Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-09-05
The CALL OF DUTY
BY NAOMI II. ANDERSON

When Uncle Sam began sending his
teleSraphic messages to every city and
hamlet of the country that stenogra-
piers and typists were needed In Wash.
inSton. Ann Rogers saw them printed
I'm the daily news. read them, won
dercd II she ought to offer her serv-
ices. and then forgot them. for her
daily tasks at Burr & sIarchant's
seemed quite sufficient for the sum
total OF her existence. and for three
months she ignored Uncle Sans con-
slant and urgent appeals. But one day,
when one Of the Stenographers came In
and calmly announced that she WIS
going to Washington, Ann Rogers took
up the newspapers again, read and re-
read Uncle Sans appeals. and finally
decided to follow in the footsteps of
the former stenographer.
Two months later, having followed
the call Of "'rhc Great Adventure" Gas
she called it. she was happily en-
sconced In one Of the offices of the war
department busily checking names Of
applicants for one of the branches of
Burr & Marchant'S had offered her
larger salary If she would have re-
manned, and quite unaware that be-
side her an officer whom she had
hardly noticed. would be great par
ticipator In her "Great Adventure"
and forthwith treated him with de-
liberate unconcern. But the days
m nfIS IL
the officer by her side began to loom
up Of greater and greater interest on
the horizon Of her happy existence.
Finally she admitted even to her CO.
workers that she thought he was aw-
fully nice and the days slipped by.
Three months later an order came
from the adjutant generals office. or
dering First Lieutenant Downs to go
to camp, and there he would be as
signed to some company for early
overseas duty. Ann had known for
some weeks that the order was coming
through. hut the days chased each
other so Sublimely that she did not
realize what the order would mean to
her until it came. But when she read
was to report to his commanding Of
fccr, she knew. The three days
dragged hy-they no longer flew--and
thc-nightS We're an eternity of tears
and prayers: hut on the morning oc
the last day when the first lieutenant
said good-by, Ann was smiling, and for
all the world none would have guessed
mt the tears and prayers. The week
following his departure dragged
through its course, but the brightness
and novelty of the throbbing, crowded
city had died for Ann.
One afternoon when letter arrived
from Mr.. Mnrchnnt asking If Ann
would not come back to her old posi-
ton. she dispatched an immediate re-
ply to the effect that she would be
back In three weeks. The next day
she handed in her resignation.
"Oh. she's got the blues on account
OF sweetheart back home" confided
the sergeant to the corporal. but Cap
tain Downs knew, and accepted her
resignation.
On the morning that she presented
herself mt the Office of Burr & Mar
chant she found beautiful bunch Of
red roses In vase on her desk and
attached to them was a card bearing
Mr.. Marchant's name. It occurred to
her then he was a bachelor and she
asked herself. us 1t posslble?" but
soon forgot the question in the busy
examination Of her old desk and type
writer. Later when Mr.. Marchant
came in she shook hands with him and
thanked him for the roses.
"Are you glad to be back in this
smoky city?" he leased.
''Its the best city in the world" she
rejoined. laughing.
Again the weeks began slipping by.
but Mr.. Marchant was quick to notice
that the happy laughter in AIMS eyes
was gone.
"Iou ought TO take n vacation" he
told her one day. "You seem so tired"
ooh, I'm not tired" she quietly re-
piled.
"Thcn. have doctor"
"Why?" and her eyes widencd.
"iou'll be having nervous break
down before you know It," he said.
"Why, there's nothing the matter
with me. or. perhaps it's Just a little
touch of the blues" she smiled. But
she did not go to Il doctor
few days later when Marchant
was watching her he saw Il soft light
In her eyes, and the doubt in them
seemed to have vanished. And he
said to himself, "IIc has written to
her"
He talked to her Of the transports
loaded with troops arriving daily. and
what fine thing it was that the war
was over, but all he could get out Of
her was her quiet ~ nm so Glad :"