The Colorado statesman., 1919-07-19

/
or spies in this tale, which concerns
an event that happened in littl4
! backwoods town in Illinois six months
after the armistice wns signed.
The war is dragged in because Ii
explains the advantage acquired by
Herbert Drew over Gilbert Post in TIE
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 up
| in his home town one sunny bird
chirping spring day wearing an over
seas cap on one side of his head an
'brown bandages" On his legs, with
gold chevron on his sleeve; while Gil
bert put in his appearance on driz-
ely, dreary day a short time later
with just hat and leggings covering
respectively his toussled yellow hair
and his neither limbs, and a splash of
oliver on his arm 70 denote he had
Ueen In service "over there"
They were drafted IN the same con-
tinSent and they went to Camp Grant
together. AT that time Gilbert had the
inside track with Marguerite, an'
their engagement was generally con-
sidered a certainty for the near fu-
| ture Gilbert was not SO attractive
Us Herbert, who was a pronounced
brunette, but Marguerite felt much
deeper affection for him, because shE'
thought she fathoned finer qualities
of character in hlLl, and because
well, just because.
So it was u 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 he con-
| tinued his wooing by nail.
In this there was some advantage
for him, because he was good CORE
spondent, while Gilbert was more or
| less of a 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
soldier with no more glamour about
him than that afforded by his uni
form, and that did not last long, for
he shed his khaki for "civies" 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 wefa
published In the local weekly and
hat drew a more brilliant glare about
IN.
Marguerite, being human girl.
could not resist these things, and al
most before she herself could reaiiEe
1t she was considering Herbert her
accepted suitor and Gilbert in the
haS-been class.
Gilbert plugged along at his work
N the flour mill, where he had job
that paid well for town of that
size. He knew he was losing out
with Marguerite, for he realized what
the chances were with gold chevron
against silver one.
Both the young men continued to
,'all on Marguerite, but Gilbert n:tu
been cut down to once 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 MN
pleasantly, but he knew the old spirit
of comradeship thar had once existed
was lacking, while the lstlll deeper
feeling that had made Itself evident
on some occasions before that fateful
conscription act went into effect was
decidedly conspicuous by not being
there any more at ull.
Gilbert made tile good fight, bur
gradually it became manifest to him
that it was a losing fight. Finally
things came to a climax one night.
because he felt that he could not keep
silent any longer bur just had to know
where he stood, on sand or rock.
.'How is it, 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 few times,
watching it intently, as If 1t were
something she never before knew she
possessed and was very curious con-
corning its functions.
} We'll, no." she said, after few
seconds thought. "I can't say it's just
that way. like you very much, Gil
: bert; but / have realized for sorue
time that things are not just the way
, they used to be-"
/ "It's-its Herbert Drew, of course,
Gilbert ventured. looking out the win
dow and pondering how dark It was
not just that part of the world within
his view, but the whole universe
i,o Ind lnnlrad th Qll