Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-08-01

story. There are no bursting shells
or crawling tanks or trench dugouts
or spies in this tale which concerns
an event that happened in a litt!-
backwoods town in Illinois six months
after the armistice was signed.
The war is dragged in because it
explains the advantage acquired by
Herbert Drew over 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 i'll
stead of eastward, Herbert doomed I'D
in his home town one sunny. bird
chlrping spring day wearing an over
seas cap on one side of his head an!
drown bandages" On his legs, with &
gold chevrOn on his sleeve; while GIL
bert put in his appearance on driz-
Fly, dreary day 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 lover there"
They were drafted IN the same con-
tingent and they went to Camp Grant
together. At that time Gilbert had th,
inside track with Marguerite, and
their engagement was generally con-
sidered a certainty for the near fu-
ture. Gilbert was not so attractive
rs Herbert, who was a pronounced
brunette, but Marguerite felt a much
deeper affection for him, because she
thought she fathoEled finer qualities
of character in HILL and because
we'll, just because.
SO it was 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 'dc
her bit" for the soldiers, and he con-
tinued his wooing by mail.
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 tc
the depot brigade.
So Herbert Drew came back home 4
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 fol
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 i;
. certainly did ada to his prestige
) Tales of his bravery in action WEI
; published in the local weekly anl
h that drew q more brilliant glare abOG
. him.
9 Marguerite, being human girl
a could not resist these things, and al
!. most before she herself could realiz'
l. it she was considering Herbert he
accepted sutton and Gilbert in thu
haS-been class.
t Gilbert plugged along at his wo"l
d in the flour MILL where he had a jOl
r that paid we'll for town OF tina
it size. He knew he was losing gu
o with Marguerite, for he realized whl
ID the chances were with gold chevro
n against a silver one.
Both the young men continued t
1t call on Marguerite. but Gilbert H.,
n been cut down to once week, Will
to he was aware that Herbert was at tn
Is Hobart home at least every Othe
er night. Then, her manner Of treatin
Il him was different. She was still yer
lie friendly and tried 10 entertain hi
IN pleasantly, but he knew the old spr
le Of comradeship that had once eXiSte
e. was lacking, while the still deep6
or feeling that had made itself evidcI
p on some occasions before that fatefl
IN CONSUMPTION act went into effect w;
M decidedly conspicuous by not bcin
IL there any more at all.
Gilbert made tile good fight. bl
IN gradually it became manifest to hi
10 that it was a losing fight. FINAL
ls things came to a climax one nigh
III because he felt that he could not kee
VI silent any longer but just had to kno
VII where he stood, on sand or rock.
e. "How is it, Marguerite?" lie aske
- as lie was preparing " ie'A'V, az
- his weekly call. Are you just tole
-, ating me? Is that the way thin!
- stand?"
10 She looked down at the toe OF h
no shoe and wiggled it few time
10 watching it intently. as if it We
MT something she never before knew 81
r. possessed and was very curious co
II corning it's functions
en- well, no." she said, after fe
seconds thought Il can't say it's ju
that way. l like you very much, G
de bert; but l have realized for Sol
"a time that things are not just the W;
re- they used to be-"
IN lts-lts Herbert Dfe"' ol cours'
III. Gilbert ventured, looking out the Wi