked-:h thrill
Hrl ~ -