Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-08-29
THE VICTORY GIRL
BY HoRTENsE CALDWELL

stood looking out. Apparently he was
IN deep thought. but he really was be-
ginning to become very angry. With
II little start he turned to the girl on
The sofa calmly humming u popular
! air.
Peggy Starr. l wouldn't believe YOU
would be so accommodating with
out saying word from the patriotic
| point OF view. 1t certainly wouldn't
;; hurt you to help me out by just doing
such little thing as that"
i've told you, l wouldn't be in that
parade and l mean It. Why. Ed. do
you think for minute would go
riding all about the streets Of this
! city mounted on an old wagon, and
having every eye on the street COR
ners looking me In the face. Well. I
guess not" she ended with finality.
well. there's good many girls that
are going t" be In 1t that are in even
better society than you are. and they
don't see anything the matter with it,"
1T doesn't make the. slightest differ
tnce to me what anybody else does.
Ed. so please let the matter drop. And
II you would go along now 1t would he
very nice Of you, rs I have n good
many things to do This evening"
Ed noticed the chill note in her voice
and took his hat without another word.
The moment lie had left the room,
Peggy jumped up to go after him.
With great effort she held herself back,
but she continued to think of what
she had said. She knew she had hurt
Eds feelings and 1t bothered her more
than she cared to admit. Still think
ing how mean she had acted. she was
Interrupted by the ringing Of the tele-
phone.
Hello" said the voice Of her chum.
Helen Whitman. Peggy, have you
been asked to be in the parade next
Monday?"
Eyes, but I'm not going to do It,"
replied Peggy slowly.
you're not? Why, Peg. thought
Of course you were. Why, the idea.
everybody is going to do something
for that"
"WeiI, I for one, will be the laugh
ing stock for nobody. If you want to
be dressed up like wax doll and set
YOU can, but I'm not going to-,
'Some people give the boys hearty
welcome when they come home" came
Fl ON Helen sarcastically as she re-
placed the receiver on the hook. After
shutting Off, Peggy got up with tears
In her eyes. She had been looking ut
the celebration from her own stand
Point, never giving a thought to whom
il was really for. Quickly she took up
the telephone and got the chairman Of
the committee on the line. 'Mr. Wood?
Well, this is Margaret Starr ON Wood
stead street. l understand you need
somebody for role in the parade. If
1t is convenient for you l will stop Mt
your office on my way downtown"
The next day Peggy Starr started on
little visit to n neighboring city and
when Ed called that evening he was
told Miss Starr would return Monday.
or course, Ed firmly believed she had
gone away in order not TO be asked
about the parade. With little shrug
Of the shoulders he turned md went to
his Office. Twice between Friday eve
ming and Monday morning he called
her mp via telephone, only to hear she
had not returned and there was no
message.
At last Monday came, the day of
the great parade. The SUN rose over
the New England hills in the distance
with alarming rapidity, and by ten
o'clock the parade had formed in line
The floats were many and elaborate,
hiIf In ipuIar 0f ut d
attention. The automobile was made
into modern chariot. with American
flags covering the whole outside In
side, the chariot was pure white. and
on one end high platform. One fig
rre stood on this platform. "Columba"
by name. and at her feet sat two brave
lads, one in blue and one 10 Khaki. AS
the float moved slowly about the
streets and "Columbia" stood holding
her torch majcstically above her head,
everyone was thrilled. At last tho
route was covered and scores of peo-
PIE were crOwding about the beautiful
float. "Columbia" stepped from her
platform where the radiant Ed was
awaiting her.
peggy, is It really YOU doing this?"
"Why, Of course, it is I. Don't /
took naturnl?"
"But where have you been these last
three days?" d.,
"Ed, you made me feel so ashamed
the other day, had to go somewhere.
so went down to Lancaster. I
thought you'd be glad
"Glad! Why I'm so glad could
cry, Peggy. You certainly are one of
those Victory Girls"
But. Ed. the greatest victory I've
had is the one over myself. | have
learned good lesson and my pride