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Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, May 06, 1914, Image 7

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Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026897/1914-05-06/ed-1/seq-7/

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THAT M IN KHAKI
By CEL?A ROBINSON.
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On Decoration cay Betty Manning,
a telegraph operator, picked her pret
tiest roses.
"I am going
down to the serv
ices at the Na
tional cemetery,"
she told her moth
er, "and I shall
put these flowers
OD the new-made
graves. Perhaps
some heart would
be comforted a ^ " I
little if she knew L r
that her boy f ^*
would not be quite Ie
forgotten."
As she knelt that afternoon beside
a grave, scattering roses on the new
sod, a man came ami stood beside
her, watching the white-robed figure,
wistfully, as the sweet face bent above
the loving task.
As Betty rose she saw him standing
beside her. He was a soldier dressed
In the uniform of a non-commissioned
officer. The face under the thatch
of curly chestnut hair was very good
to look upon.
Betty smiled at him kindly and
pointed to tue flowers.
"There aren't many," she said, "but
I thought I would do what I could.
There isn't much one can do."
"Oh, the little more and how much
it ls;
Oh, the little less, and what world's
away."
quoted the sergeant, as he returned
the smile, with interest.
Betty stared a little. She had not
expected a common soldier to greet
her with Browning.
"You see." he went on, "it is just
that little more that is so very much
-the little more of kindness and good
will. A mother praying for her boy
tonight would bless you if she knew."
"Maybe she will know, some day,"
said Betty, softly. "If I knew who
and where she waF I would write to
her."
"I know where she is," said the
soldier. "The boy who lies here was
an old playmate of mine and his
mother lives in a little town in Maine.
I shall write to her tonight. Will you
?send her a message?"
'Tes," said the girl, impulsively.
"Give her my love and tell her that
this grave shall be my sDecial care.
That ! shall tend it and at least 12
times each year she may feel sure
that there are flowers on lt."
Then her mother came and Betty,
.with a little friendly nod, left him.
It would be hard to tell whose
thoughts were the busiest with the
other for the next few days. The
young non-commissioned omcer could
not keep Betty's sweet face and voice
out of his mind. The golden hair and
the blue eyes haunted him. As for
Betty, now and then as she sat at
her work sh? fell to dreaming, al
ways of a young man In a uniform of
khaki, with curly chestnut hair, who
quoted Browning.
One day as Betty was clicking away
the dream she was dreaming material
ized, and her soldier stood before her.
"I did not dare hope for this." ho
said, as she came forward. "I came
In to send a message to my father; I
did not know that you were here.
I have hoped to see you because I
wanted to give you this." And he
handed her a note.
It was from the mother In far-off
Maine and Betty's eyes were full of
tears as .she read the kind words ol'
thanks.
"But you had a message for me,
had you not?" she ask^d.
He gave ber the message and after
a few words, rather formal ou both
eides, he took his departure.
This was 'he message he had given
Betty to send and she could not but
read it with more than ordinary in
terest:
"To Chas. H. Livingstone, Auditor
Solid Insurance company, Pierreton,
Canada. I have today received hon
orable discharge from army. Will be
with you in a fortnight. Chas. H. Liv
ingstone, Jr."
It was three days later that Betty
boarded a North Hill car on her way
home, to find only one vacant seat and
that beside a handsome man in a suit
of gray tweeds. She did not at first
recognize him in civilian clothes, but
when he lifted his hat she knew the
curly crop and the smile in the dark
eyes. The man in khaki had worn a
mustache, but this young man was
clean-shaken.
Betty thought him handsomer than
ever. Aa for Livingstone, Betty was
his one dream, now, and in the light
of her sweet smile he was emboldened
to say:
?"I wrote a letter to the mother in
Maine today. I expect to see her soon.
I am going away."
"Yes. I know," said Betty. "I'm so
sorry." Then she blushed. "I couldn't
help knowing, you see. I read your
telegram/'
"I know," he said, "but I would
like to tell you more." And he did.
Construing the Law.
Police Magistrate-Mr. Officer, you
must not shoot at a prisoner unless
he has been apprehened for a fel
ony.
Police Officer- Please, your hoonr,
he was shooting, too.
Police Justice-What was he shoot
ing?
Police Officer--Sh-jotlng craps. |gg
W?1TIH6 FOR P?TI! I
By T. B. EATON.
?
Taps, his intimates called him
Tapa Scudder. He was big, more than
passably good looking, had a splendid
income quite outside his pay. and was
a lieutenant, juuior grade, in the
navy.
Orders had como detaching him
from duty at the yard and instruct
ing him to joiu the Comorant for sea
duty.
Ile stood on the steps of the ad
miral's house-the admiral waB com
mandant of the navy yard-a scowl
on his face and a heart within him
like several tons of lead. Evelyn How
land, the admiral's daughter, had just
refused him again, and tomorrow he
would be at sea for he knew not how
many years. The Comorant was head
ed for the Philippines.
Still scowling, he began to walk
down the path. A syringa bush on
the little lawn was In full bloom.
Behind the syringa bush sounded a
childish voice singing a popular song.
It ceased as he moved down the path,
and Patty Howland, with all the im
pulsiveness of a dozen years coupled
with very strong likes and dislikes,
sped from behind the bush and threw
herself Into Taps Scudder's arms.
"Oh, Taps," she cried, "are you real
ly going away tomorrow?"
"Tonight, Patty," said he. smiling
down at her. "We sail tomorrow."
"And you've just been up to see
Evelyn?"
He nooded.
"And she turned you down again?"
"That's not a nice way of putting
lt," he chided mildly.
"Well, did she?" she persisted. ."You
needn't answer, Taps. I see it in
that scowl of yours. And you look
hurt and angry, too. Did she say
she'd marry you if you'd leave the
service?"
He smiled rather wanly.
"You're not going to?"
"I'm sailing tomorrow on the Co
morant," said he.
"Well, don't you leave tho service,
Taps-not for Evelyn nor anybody
else," she said.
"Why?" he asked.
"Oh, well, for one thing just be
cause, and for another because you
are so awfully, awfully handsome in
a uniform."
"That last is the best reason. Pat
ty," he laughed. "Just for that I
won't leave the service."
"Well, don't.. Promise me you
won't."
"I promise."
He stooped. She lifted her pretty,
childish face and kissed him resound
ingly, not once, but over and over.
Then he went on down the path, the
incident forgotten. He was scowling
again and his heart was sore within
him. Evelyn Howland, had, indeed,
intimated this last afternoon that if
he would leave the service she would
marry him.
The next day he sailed on the Co
morant. And it was a very depressed
Taps Scudder that cruised about the
Philippines.
He wrote Evelyn often-it seemed
to be his only solace, that and wait
ing impatiently for the letters from
her. They were all of the same gen
eral trend. Why did he stay in the
service, especially when he h^d plenty
of money? He couldn't really care
very much for her if he wouldn't leave
the service for her sake.
Taps read those letters and bit his
lips and paced the hot deck, and six
years went past in this way.
Then he was orderea home, and the
waters did not foam and hiss half
loudly enough beneath the homeward
pointir.s prow to suit him.
Evelyn was still heart-free, if he
could b(. ieve her le tters, and m a few
weeks now he would see her.
During his absence Rear Admiral
Howland had 1 iched the age limit
and been retired. He now lived in
an imposing house in an exclusive
suburb near the navy yard.
No sooner was he landed than Taps
Scudder headed thither It was a
splendid place, with spacious grounds
and a long, low rambling house set
among Lombardy poplars.
Taps stood at the wide gates admir
ing it. The carriage which had
brought him thither wa6 rattling back
toward the little suburban station.
A motor car came whirring into the
driveway. A horn honked its strident
warning. He turned about. There
was a crj' from the car; Instantly it
stopped.
"Oh, Taps, Taps, dear, I'm so glad
to see you-so. so glad!"
He looked at her dazedly. He could
not realize the change In her that
six years had wrought. Could this be
the little spindle-shanked girl be had
left behln? the syringa bush at the
navy yard? He mattered in bewil
dered fashion:
"Patty! For goodness' sake
Patty!"
"You've grown handsome, Taps,"
she declared. "Why, you're awfully
distinguished looking-not so boyish
as you were. Aren't you glad you
6tayed In the service?"
"You bet I am, if I get my reward
for it," said he.
"What was that?" said she.
"Do I have to ask you?" said he.
"No. Frankly, you don't," she de
clared. "I've remembered it every day
and every hour since you left. But I
didn't suppose you had."
"And you haven't changed a bit
about your ideas of the service?" he
asked at last.
"Why should I when you look BC
perfectly splendid In a uniform.
Taps?" she asked.
! TRICKS OF THE GAME I
.?> Y
t i
.> Ey DOROTHY BLACKMORE. ?
% %
^X"X-X-*X"X-*XK~X"X~XK~X~X?
"It certainly is exciting to get a
Bridge pad for a present when you
know nothing about Bridge and care
less!" lamented Bess Watrous, han
dling the brown leather score pad she
had received by parcel post.
"You should keep your friends in
formed," teased her brother, picking
up the pad and examining it . He
sniffed. "And it smells of camphor
balls! Worse yet! Some one must
have given it to Mary last Christmas
and she's palming it off on you this
year. That's one way to do with un
welcome gifts, I must, say." Ralph
Watrous laughed mirthfully. "It'^s a
nice little pencil, anyway-with an
ivory tip, sis. See?"
"I do see-but you may have lt, tip
and all."
"Sort o' peevish, aren't you? Cheer
up, sis!"
"I'm not the least bit peevish,
though I am provoked, and I have
more than half a notion to sit down
and write Mary a straightforward let
ter telling her that she is a chump! I
certainly can't conscientiously say
'Thank you for the lovely present,
etc.,' for then I would be as big a
chump as she. We're good enough
friends to be frank."
"All right-you know Mary Ayres
better than I do."
And. believing that she did know
her friend Mary sufficiently well to
reprimand her for her carelessness
for it was not the first time she had
displayed it in gift giving-Bess Wat
rous wrote a letter. Also, she returned
the Bridge score pad. since, as she ex
plained, she had no earthly use for it.
Some weeks later a reply came.
"Your letter amused rae so much
that T read it aloud to Jim and his
friend Tom Cassidy, who is spending
the winter with us on the ranch. Tom
was so much tickled with the frank
ness of the writer that he Insisted on
knowing all about you. I have told
him all I know, but he seems insati
able and keeps bothering me to a3l<
you down here while he is with us.
Can you come? Of course you can't
at this busy season, bury yourself on
a Texas ranch, but-at least I've ask
ed you."
This, in part, was Mary's letter, and
Bess waa not pleased, at first, at the
idea of having had her letter read for
the amusement of two men-Jim
Ayres and this Tom Cassidy.
"And yet," she said to her brother
that night. "I rea'ly would enjoy the
novelty of a ranch In winter. Mary is
only half-hearted in her invitation.
Would you go, Ralph?"
"I surely would if I was as crazy to
meet a strange man as you are, S&".
Don't you have enough on your string
now?"
When she was on the train bound
for the remote ranch in Texas on
which her old friend Mary had been
willing to bury herself for Jim Ayres
she could not help smiling Inwardly
at the way in which Fate had seemed
to push her into this step.
She thoughl of this again as shf
was being driven quickly through the
moonlit roads io the ranch house thc
night she arrived at the village in
southern Texas.
"I tried to get Tom Cassidy to comr
in for you. Bess." her host explained
with a twinkle in his eye; "but he had
a game of Bridge on with Mary and a
couple of our friends in a neighboring
ranch ano he hated to leave."
Bess laughed. "You're as frank a?
ever, Jim-as frank as I was about .
the silly present Mary sent me. I'm
afraid your Mr. Ton Cassidy wouldn'l
thank you for telling me his excuse .
for not coming, would he?"
"Maybe not." admitted Jim. "But-r
he's mighty fine, Bess, mighty fin--'
stuff is Tom!"
Bess did see the lights between the
trees and ns they drove quickly to
ward trio house they were silent, am!
she imagined Tom Cassidy coming to
ward her. She wondered why she
took such an interest in a man whr.
did not care enough about seeing net
to leave a game of cards.
"It-it ls you. isn't it, Bess?" she
heard him saying, as he took her hand
when Mary introduced him. "1
thought it must be. Even as a wee
girl you were frank enough to tell rn?
you didn't care to play with a red
headed, freckled boy named Cas
sidy."
Bess blushed furiously. "You're red
headed yet. but-well, the freckles are
gone at least," she said, trying to hide
her embarrassment.
"And you still won't play with hire
because-you don't like Bridge,"
laughed Mary, her arm about Bess.
"I don't know what I'll do down
here If you're all such fiends for the
game," Bess replied, looking at Caa
eidy.
"Learn It," said Jim.
Bess shook her head.
"You'd better," added Cassidy.
"Tf you do I'll give you back youi
Christmas present, Bess," said Man
over her shoulder as she went out tc
the kitchen to find a "bite" to eat.
Cassidy stepped up to her as she
stood before the great crackling fire
"She can't-I have it and I mean tc
keep it, Bess. Do you know why?"
Bess did not look up. "Perhaps 1
do. but don't tell me tonight. Walt till
7 learn a few tricks of the game."
Cassidy laughed. "Learn?" You
know all the tricks already, girl. It's
your game now-you know you've
won."
"I think you're the one that'a woa
iTom." she said.
.... m
-FOR 1914- v
We desire to notify our farmer friends that we are ready to supply them
with fertilizers in all of the popular brands and formulas. We sell the cele
brated
Etiwan Brands
These goods have been used by farmers of this county for many years and
have given satisfaction.
We also have contracted for a large supply of ingredients for mixing fer
tilizers at home. Bear in mind that we can till your orders for any kind of
plant food, the dependable kind. Come in to see us.
W. W. Adams, & Company.
Screen The House.
NOW is the time to protect your horce against
the pestry disease-breeding fly, by putting in
Screen Windows and Doors. We have all sizes of
both and can fit any size opening. Windows at
40. 50, 60 and 75 cents, and doors at $1.25, $1.50,
$2.00 and $2.50.
Remember that one doctor's bill will screen your
home.
Full stock of Ice Cream Freezers, all sizes. See
our Water Coolers. We have numerous other
seasonable articles for the home.
Stewart & Kernagfaan.
Furniture, Fijrniture, Furniture
and Farmers Hardware.
Our two stores, No. 972 Broad and No. 1,286 Broad
Street, stand wide open to our Edgefield friends.
In our up-town store in addition to a full stock of
furniture we carry a large supply of farmers hardware
that*we are selling at close prices. Mr. Wyatt H. Ham
mond of Colliers is a member of the salesforce at our
upper store and will always be pleased to see his Edge
field friendSc
We can supply anything you need in furniture.
Call to see us when in need of anything for the house.
If we haven't what you want in stock we will order it
for you.
E. M. ANDREWS FURNITURE COMPANY
,072 Broad, Phone ^45. 12S9 Broad, Phone 2311

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