Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-09-18
Silver
Against Gold
-
ByR RAY BAKER
tcopyright. 1913. By the Mcclure News
psper s&ndfeafe-D

%ss~~~~~@~~~sess~~e~
tcepyrisht. 1919. By the MeclaFs News
psper ssndfeate-)
The war Wait. this Is not a war
story. There are no barstiag shells
or crawling tanks or trench dugoufs
or spies In this tale. which concerns
an event that happen sd In a Httls
backw0ods town In Illinois six months
after the armIstice was signed.
The war Is drnggesI I'm because II
explains the advantage acquired by
Herbert Drew over Gilbert Post In the
hattie for the love NJ Marguerite Ho-
bart.
When the truce. moved the lever
that changed fhe current OF troop
crossing the Atlantic westward In
stead of eastward, Herbert doomed M
In his home town one sunny. bird
chirplng spring day wearing an over
seas cap on Jene side of his head AMI
brown bandages'' On hls legs. with q
gold chevron ON his sleeve; while Gil
bert put In his appearance on a driz-
ely. dFeary day short time later
with just hat aud leggings covering
respectively his toussled yellow hair
and his neither limbs. and a splash of
silver ON his arm 70 denote he had
been In service "over there"
They were drafted IN the same con-
tingent and they went to Camp Grant
together. At that time Gilbert had the
inside track with Marguerite, and
their engagement was generally con-
sidered a certainty for the near fu-
ture. Gilbert was not so attractive
as Herbert. who was q pronounced
deeper affection for hIm. because she
thought she fathomed finer qualities
of character In hiLl, and because
well. just because.
So Il was q 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 "d1
her bit" for the soldiers, and he con-
tinued his wooing by mail.
In this there was some advantage
u
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
fern, and that did not last long, for
he shed his khaki for "civies" as soon
as he could procgr: store clothes.
Herbert on the other hand, con-
tinued to wear his uniform, and il
certainly did add to his prestige.
Tales of his bravery I'm action wera
published In the local weekly and
that drew a more brilliant glare about
him.
Marguerite, being q human girl,
could not resist these things. and al-
most before she herself could realize
II she was considering Herbert her
accepted saitor and Gilbert In the
hus-been class.
Gilbert plugged along at his work
In the flour mill, where he had a 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 a silver one.
Both the young men continued tn
call ON Marguerite. but Gilbert had
been cut down to once a week, while
he was aware that Herbert was at the
Hobart home at least every other
niglss. Then, her manner OF treating
him was different. She was still very
friendly and tried TO entertain him
pleasantly. but he knew the old spirit
OF comradeship that had once existed
was lacking, while the still deeper
feeling that hao made itself evident
on some occasions before that fateful
CONSUMPTION act went into effect was
decidedly conspicuous by not being
there any more at all.
Gilbert made tlse good fight, but
gradually IL became manifest to him
that Ii 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 1t. Margueritef" he asked,
as he was preparing to leave. after
his weekly call. Are you just toler-
ating me? Is that the way things
standT
She looked down at the toe Of her
shoe and wiggled it n few times.
watching II intently, as IL IL were
something she never before knew she
possessed and was very curious con-
corning Its functions.
"Well, no." she said, after a few
seconds thought. 81 can't say it's just
that way. I like you very much, Gill
bert: but / have realized for sonlc
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 h NV dark IL was
not Just that part of the world within
his view. but the whole universe.
Many a nme he had looked Though
that window at world that was
smiling and sunshiny.
She became Interested In that toe
again.
Yes" she confessed, signing. Its
Herbert. He is-well, nave come 10
realize that he Is the man for me.
He's so big and strong-and hand
some. OF course. I don't mean. Gil
that you aren't those things. too" she
was quick to add, ''but-well, It's diff