Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-05-17
BLAKE
Continued From Page 8.

COuuuucu FROM rage V.
to the camp would have been any help.
But Mrs. Preston strongly dissuaded
him from coming, knowing the great
expense. and so Edward remained the
whole summer in RaynOr, as he had
planned to do. Late in August Willis
himself wrote a brief note. saying he
had made up his mind to 60 with the
state regiment to the Philippines. Mrs.
Preston in the same mail also wrote q
letter, in which she spoke Of Willis
determination not to go back to college
until he had actually done some fight
ing.
His illness has not tanned his spirit in the least
she wrote. He is as careless and Indifferent to all
things serious as he always was. The surgeon to-
day pronounced him to be in a splendid condition
Ter full recovery. If only ! could look forward to
his reenlistment with any hope that the army
discipline would make a man OF him! But what
hope can | have when | read that every wholesale
liquor house in the United States is preparing to
ship liquor by the train and steamship load to
Manila as soon as the treaty is ratified and the is
lands are ours? do not fear all the dangers and
horrors Of actual war for Willis a thousandth part
as much as ! fear the drink for him. Pray for US
again. Willis says that he has written that he
expects to be able to be in Raynor and out at
the college in September, when the term opens.
He says he is going to try to get you to go with
him. AS much as ! might wish to have you with
him ! cannot beg it Of you, knowing that the
army life at its best is demoralizing to all the
best impulses. Better far finish your college
course and then 60 out into the world to fight the
real enemies OF the republic in the shape Of greed
and selhshness and this liquor traffic, which has
both at the bottom Of it. That is my prayer for
yoa. LUCILLE PRESTON.
Edward read this letter like the first
he had received from Willis mother,
and he was moved by it almost as
deeply. He had anticipated Willis
coming with more or less anxiety on
account Of Freeda. although she had
never shown by word or letter that
she had any special interest in him.
September had come on, and the fall
term had opened, and college was fair.
ly under way again when Willis re-
turned. Edward went down to the
station to meet him. and quite a crowd
was present there.
AS they walked up the hill together
Edward was surprised to note how
well Willis looked. His enforced ILL
ness had apparently left no mark Of
weakness on him. and his bearing was
even more jaunty and careless than
ever. There was an additional mark
Of a soldierly bearing also. and, as he
wore his uniform. Edward soon began
to realize that Willis was a good deal
of a hero to the students and especial
ly to the girls. who clapped vigorously
the first time Willis came into chapel.
shoulder straps are more popular
than wings nowadays" said Willis.
with a careless laugh. Tell you. old
man, you need to enlist in order to get
popular. There's nothing like it. You
don't have to be good looking nor
know very much. Just put on a uni
form, and that will do all the rest"
Edward had difficulty in p%icturing
Willis as his mother had described
him. He wondered If he had given
up the drink and ventured to question
him about it that evening. Willis was
getting ready to so out to a little ban
quet that his old society had arranged
In his honor.
Are the boys going to serve wine
at the banquet tonight? asked Ed
ward as Willis was arranging his
toilet.
II suppose so. Champagne and a lit
tie beer perhaps"
Edward was silent a moment. Then
be went over to Willis side Of the
room Willis had put on his coat and
had made a step toward the door.
"Promise me you won't drink any
tonight. will you?" asked Edward, and
as he spoke he had in mind Mrs. Pres
tons letter. written at the bedside of
her son in that southern camp.
Willis paused. and a look Of embar-
rassment. mingled with some vexation,
appeared on his face.
1.-THE fellows will think it very queer
If | don't respond to the toast Our