The midland journal., 1916-10-27

we're not ready-n0t the least readyl
We shall need every man"
His remark brought home to Larry
Redmond realization Of the way in
which the situation applied to himself.
"Then. in some ways, it's good I'VE
come back" he commented. II must
report at once"
Guy Falconer turned TO him with un-
bounded enthusiasm lighting up his
young face.
'T'll go with your he cried. 'Ts it
too late to enlist tonight7"
'T'm afraid so," Larry said.
Guys words struck his mother with
a quick chill Of fear. She rose hastily
from her seat and going fearfuliy up
to her son, laid supplicating hand up
on his arm.
"But, Guy, you're not going to the
WARP" she said with a catch in her
voice
"Why, of course am, mother!'
"Of course he Isl" Georgy Wagstaff
repeated after him.
"But, Guy-you said you wouldn't
fightr' his mother reminded him trem-
ulously. Her feelings had undergone
sudden change.
II know" he said, putting his hand
upon hers soothingly. "But that was
when didn't believe there would be
war. And now that it's come, /
couldn't stay home I couldn't!'
THAT'S the spirit, my boyw Sir
George told him with renewed trust
in British manhood.
"But, Guy-you mustn't! couldn't
let you got' she told him brokenly.
He was sorry for her. And yet there
was an unwonted sternness in Guys
face as he said:
Mother, you don't want me to be a
coward?"
"But, my boy, you're all I've got in
the world! You're the only thing I've
leftv' And then she took him in her
arms and sobbed. To her had come
only a little more quickly than to
other English mothers the renunciation
that war demands of lowly and high
alike.
"Don't cry, mother, please-don'tw
Uuy S11u SGully. xOu kuOW L We HOL
to go. I'll come back all right"
"Of course he WILL" said Georgy.
Sand then I'll marry him" Guy had
all at once assumed new proportions in
her eyes. She had always been fond
Of him, from the time they were girl
and boy together. But she had never
taken him quite seriously. Now, how
ever, she saw that Guy was a man,
and that he intended to play mans
part in the approaching struggle. And
in that moment Georgy knew that he
was more than worthy Of her.
A new light shone in Guys eyes as
he turned to the girl.
"Will you really?' he asked. "You
hear that, mother? Why, that alone is
worth going to the front for-and I'll
get v. @. and be hero and we'll live
happily ever after"
OF such is the rosy optimism of
youth.
Georgy Wagstaf placed her hands
in his.
For once, you dear old thing,
can't argue with you" she said. And
though she smiled at him, she had diff
fculty in keeping back her tears.
Guy Faleoner stood very erect as he
took his mother by the hand. He saw
women in a new light now-saw and
recognized the sacrifices they had In
eyitably to make in life's battles, since
the beginning Of time.
"Come on, motherr' he said gravely.
sTake me to the barracks"
my son, I'm proud of you" she
half whispered, as she looked up at
him through her tears.
$50 am Iv' added Georgy Wagstaff.
She had acquired all at once new
sense of proprietorship in Guy. "You'll
write meT' she asked him.
"Every dayp he promised eagerly.
"And you-you will be careful.
won't you, Guy?" his mother besought
him, with her hands upon his shoul-
ders.
''Of course, I'll be careful"
And then they had gone-Mrs. Fal-
coner and Georgy, hanging desperately
to him who was dearest Of the whole
world to them.
Sir George Wagstaff turned to the
others with an air of unaffected pride.
There's the true Englishmanw he
said.
"And there'll be hundreds thou
sands. like him-the flower of our coun-
try. who won't come back" Ethel said
slowly. "Oh, it's too terriblev' The
little tragedy had touched her to the
quick. Beside 1t her own troubles
seemed momentarily dwarfed.
Eyes, it is terrible" Sir George
agreed. He had no illusions as to
what war meant for England
~ must go at once to the war Office"
Captain Redmond announced hurried
~. And he shook hands with Miss Will
loughby. "Good-by, Ethelr' he said in
tone that was far more sober than
was customary for him.
"I must return to the admiralty''