The St. Johns herald., 1901-03-30
and drew a small silver bell nearer to

and drew small silver bell nearer t, his side.
 ''Oh, don't be frightencd!" said Joe with a smile of astonishmeut. "I'n not going to thrash you! It wouldn be fair to nit man your size!"
 MT. Dewhurst tried to sheer, but only looked nightly relieved.
 'I want to tell you what think o. you," said Joe.
 Go on!" said Dewhurst, with 2 grin. Seeing that you've had the worst of it all through. I suppose musn't mind few spiteful words. "I want to tell you you're the mean est cad I've met, and if that Pcor 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! Anu, now you've said enough, I'll wish you good morning."
 With a mighty effort of self restraint Joe pulled Lim elf together and, resisting the impulse to kncc-l him down, swung out of the room.
 He had lost everything-the girl he loved and the means of earning 5 living. He was alone in the word, with no prospect but that Of com mencing life again in some counting house, and-then suddenly he re- membered. Only two nights before he had attended drill at the heaGquar- ters of his volunteer corps. Tile ni<n had been asked which of them svisht d to join the C. I. V. for the front He thought of the glow that had burnt through his veins, how he had longed to offer himself. and had only been prevented by his feeling of obIira- tion 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 volunteering and could shoot moro than a little.
 Within half an hour his name was entered as one of those who were ready for service at the front, and he was ordered to go before the doctor.
 That gentleman laughed at hi:n.
 'If we get 1,4OO men as fit as you are," he said, i've shall do we'll"
 Having successfully passed all the tests, and been duly enrolled as one of the city of London imperial vol unteer corps, he felt slightly easier in his mind.
 At last the final moment came. He had attended the service at St. Paul and sung the national anthem until he was hoarse. He had been slapped on the back by hundreds of war-,r1- hearted but heavy-burdened citizc-s. He had even fought his way succ2-s- fully through a mob of enthusiastic patriots all the way from BunhIl Row to Nine Films, where he was enc of the first to arrive.
 There stood the train waiting 10 take them to Southampton. There. too, stood the ong-suffering band. and every minute groups of breathless, excited men in khaki, who had also fought their way through the crowd, rushed onto the platform.
 Of course it was all over There was nothing to be done but get into the train and say good-by to old Lon don for months-perhaps forever. Once more a gloomy sense of loneli- ness came upon him. Everybody else AoI oh xn off, And then-an angel came from heaven? Not quite! But an earth ly angel appeared, in the shape of T slight form in a long black cloak, who was pushing her way feverish:y through the crowd, eagerly scan ming the faces of the gentlemen in khaki"
 Then their eyes met, and in a min ute he was clasping in his arms the girl who had refused him a month be- fore and in whose presence he had always been so shy that he had never dared to press her hand.
 How had it happened? There seemed no need-and certainly no time-for Why had he accepted her foolish "No" when she never meant him to? She always thought he would speak to her again. V, 7 had he been so awkward and brusqUe in the way he had asked her? Iie had given her no chance to say Yes" And it was only last night she had learned what had happened - from Dewhurst's own lips-and she had cried all night at the mischief she had done, and would he forgive her? And did he care for her a little bit?
 "Take your seats, there," roared an officer.
 It was not the time for mock mod esty. With her arms round his neck and tear-stained cheeks pressed to his. she promised to wait for him.
 God bless you!" he whispered.
 And God bring you back to mel" she answered.
 And then. with cheers and whistles, and the band playing "God Save the Queen" and men shouting and laugh ing and crying. the train moved out. and the City's Own were en roure for the front-Blacl and White.
 Never Easy.