Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-05-15

Flag at Home and Abroad what diff
ference does it make to you? I'll prom
Use not to get drunk II that's what you
Philippines, I'll settle down all right.
So
'Landlord. I'LL the flowing bowl
Until it doth run over,
For tonight we'll merry, merry be;
Tomorrow We'll get sobeE!'
Willis began to sing as Edward irreso-
lutely stood facing him, wondering II
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,
did not have any convictions deep
enough on any Christian basis to plead
with Willis from any other standpoint
than one of moral expediency. After
he had, as he thought, done his duty
In urging the love Of Willis mother
upon him as a motive, no other argu-
ment or motive appealed to him, and
he let Willis go 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 discfpleship 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
few days and then going direct from
there to join his regiment in San Fran
cisco.
EYES," replied Edward shortly.
II didn't make much disturbance,
did 1?'' asked Willis gayly. Didn't
lar in the coal bin, did II"
Edward did not answer, and Willis
went on packing his things. After
quite a silence he said, with the alb
ruptness that sometimes marked his
usual careless indifference:
1--WE 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 l never
come back, think of me at my best in
stead Of my worst, will you, and I'll
do the same by you:"
1t was the only serious word that
Edward heard from Willis before the
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 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 a 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 tc
him, and Edward eagerly adopted it
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 proportionate repre-
sentation. Edward was elected will
two others to represent the sopho
more class. Talking over the matter
with the president a day or two later
the president asked Edward If he ha6
ever written very much.
mo, sir. used to do a little scrib
! bling at home on the farm winter even
ings, but that's ALL"
Ever had any of it printed in the pa
pers or anywhere"
"No, sir" replied Edward, smiling
some to think Of the impossibility Of
. such thing.
(TO BE CONTINUED.