Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-11-06

Ahb AoI uuf
IF We lose them Wen never get
them back. Better die than be beaten!"
Herbert Stransky. with deep-set
eyes, slightly squirting inward, and a
heavy jaw. an enormous man who was
the best shot in the company when
he cared to be, had listened in silence
to the others, his rather thick but ex-
pressive lips curving with cynicism.
His only speech all the morning had
been in the midst of the reception in
the public square of the town when he
said:
This homecoming doesn't mean
much to me. Home? He'll! The
hedgerows of the world are my home!"
He appeared older than his years,
and hard and bitter. except when his
eyes would light with a feverish sort
Of fire which shone as he broke into
lull in the talk.
Comrades" he began.
Let us hear from the Socialist" a
Tory exclaimed.
mo, the anarchist" shouted a So
cialist.
There won't be any war!" said
Stransky, his voice gradually rising to
the pitch Of an agitator relishing the
sensation of his own words. Patriot
ism is the played-out trick of the ruling
classes to keep down the proletariat.
There won't be any war! Why? Be-
cause there are too many enlightened
men on both sides who do the worlds
work. We of the SD are a pro-
vincial lot, but throughout our army
there are thousands upon thousands
like me. They march, they drill, but
when battle comes they will refuse
to f1ght-my comrades in heart, to
whom the flag of this country means
no more than that of any other coun-
try!"
Hold on! The flag is sacred!"
cried the bankers son.
Eyes, that will dol"
Shut up!"
Other voices formed a chorus of
angry protest.
Il knew you thought It; now I've
caught you'll" This from the sergeant,
who had seen hard fighting against
a savage foe in Africa and there
fore was particularly bitter about
the Bodlapoo affair. The welt of a
scar on the gaunt, fever-yellowed
cheek turned a deeper red as he seized
Stransky by the collar Of the blouse.
Stransky raised his free hand as II
to strike, but paused as he faced the
company's boyish captain, slender OF
figure, aristocratic of feature. His In
dignation was as evident as the ser
geant's, but he was biting his lips to
keep it under control
"You heard what he said, sir?"
"The latter part-enough!"
Its mediation to mutiny! An ex
ample!"
yes, put him under arrest"
The sergeant still held fast to the
collar Of Stransky's blouse. Stransky
could have shaken himself free, as g
mastiff frees himself from a puppy
he had not yet made up his mind tc
go that far. His muscles were weaving
under the sergeant's grip, his eyes
glowing as with volcanic fire waiting
on the madness of impulse for erup
ton.
81 wonder If 1t Is really worth while
to put him under arrest?" said some
one at the edge of the group in amiable
inquiry.
The voice came from an officer Of
about thirty-ive, who apparently hat
strolled over from nearby aeroplane
station to look at the regiment. From
his shoulder hung the gold cords Of
the staff. 1t was Col. Arthur Lanstron
whose plane had skinned the Gal
lands garden wall for the "easy
bump" ten years ago. There was some
thing more than mere titular respect
in the way the young captain saluteG
admiration and the diffident, boyist
glance of recognition which does moi
presume to take the lead in recalling
slight acquaintance with a man o.
distinction.
'Dellarme! It's all of two years
since we met at Miss Galland's, ism
it?" Lanstron said, shaking hands witt
the captain.
Eyes, just before we were ordered
SOUTH" said Dellarme, obviously
pleased to be remembered.
81 overheard your speech" Lanstror
continued, nodding toward Stransky
1T was very informing"
A crowd of soldiers was now press
ing around Stransky, and in the from
rank was Grandfather Fragini.
Said our flag was no better'n any
other flag, did he?" piped the old man
BEAT him to pulp! That's what the
Hussars would have done"
"If you don't mind telling it in pub
lie, Stransky, should like to know
your origin" said Lanstron, prepared
to be as considerate of an anarchists
private feelings as Of anybody's.
Stransky squinted his eyes down the
bony bridge of his nose and grinneC