The Raymer enterprise., 1921-12-29
A SERVICE RECORD!
sy MARY meooNouoH.
9IgS1H00 SSSSSSe,

@. 1891. BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
She was q yeomanette-an ef1cient
wartime servant Of Uncle Sam. She
was very lovely In her service uniform.
All day the click Of her typewriter
sounded lightninglIke, all night her
needle flew, for there was hope
chest. and, laden away with lavender.
scented embroideries, were prayerfuI
hopes that he-a lowly doughboy 10
France-would return to her, sound In
body and mind.
She grew horribly lonely at times.
Occasionally other girls, situated Ike
herself, would accept others invitations
just to help ease away the gnawing
ache Of loneliness. Not Eileen. how
ever.
One day Roy Robbins, first lieu
tenant on warsllip anchored In the
Misunderstanding, and already with
notable sea record-had occasion to go
over some records In Eileen's depart
ment. He thought her different and
charming, and found several reasons
for returning.
One day he said: " suppose some
busybody told you ! was married; l
suppose you think me the proverbial
sailor with sweetheart In every port.
I'm not. But admit l have been
married. However. there's separa-
tion, which will undoubtedly end In
prompt divorce. though It was not my
wish. I would have told you all Ind
you given me the privilege"
Elleen's lovely face flushed. She had
the old,fashloned ideals Of marriage.
with all its sacredness. She was
SHOCKED and offended.
I'm so sorry," she said, sincerely.
~ refused you only because the man
love and am promised to Is In France,
fighting. I'm keeping loyal for just
him. But tell me about YOURSELF"
So Lieutenant Robbins, Invested Of
his graceful manners and official au-
thorlty. was now just an unhappy.
lonely man, telling his woes to a good
woman.
"It's absurd, and 20 easily straight.
ened out!' Eileen exclaimed. Tin
sure she still loves you. and somehow
j feel that through II all you'll always
love Just her. wouldn't you try"
5 mo use tanning the ashes Of dead
love" bitterly. "The last sparks ex.
>pired."
Suddenly came his orders to sail.
Came, too. the call for volunteer yeo-
man (F) for Washington and the Great
Lakes. Eileen grasped the opportunity.
Robbins home was In Washington.
Perhaps she could manage to meet his
wife: one could not foretell what ser.
vice she might render
Because she was so lovely, so golden
and so all-peaches-and cream. Eileen
easily made friends of all classes. She
found Marguerite Robbins. d lovely.
slender girl Of 25 or 28 Marguerite
opened her heart. They had become
fast friends. Eileen was consoling.
even optimistic.
Later came a long-remembered Sun
day afternoon, when Eileen was sur
,prised to find Lieutenant Robbins
awaiting her In the shabby Washing.
ton boarding house. She had written
and implored him to look up her SOL
dier-loyer. who had been wounded
overseas. She never mentioned his
wife.
"a message from your man." Robbins
explained. "He was hurt rather badly,
but he's getting on. They say he called
for you ceaselessly in his dellrium"
And when Eileen had shot her myriad
'sc0rching questionings about her Jim,
she ventured, "And youl"
"Only hoping some 7 N T will blow
my fool head of. You knew me better
than knew myself when you said !
loved my wife. do. but it's too late.
House closed up. and I understand
there really Is another!"
"How cruelty untruew Eileen was
all excitement "What foolish pride
keeps you from seeking herr She Is
really lonely. sick and sorrowing. Just
a week ago, worn out with brooding.
she was ordered to a sanitarium on
the Potomac"
Late that afternoon the miracle hap
pened. Marguerite Robbins thought. rs
she saw the familiar white-unIformed
officer approaching, that II wns VI
sion. But she could not mistake the
glad, ringing voice.
Sweetheart" he cried. holding her
close. "rhe long months I've kept you
unhappy! But didn't understand,
dearest. I'm afraM we both believed
malicious, false gossip!" Then,
shocked, How pale and thin you've
grown, precious 7"
"Roy, dear!' she sobbed happily,
"You do care. don't you. dear? Every.
thing Is so beautiful and bright again.
why. I've Just got to keep living now!"
Many mcnths later Nleen's Jim
came back from the war, The doctors
said he might never be well again.
But Elleen's faith was strong. He
had little money. but she had not
scraped and saved in vain. u found
the dearest shack. away In the pine
woods. when had my vacation fur