The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-01-17

read the few lines stating the fact Of
the disaster, and after waiting little
longer he hurried up college hill.
The news had already reached the
college. Willis was declaimng excit-
edly to n group out on the steps Of the
hall as Edward came up.
This means war, | tell you! John
ME, get your gun. Well blow Havana
sky high. No more Havana cigars for
me. Give me home production. Prob
ably that's what we've been using all
the time. anyway, for labels are cheap;
but down with the Spanish anyhow
And Willis began to sing a song that
had been recently composed by one or
the seniors beginning:
ooh, Cuba, the land that ought to be free,
We're ready to fight for thy liberty!'
The rest of the fellows came in on
the chorus, and soon all the students
living in the hall came out and joined
In the excitement.
That night Willis told Edward that
he had positively made up his mind to
enlist If war was declared. Like every
other student in Hope college, Edward
was tremendously excited over the
prospect, and for awhile he almost
yielded to Willis appeal to go with
him.
"I'll write mother and see how she
feels about it," Edward replied, and
next day he wrote telling her frankly
that he would really Like to enlist In
case war was declared.
His mother wrote back letter that
touched him deeply.
If 1t was best for his country's good
or for the welfare Of an oppressed peo-
pie she was willing that he should go.
But she left it entirely with him to de-
eide on the ground of duty and that
alone.
He read the letter to Willis, and they
had long talk over it.
81 can't say that feel as l think a
man ought to feel about going to war;"
Edward would say, his slow but care
full habit Of weighing every action con-
trasting strangely with Willis indiffer
ent settlement of his incllnations.
"You think too much" replied Will
lis, with his usual careless habit. 1.-THE
way to get along in this world is not to
think any to speak Of"
Nevertheless as spring came on and
every day prophesied more certainly of
war Edward Blake could not help
thinking, and when on April Is con-
gress passed the Cuban intervention
resolution and Immediately war was
definitely declared Edward was still
undecided.
Willis had written to his mother, and
she replied with letter that was SIM
ply beseeching appeal to her son not
to enlist. He replied to 1t, using all his
responsiveness, and he had great deal
when he chose to exercise it. and his
mother finally gave her consent.
He'showed Edward a part of the let
ter, and before the week was out he
had joined a regiment Of volunteers,
one company of which was composed
Of students of different educational in
stitutions In the state. There were 10
volunteer students from Hope, and as
the day drew near for their departure
for their southern camp grounds the
entire student body showed an interest
never before known in the college.
Up to the very last day that 1t was
possible to enlist Edward Blake was in
doubt as to what he ought to do. Ev-
cry day he had long talks with Willis,
who urged him almost pathetically to
go with him. But when the last day Of
enlistment came Edward decided to
stay in college. Willis did not try to
conceal his disappointment.
"Who's to look after my morals in
the armyY" he asked, and there was a
noticeable absence Of his old hippancy
as he asked the question.
you'll have to look after them your
SELF" Edward replied truthfully. New
ertheless he could not help feeling that
the army life for young man like Will
lis would probably present temptations
that would draw him farther away
from all right conduct than he had
even yet been enticed.
1t was this same evening that Ed.
ward received a surprise from Willis
that had good deal to do with after
events as they came on in the college
life of both himself and Freeda.
Willis had come up to the college
room on leave of absence from the
temporary camp that had been estab-
lished near Raynor. The two were In,