Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-05-18

| "A"A"AVAkA*A*A
I'm afraid you WON'T" saIo ruwuru
sorrowfully. "There's verse some
where in the Bible that says, AT the
end You know the rest as well az
l do"
Il know, Bitch like a SERPENT
Oh, pshaw! What's the use of borrow.
Ing trouble for the future? It's the last
good time I'll have with the boys,
When get into active service in the
Philippines, III settle down oil right.
So
Landlord, fill the flowing bowl
Until it doth run over,
For tonight we'll merry. merry be;
Tomorrow We'll get sober!''
Willis began to sing as Edward irreso-
lutely stood facing him, wondering if
there was any influence strong enough
to make Willis see his danger.
And yet Edward himself, with all
his growing horror Of the drink evil,
enough on any Christian basis to plead
with Willis from any other standpoint
than one of moral expediency. After
be had, as he thought done his duty
In urging the love Of Willis mother
spOn him as q motive, no other argu-
ment or motive appealed to him, and
he let Willis 60 his way without hav-
ing said word to him on the side of
spiritual life. Edward could not speak
any such word because he had no per-
sonal Christian faith. He guided his
life so far by his sense of moral up
rightness. The still higher plain of
Christian discipleship was unknown to
him. If he had known it. it is posi-
ble-but that thought came afterward,
long after Willis had gone with his
regiment and was fighting in the
swamps and jungles of Luzon.
1t was very late when Willis came
in, and Edward, who was Weakened by
his entrance, felt sure he was more or
less under the influence of liquor. He
slept it off, however, and the next
morning appeared as bright and conf
dent as ever.
"Hear me come in this morning"
he asked as he began packing up his
things preparatory to his departure.
He was going home that day to spend
a few days and then going direct from
there to join his regiment in San Fran
cisco.
"Yes," replied Edward shortly.
II didn't make much disturbance,
did II" asked Willis gayly. Didn't
put my shoes in the stove and my COL
lar in the coal bin, did II"
Edward did not answer, and Willis
went on packing his things. After
quite silence he said, with the alb.
ruptness that sometimes marked his
usual careless Indifference:
"I've got the same little volume Of
poems with me. Going to take it to
Manila for good luck"
Edward was silent again. and Willis
put the volume into his grip, and after
a moment he said. Ned. If never
come back, think of me at my best in.
stead Of my worst, will you, and III
do the same by you:"
1t was the only serious word that
Edward heard from Willis before the
train started with him aboard that
afternoon. 1t touched him in spite OF
the other things that annoyed and even
angered him. When the familiar fig
ure vanished from sight that afternoon
down at the station. with the memory
of Il great crowd from the college pres
ent to see him off and shower ribbons
and flowers on him, Edward carried
back up the hill kindly and even
fearful remembrance Of the handsome.
smiling Willis. And as the distance
between them daily widened and he
pictured the dangers that awaited that
regiment in those faroff islands Ed
ward Blake, with thousands of Others
in America, wished godspeed to the
ones who had gone, while still in his
fast forming and developing mind he
had his doubts concerning the right
eousness Of the struggle there and
wondered If his increasing horror of
bloodshed and his growing dislike for
war were morbid streak In him on
account Of the great majority of col
lege opinions that were so different |
from his.
1t was at this time in his college
career, with all the excitement of these
historical events adding to the interest |
he already felt In his life since leaving
home, that Edward Blake began the |
practice Of writing. which had so much
to do with the shaping Of his mind
and the crystallizing of his thoughts.
The president suggested the idea to
him, and Edward eagerly adopted 1t.
The literary tone of the debating SO.
cieties and the college journalism was
at low point. The editors of the
monthly paper were elected every fall /
at mass meeting Of the students. and
each class had a proportionate repre-
sentation. Edward was elected with |
two others to represent the sopho-
more class. Talking over the matter
with the president day or two later,
the president asked Edward If he had
ever written very much.
mo, sir. ! used to do little scrib-
bling at home on the farm winter even
ingS but that's ALL"