Mary Roberts Rinehart

“ He indicated Sergeant Gray behind him, now shamelessly holding the hand of the general's niece.
“Why?”
“Awol,” replied the stable sergeant darkly—being military brevity for absent without leave. “And you might observe,” he added, “that he isn't in uniform.”
The girl got into the little car. Hat in hand, eyes full of many things he dared not put into words, Sergeant Gray of the Headquarters Troop of the ——th Division watched her start the car, smile into his eyes and move away. He came to at a touch on his arm. ”

“ V EARLY that afternoon the stable sergeant of the Headquarters Troop coming out of divisional headquarters saw the general approaching in a car much too small for him. Beside him sat an aide, who drove wisely but not too well. ”