Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-01-17
The Crossed
Swords
81 BEATRICE vANDERcRIFT
(Copyright1

MOST army romances end with q
ASA newspaper account Of the bridal
couple emerging from an arch OF
crossed swords, but this particular ro-
nance Of young Lieutenant and Mrs.
John r. Gibbs goes on.
The first night, on their way by car
to Johns post in the South, they
stopped at the incest hotel In Balti-
more and had jellled aOnsomme,
broiled blueHsh and peach melba,
which they didn't eat The second
night, they stopped at the incest hotel
In Roanoke and had cantaloupe, fried
chicken and BURBERRY pie, some Of
which they ate. The third night, aft
er consultation over the honeymoon
pocketbook, they stopped at the Sec
ond incest hotel In Greenville and had
a dollar blue plate. almost all Of which
they ate.
On the fourth day they reached
their destination, the army post to
which John had been assigned after
his graduation from West Point that
June.
A stout captain In the quartermas-
ter corps met them at headquarters
and ushered them to their home. It
was one Of q group Of implanted
wooden shacks that resembled squat
ters' huts one finds on ash heaps out
side large cities. From their patched,
tarred roofs tin chimneys emitted bill
lows Of soft coal smoke.
The captain got out, prled open
rusty, sagging screen door and waved
the bride and groom inside, then left
them with CHEEKY smile. He was
so used to showing hardened army
folk into dingy quarters that he didn't
stop to sympathize with these young
newcomers.
Mary Rose buried her head In
Johns shoulder and wept heart
breakingiy.
"rm sorry, kiddie," he groaned.
"What'll we DOR
II know what I'm going to do" an
nounced Mary Rose. Historically but
firmly. SIN going home"
But she decided to stay for two
months, for after all. they were still
on their honeymoon. But when the
day came for her to go she didn't feel
the least bit like travelling
When they realized what was the
matter. John was terrified and begged
her to go. II he hadn't suggested II,
she probably would have. But she
stayed She would let John see little
John, then leave forever.
Winter descended upon them, chill,
rainy winter that spread vast duck
pond about their little low shack.
Mary Rose shut of one room Of the
house and tried to keep II warm with
the pot-belled stove which, with its
sister the kitchen range, comprised
the heating system of the house.
At last, one spring day, the great
event took place. Mary Rose spent an
afternoon walking on the hot roof gar.
den of the army hospital with John
pacing desperately at her side. Then
the nurses brought her In and told
John to stay out.
After long while they told him he
could 60 In.
u
they said, "and girls are just as nice
| as boys"
He merely glanced at the bundle OH
Its way out to the nursery, cried for
a few moments over Mary Roses
| placid white face and went back to
his little lonely shack.
Lying In the pleasant, yellow-walled
| hnont,uI Mary Rose waa moro deter.
mined than ever to leave John and
his dreadful little hut. She simply
couldn't let her baby grow up there,
to play on those damp floors and per.
maps get hold of the deadly white In.
sect powder they were always com.
PEELED TO have about
At her fathers home there would be
sunny nursery with warm, rugged
floors and steam heat sizzling against
the frosty windows.
When they at last took Mary Rose
back TO the shack. she resolved that
the next time she went out Of II would
be the last John gently deposited
her ON the qunrtermusier settee and
she looked about.
| meuiy OF coiOrs Ulel ner gaze
The rough ugly boards were covered
with yellow wall piper. Various Pill.
lows OF Gushing cretonne were care.
fully plopped on all the chairs. On
the wavy floor. newly coated with or
ange shcilac, was tan rug that was
not half bad.
"Do you like it?' he nsked, proudly.
~ did II all myself. This is a real
home now. Isn't II. kiddle?"
Sudden tears scalded Mary Roses
eyes, Yes. this was home this funny,
terrible little shack that the govern
ment had provided and that John had
so vallantly tried to make llvable.
Thousands of army women, for gen
erations, had lived In worse
She looked at John and smiled
bravely.
~ told you that was going home
after the baby came" she said. "Well.
John, am home"
Il