The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1916-08-31

George Wagstaff told him. AS man
who was high In the councils of his
country. Sir George did indeed hear
the young mans declaration with
something bordering upon alarm. as
we'll as mere disapproval. II other
En.lish youths should take the same
attitude as Guys. he foresaw endless
trouble for the recruiting stations.
"Tf were shot" Guy retorted. u
suppose the fact that | could say,
Now, Sir George Is not ashamed OF
me- would ease the pain bit? :.
No. thank you! | tell you. II worse
comes to worst, I shall sail for Cuba"
At that his mother approached him
much as she must have when ms
small boy he had been guilty OF naugh-
tiness. she thought It high time to
assert her authority.
Guy" she said, ~ forbid you to
talk like that"
"Oh. now, mother" he remons
strated
81 think he's spoofng." Charlie
Brown told them, as quick to adopt
new word as he was to detect signs OF
sbamming on Guys part. "lf war
comes, bet he'll go to the front. He's
like the rest Of you English-halt
ashamed to say what he really feels"
The embarrassed Guy faced hlm
sheepishly.
"oh, I say-that's all swankr' he re-
monstrated.
".Swankr That's a good word!
Charlie Brown exclaimed. I'm going
to take that back to America, too"
And then, returning to the subject or
their conversation, who was man1fest-
" III at ease, Mr.. Brown continued,
"Once you do touch Guy on the raw
of his patriotism he'd go through and
20 through big"
~ think Mr.. Brown is right" Street
man declared at was only two months
ago at the Ritz in Paris that met
1 young English officer. We got to chat
ting. He seemed very down lin the
month-some trouble over girl; he'd
been Tilted, or hadn't enough money to
propose, or she'd married someone else
usual sort of thing, so | paid no at
tention to the incident. But one night,
walking along the Champs Elysees,
man ahead of me suddenly turned
aside behind one of the trees. Silhouet-
ted against the moonlight | saw his
hand go to his pocket, as If to draw
revolver | ran up to him, and seized
the pistol 1t was my young
English friend. l dare say the moon
had gone to his head. He was quite
Internationally started to struggle
with me at first. We stood there for
an hour talking. I'd taken quite
fancy to him. 1t seemed such waste
of good material for him to kill him
self; but he was quite firm. Finally,
appealed to him as an English officer
in his majesty's service. Some day his
country might need him told him
and he wouldn't be there, because he
was coward-a traitor That
hit him. pressed the point. And
eventually he gave me his word"
They had all listened eagerly to
Streetman's vivid recital
"Did he keep his word?" Ethel asked.
II don't know! I've never seen him
since; but he's the sort Of man who
would. merely mention the incident
to show that when nothing else count
ed, his country did. And most men
are like that" Streetman added. as he
patted Guy Falconer on.the back.
Somehow, Guy resented the familiar
ity. But he merely moved away. SO
far as be knew, Streetman was de-
cent enough chap. But he did not rel
ish being patronized by him.
All at once Sir George Wagstaf no.
ticed for the first time that the after
noon light was fast fading. Looking
at his watch. he rose hastily.
"By lover he said, "I'd no idea 1t
was so late. shall have to be getting
back to the admiralty"
81 must be leaving. too" Streetman
announced.
$50 must l." said Charlie Brown.
"Good-by, Miss Willoughby"
"Oh, don't you hurry off, too" Ethel
protested. "Stay and have one more
cup of tear In some inexplicable way
she felt drawn toward the outspoken
American. And she could not avoid
the impression that they were destined
to know each other better.
81 can't resist you" he said, yielding
at once to her cordial urging. And he
accepted another cup of tea.
Sir George and Streetman were al
ready at the door when Charlie Brown
called after the older man:
"If there's any news of your feet for
publication. Sir George, you'll letIme
know"
"Surely, surelyP' came the good-na-
tured answer. And with that Sir
Conrno left them accnmna MED hY