The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-11-09

happy look upon her face
Fl Don't both-r DEAR she said to
!, the young fellow can put down my
own seat. There, are you quite
comfy?"
I knew instinctively that it was
the war, the awful, terrible war, that
was near me in the shape Of this
young man. and his young wife or
sister. | was not able to decide
which. | looked about the theater
ana in the stalls counted three empty
coat sleeves and two pairs of crutch-
es. They belonged to gentlemen in
evening dress, officers or possibly
me mbers of some or the swagger
regiments, home from South Africa.
In the pit and in the gallery, if |
could have seen, I doubt not I
should have found many other such
signs of the times" among the
humber classes.
I could not enjoy the play. though
it was that very fine thing of Boyle
Lawrences.
| All this week I have been keeping
my eyes open when I have walked
ABOUT London. have been counting
empty sleeves and crutches and the
mon who walk with the hating, stiff
fine motion that goes with wooden
leg. Also have | stopped and spoken
TO little children Of the poorer classes
| lit lie children who seemed to be 10 )f..
ing sad and fearful. and twice have
| been told:
yes, miss, daddy's a soldier, and
is thinkin e might get is cad
shot hoff, an so is been a-cryin'!"
Cheap mourning clothes, too, are
common. Among the English Lower
classes | have noticed that no matter
| how hungry, no matter how cold,
they somehow manage to get "black"
when a death occurs in the family,
Even the tiniest children, babies in
arms, are put into the sombre robes
at such times. So this week when |
| A''~'S AAOeASSu iietAS uISAluo Ill UldCh
dresses and black hats and with sad
eyes peeping out from under oft I'M
combed locks, have stopped and ask
ed the reason thereof. and more fire.
quently than | had though could be
possible l have been told that Daddy
| got killed in the war; MISS
Once thinking of engaging a char
woman | said to the applicant who
came in cheap, flowing widows
weeds:
Your husband is dead?"
Yes, MISS was the answer, 'he
was killed in South Africa last win.
ter. Oh, miss when the mournin'
order came out for the queen last
January, me husband was shot at the
same time, an the same mournin'
done for the queen an him, miss. that
it did
1t was only lately, too that | had
such strange, weird experience with
a young English woman acquaintance.
ohe used to come in to spend me
evening with me, and with the yoluble
uhembarrassed way that | have no.
tlced some young Englishwomen have
OF talking to the merest acuuaint-
ances OF their love affairs. she had
olten told me stories of her fiance,
VINO was young officer in South
Africa. There were times when she
used to come in to weep because AS
letters were delayed in coming and
to ask me if thought that something
might have happened to JIM"
Wen. on her last visit she went AL
most Immediately over to the piano
ana began playing and singing God
save the King" at first softly. AMI
Then little louder. till finally she
; turned to me and said: Help me sing
IL even if you are an American. will
your"
helped her. Why shouldn't y
. sincerely hope that God will save the
King, SO together we sung:
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us.
: We went all through the song to-
gether-all except one verse which
40 not like, and which | never sing
There" l said finally. laughing
that's enough patriotism for one
! night Let's sing Mrs. Emery 'Awk
ms"
But again she began. this time
: thought bit brokenly-
God save our gracious king
God save our noble king.
Then she loked at me with cold
calm eyes, ana said: 'Jim's dead!