The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 162: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

156 “Of all the queer freaks of fate!” she mused. “If it hadn’t been for that black hair in the locket this wouldn’t have hap- pened. She’d have married her soldier boy instead of that slacker. It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard of.” Her face suddenly grew grave. “But it isn’t so funny from the stand- point of Private Howard Blandish,” she reflected. ‘“ Poor fellow, this 1s going to be a great blow to him! I’m afraid he'll never forgive me!” V. A FEw weeks later Blandish was stand- ing in front of the recruiting tent on the cutskirts of the encampment when a de- jected-looking man approached him. ““Ts this the place to enlist?” the latter asked. “I’ve got flat feet and weak eyes. but if they’re willing to overlook those trifling defects I'll be glad to do my bit!” The soldier looked at the other keenly. ‘“‘Isn’t your name Sylvester Barnes?” he asked. “How the deuce do you know me? I don’t believe I have the pleasure of your acquaintance. Ah! Yes, I have, too. I recognize you now. You're the lucky chap ‘she turned down to marry me! I’ve seen you before, when yeu called on her at the office.” ‘“‘Lucky chap!” Blandish echoed, frown- ing. “ Yes—lucky!” Barnes groaned. ‘“ May- be you don’t appreciate what a narrow escape you had. That woman has the tem- yer of a fiend. Look at these scratches on my face. She did that to me at the break- fast-table this morning because I spilled some coffee on the tablecloth. And look et this lump on the back of my head. She threw a bronze figure at me yesterday be- cause I smoked a cigarette in the parlor. ‘“T thought I was the most fortunate man in the world when she came down-town that morning and told me that her engage- ment to you was off and that she was will- ing to reconsider the offer of marriage I had made her,” he continued bitterly. ‘“ TI was so afraid that she might change her mind that I hustled her right out to the City Hall and had the knot tied. That THE ARGOSY. was the biggest mistake I ever made in my life. We hadn’t been married two days before she began to show herself in her true colors. “Ana those terrible children of hers! The minute we were married she tele- graphed to have them sent on. Even if the mother had been all that she seemed, those vicious brats woukl have been enough to drive a man from home.” Barnes glanced wistfully toward the recruiting tent. “ Do you suppose there’s any chance of their teking me? My feet aren’t so very flat and I can see pretty well with glasses.” Blandish frowned reflectively. ‘““ Can it be possible,” he muttered, “ that 2 woman with a face like that—”’ The other interrupted him with a hollow laugh. ““Ffer face!” he groaned. ‘‘ That was the bitterest disappointment of all. Most of it comes off when she goes to bed. Even that wonderful red hair of hers is placed on the dressmg table when she retires for the night. Say! If they turn me down as a sofdier, is there any chance of my getting a Flace in the ambulance corps?” Thus it came about that when on the following Saturday — visitors’ day — Nella came to the encampment with a party of friends and chanced to encounter Private Howard Blandish, that young woman was agreeably surprised at the cordiality of the latter’s greeting. ‘IT didn’t suppose that you could ever fergrve me,” the girl said in an undertone. ‘“‘ It makes me miserable every time I think of the part I played in your—your mis- forte: * Don’t let it worry you. Perhaps it Was all for the best,’”’ the good-looking infantry- man responded resignedly. He paused, and his gaze rested wistfully on her pretty face. ‘By the way,” he remarked. “Tf still have that locket—and it’s empty. I threw away that lock of black hair. I wonder if I—if you would be generous enough to come to the rescue again.”’ “You want another lock of auburn hair?” said Nella, her color deepening. “Tf it’s all the same to you,” he replied uneasily, ‘“* I'd rather have a picture this time!” comicbool< CO