The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-08-14
ind drew q small silver bell near to his

going to thrash you! 1t wouldn't be
fair to hit a man of your size!
Mr.. Dewhurst tried to sneer, but only |
looked nightly relieved.
Il want to tell you what 1 think Of |
you," said Joe.
go on" said Dewhurst, with grin. |
sSeeing that you've had the worst Of |
It all through, suppose I mustn't |
mind few spiteful wordsv'
81 want to tell you that you're the |
meanest 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. Capital! And, now you've
said enough, I'll wish you good morn
ing"
With a mighty effort of self re-
straint, Joe pulled himself together,
and, resisting the impulse to knock him
down, swung out of the room.
He had lost everything-the girl he
loved and the means of earning his
living. He was alone in the world,
with no prospect but that Of commenc-
ing life again in some counting house.
and Then suddenly he remembered.
Only two nightssbefore he had attend
ed drill at the headquarters Of his vol
unteer corps. The men had been ask
ed which of them wished to join the c..
I. v. for the front. He thought of the
glow that had burned through his
veins, how he had longed to offer him
self and had only been prevented by
his feeling of obligation to his old
friends business. Now he was free!
That settled it. 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 volun-
teering and could shoot more than
little.
Within half an hour his name was
entered as one of those who were ready
for service at the front, and he was or
dered to 60 before the doctor.
That gentleman laughed at him.
eff we get 1,4OO men as ft as you
are" he said, I'VE shall do well!'
Having successfully passed all the
tests and been duly enrolled as one Of
the City of London Imperial volunteer
corps, he felt slightly easier in his
mind.
1t must be confessed that he was in
that pleasant frame Of mind when
man firmly believes that there is no.
body to grieve over him and finds
morbid pleasure in the prospect Of
soldiers grave. !.
Most Of us get these attacks Of de-
spondency some time in our lives, and,
ALI ~, voC "a n mh nvpt
time with Joe Redbolt. After a few
days of hard drill he had lost sight of
the possibility of getting killed and
was looking forward to making things
as unpleasant as possible for the enc
my.
At last the final moment came. He
had attended the services at st. Paups
and sung the national anthem until he
was hoarse. He had been slapped on
the back by hundreds Of warm hearted
but heavy handed citizens. He had
even fought his way successfully
through a mob of enthusiastic patriots
all the way from Bunhill row to Nine
Elms, where he was one Of the first to
| arrive.
There stood the train waiting to take
| them to Southampton. There, too,
stood the long suffering band. and
| every minute groups of breathless, ex-
cited men in khaki. who had also
fought their way through the crowd.
rushed on to the platform.
OF course it was all over. There was
| nothing to be done but get into the
train and say goodby to old London
for months-perhaps forever. Once
more gloomy sense Of loneliness came
| upon him. Everybody else had chum
or a relative to see him of. And then
an angel came from heaven? Not
quite. But an earthly angel appeared
in the shape of a slight form in a long,
black cloak, who was pushing her way
feverishly through the crowd, eagerly
scanning the faces Of all the gentle
| men in khaki"
Then their eyes met, and in a minute
he was clasping in his arms the girl
who had refused him a month before
and in whose presence he had always
been SO shy that he had never yet
dared to press her hand.
How had it happened? There seemed
no need, and certainly no time, for ex
plantations. Why had he accepted hel
foolish mo" when she never meant
him to? She always thought he would
speak to her again. Why had he beer
SO awkward and brusque In the way
he had asked her? He had given bel
no chance to say "yes." And it was
only last night she had learned wha1
had happened-from Dewhursts OWL
lips-and she had cried all night at the
mischief she had done, and would h,
forgive her? And did he still care fol
her little bit?
"Take your seats, there!' roared al
officer.
1t was not the time for mock mod
esty. With her arms around his necl
and tear stained cheeks pressed to his
she promised to wait for him.
"God bless your he whispered.
"And bring you back to me-" she an
swered.
And then, with cheers and whistles
and the band playing "God Save th'
Queen" and men shouting and laugh
ing and crying, the train moved out
and the City's Own was en- route 70
the front.-Answers.
Gambling.
Mrs. Green-They do say that Mr.
Slyder CANDLES. Isn't it awful?
Mrs. Gray-I should say it was. Why
>