Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-08-06
6be
Empty Sleeve
An Episode of the European
War.
By MARTHA v. MONROE.

In oxford circus, London, and was
met at the cab door by a tall, athletic
looking man in a cutaway coat anS
silk hat. The gentleman looked about
him for another vehicle, but, not see
ing any, said to the young soldier:
Perhaps If we happen to be going
the same way we can both use the
cab"
I'm going to Westminster abbey"
"And l go to Downing street. That
will be very little out of the way If al
all. Get In"
The youngster entered the cab, fol
lowed by the other, who first gave
some directions that the soldier did
not hear.
Are you a resident of London?' ask
ed the young man by way of opening
conversation.
81 am"
am a stranger. I'm from Canada
came over with the troops that land
ed the other day. I've got leave fol
the day to go sightseeing. l shall take
In the abbey first"
you'll find it very interesting"
by the bye, you, being a Londoner
can perhaps tell me how to get to this
place." And he handed the gentleman
sitting beside him a paper on which
was written the name of a suburban
town.
"To go there you take the Padding
NH IL 1s-Na TTogI
know"
~ can't go today, | have so much to
see. When l go back to Montreal-ii
l live through the war-everybody will
ask me, Have you seen this and have
you seer that in London? and | DOM
want to say | haven't. So | told the
young lady who lives at that address
she must come to camp to see me In.
stead of my taking up the time granted
me for leaves to go out of town IN a
railway
(Which means that you are engaged
to herr"
That's just what it does mean. She
was brought up in Canada. Her ia.
Their came to England a year ago
When the war broke out and you fel'
lows over here called on us Canadians
to help you out thought it would be
a good opportunity to come over and
see her. So | enlisted"
The gentleman cast a side glance al
his companion, but said nothing.
do you think 1t will be much OF q
fght?" aslsed the youngster.
"a very big fight"
well, | don't mind seeing some serv.
ice. I dare say it will be a valuable
experience. OF course l don't want to
get killed. Gladys-I mean Miss Ark.
right; she's my ~ianeee. you know-she
don't like the idea
"Arkright?" interrupted the gentle.
man-"Samuel Arkright's d%aughter?"
Eyes. Do you know him?'
"Quite we'll"
my name is Glover-James Glover
Of the -th Canadian foot. | suppose
you have met my iancee?"
"Oh, yea, | know Gladys Albright"
mice girl, isn't she?" looking up
wistfully for the strangers approval
of the girl he loved.
GLADYS Is a lovely girl"
By this time the cab had stopped
and the gentleman got out.
ITO the abbey" he said to the cab.
man, handing him the fare, then to
the Canadian: Much obliged for &C.
~commodating me. When you see
Gladys give her my love-"
who shall | say?"
But before the other could reply he
was buttonholed by d man. and as he
entered tho building for which he was
headed half a dozen others surrounded
him.
Private james Glover visited West.
minister abbey. the Tower of London
and various other sights. Wherever he
was recognized as a Canadian soldier
ne met with kindly greetings. Every
inquiry he made was responded to with
alacrity. and an old gentleman of sew.
enty volunteered to take him to see
several curiosities of which he had not
heard. When he returned to camp he
was informed that his regiment would
De moved the next day to a channel
port to be carried to France. He had
narely time to write a brief goodby to
MS sweetheart before he turned in for
the night and was up before the sun
the next morning.
Young Glover found the trenches In
deed an experience. Having come
from a cold climate, he stood winter
weather fairly well. His introduction
10 natural war was like that Of most
other men who for the first time listen
ed to the din of battle. He was bad
y scared. But they were making vet
Grams rapidly in those days, and the
canadian soon got that control of
himself which marks the difference be-
tween a raw recruit and a veteran.
Ihen, too, when in the thick Of it he
lost consciousness Of everything but
what he and his comrades were do
ing. When he shot at the enemy he
M