The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-10
The Daily Short Story
can remember well!"

Unmindful Of the sudden silence
the low voice rambled on. The
frightened faces of the girls di-
rectly In front Of him called his
attention to the fact that some
thing was wrong. A furtive whis-
per from thoughtful Mile explain
ed things.
vida can't sing that, you know,
! colonel. She always cries. That
was Billie's fayofite song. They sang
| it together before he went away.
We all did, and he never came
back, you know"
| A strange look passed over the
coloneis face, look Of Joy and ex-
altation.
| 1T isn't cause for sorrow to
weep for one who passed q hero.
But, anyway, wear your red, white
and blue and play at the banquet
for the boys tomorrow"
There was much nervous prepar-
alton among the girls before their
first appearance, but no one could
tell it when at last the great doors
] OF the banquet hall were thrown
open. On the stage, as if they had
played professionally all their
lives, sat the group Of girl war
workers, playing with spirit and
| force. the march of the guardsmen.
It was a martial air that quickened
the blood Of the ex-soldiers and
brought q cheer of appreciation
1 Frov,. thn hnvo whA h,rAAioc
lOncs more.
4 Vida, from her throne ON the
| piano stool, looked down like a
i queen on the assembled feasters.
Nothing escaped her quick. eyes.
At hint from the smiling director
she swung into quick rhythm.
There was the time the orchestra
played the wedding march for Joe
who had brought back French
bride. and when they played Hail
t Hail, the Gangs All Here" as Cap
: tain Hearty made his appearance
Then when the toast of welcome
5 was drunk in crystal water, how
sadly they intoned How Dry
! AMI"
ii It was q successful evening I
performance. No song was asket
D for that could not be rendered
With heightened color and smiling
faces the girls rose to bow theil
. acknowledgment to the soldiers
: who gave three cheers and tigel
a for the war girls orchestra.
Almost before they had seatet
e themselves the request was mad,
y for THE Long, Long Trail" A 81
lsncs fell ON the triumphant littl,
c group. But not one loyal player
: however much she valued her new
lly made reputation as "a public per
2 former. would ask their songste
to sing the one song in the worl,
E that brought the tear to her eye
Without . word she rose and tool
. her place at the piano. The strain
' fell gently and sadly from the pale
= faced girl singing the words the
t had meant life and love to her. an
y the rush and tempest Of death
+ charge to these soldiers who hs
e sung of home when they face
they knew not what.
II No one clapped when the las
chord was struck. The little al
= sembly of Ministries sat with Der
heads when suddenly from the AZ
p diepce came IN answering echo
ytWord after word Of the song va
y repeated in the familiar voice thi
r al the townspeople knew Ii
voics Of Private Bill Foster, VII
b had been reported missing in .,
IL tion."
With outstretched hands he can
% singing down the hall, followed
It the radiant-faced Colonel Good, vi
t saluted as he approached the spell
n bound girls.
III "ComrAdes,s he said softl
y Here = your partner in song bas
8. lasain-a Silver aongster and . tn
y soldier. twice decorated. wound,
ID and almost Killed. The hospit
] authorities hare only now said
Il might be brought home safel
leldhis = IL beet surprise TINT I q
elve - IT. youf playing ~