Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-10-18

in a thousand annoyances in the
office.
However, in love. as in war, it is the
unexpected that often happers Joe
Redbolt proposed, and was refused
point blank.
Now most men. when they see a
dangerous rival put out of court, bury
their animosity and even become gen.
erous.
But this was not the case with Fred
Dewhurst. Hetty annoyances devel-
oped rapidly into daily insults. until
the morning, as we have seen, he had
found an excuse 10 cut lis former
fcnool fellow adrift.
H.
Joe Redbolt picked up the pile OF
coins, counted them deliberately and
put them in his pocket.
"Now, Fred Dewhurst," he said
huskily, 1--WE are no longer master and
man. so that can say what | think"
Dewhurst looked rather alarmed,
and drew a small silver bell nearer to
his side.
"0h, don't be frightened" said Joe,
with smile of establishment. I'm
not going to thrash you'll 1t wouldn't
be fair to nit a man your size."
Mr.. Dewhurst tried to sneer, but
only looked nightly relieved.
81 want to tell you what | think OF
you" said Joe.
go onl" said Dewhurst, with a
grin. Seeing that you've had the
worst of il all through, l suppose /
mustn't mind a few spiteful words!"
II want to tell you you're the mean
est cad I've met, and If that poor girl
marries you I'm sorry for her!"
"In fact, you're so sorry" said Dew
hurst, that you'd even marry her
yourself! Capitall Ana, now you've
said enough, I'll wish you good
morning"
With a mighty effort Of self
restraint Joe pulled Lin elf together,
and, resisting the impulse to knock
him down, swung out Of the room.
He had lost everything girl he
loved and the means of earning his
living. He was alone in the world,
with no prospect but that Of com.
mencing life again in some counting
house, and-then suddenly he re-
membered Only two nights before
he had attended drill at the headquar.
tiers Of his volunteer corps. The men
| had been asked which of them wished
to join the c. l. V. for the front. He
thought of the glow that had burnt
through his veins, how he had longed
to offer himself, and had only been
prevented by his feeling of oblga-
ton to his old friends business. Now
he was freel
That settled il. Old England was in
need of help from men such as he.
He was as sound as a bell in wind
and limb; he had done his turn at
volunteering and could shoot more
than a little.
Within half an hour his name was
entered as one of those who were
ready for service at the front, and he
was ordered TO go before the doctor
That gentleman laughed at him.
'If we get ] 400 men as fit as you
are" he said, 1--WE shall do welll"
Having successfully passed all the
tests, and been duly enrolled as one
of the city of London imperial vol
unteer corps, he felt slightly easier
in his mind.
At last the final moment came. He
had attended the service at ST. Pau
| and sung the national anthem until
he was hoarse. He had been slapped
on the back by hundreds of warm
hearted but heavv-burdened citizens
He had even fought his way success.
fully through a mob of enthusiastic
patriots all the way from Bunhill
Row 10 Nine Elms, where he was one
Of the first TO arrive.
l. There stood the train waiting 10
take them 10 Southampton. There,
too. stood the long-suffering band, and
every minute groups of breathless,
excited men in khaki, who had also
fought their way through the crowd,
rushed onto the platform.
OF course il was all over. There
was nothing TO be done but get into
the train and say good-by TO old Lon
don for months-perhaps forever.
Once more a gloomy sense of loneli-
ness came upon him. Everybody else
had chum or a relative to see him
/ off. And then-an angel came from
heaven? Not quite! But an earth
ly angel appeared, in the shape of a
slight form in a long black cloak,
who was pushing her way feverishly
through the crowd, eagerly scam
ming the faces of the gentlemen in
| khaki"
Then their eyes met, and in a min
ute he was elasping in his arms the
girl who had refused him a month be-
fore and in whose presence he had
always been so shy that he had never
dared to press her hand.
How had it happened? There seemed
no need-and certainly no time-for
explanations. Why had he accepted
her foolish NO" when she never