The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-04-18
and drew small silver bell near to his

and drew small silver bell near to his
side.
"Oh, don't be frightened" said Joe,
with smile of amusement. I'm not
going TO thrash you! 1t wouldn't be
fair to hit man of your slze,'
Mr.. Dewhurst tried to sheer, but only
looked nightly relieved.
81 want to tell you what think of
YOU" said Joe.
Go on" said Dewhurst, with grin.
Seeing that you've had the worst of
1t all through, l suppose | mustn't
mind few spiteful words"
Il want to tell you that you're the
meanest cad I've met, and IL 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. Capltal And. now you've
said enough, I'll wish you good morn
ing"
With 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 nights before 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.
b.a 10 fhnntpht nf
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 us he. He
was as sound rs n bell in wind and
limb. He had done his turn ut voun-
teering and could shoot more than
little.
Within half an hour his name was
entered as one of those who We're ready
for service at the front, and he was or
dered TO go before the doctor.
That gentleman laughed at him.
"If we get 400 men as fiji as you
are" he said, 1--WE shall do welll'
Having successfully passed all the
tests and been duly enrolled rs 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 Il
man firmly believes that there is no.
body to grieve oyer him and finds a
morbid pleasure in the prospect of n
soldiers grave.
Most of us get these attacks of de.
spondeney some time in our lives, and,
TO tell the truth, 1t lasted very short
time with Joe Redbolt. After few
days of hard drill lie had lost sight of
the possibility of getting killed and
was looking forward TO making things
ms unpleasant as possible for the enc
my.
At last the final moment came. He
| had attended the services at st. Paufs
and sung the national anthem untll he
was hoarse. He had been slapped on
| the back by hundreds of warm hearted
but heavy handed citizens lie had
| even fought his way successfully
through II 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 GREATNESS, eX-
cited men In khaki. who had also
. Il
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 II gloomy sense of loneliness 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 earthly angel appeared
In the shape of n slight form in n 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 n minute
he was elaspng In his arms the girl
who had refused him month before
and In whose presence he had always
been SO shy that he had never yet
dared to press her hand.
How had 1t happened? There seemed
no need, and certainly no time, for cx-
plantations. Why had he accepted her
foolish mo- when she never meant
him to? She always thought he would
speak 10 her again. Why had he been
so awkward and brusque in the way
he had asked herr lie had given her
no chance to say yes" Aud 1t was
only last night she had learned what
had happened from Dewhursts own
llps--and she had cried all night at the
mischief she had done, and would he
forgive her? And did he still care for
her little bltf
"Take your seats, there" roared an
officer
II was not the time for mock mod
esty. With her arms around his neck
and tear stained checks pressed to his,
she promised TO wait for him.
God bless you" he whispered.
"And bring you back to me-" she an
gwered
And then, With cheers and whistles
and the band playing God Save the
Queen" and men shouting aud laugh
Ing and crying, the train moved out,
and the Clty's Own was en- route for
the front Answers.
Gambling.
Mrs. Grecn-They do say that Mr..
Slyder CANDLES Isn't 1t awful?