Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08

morning..
II disapprove entirely Of such meth
ods." doomed Mr.. Pollock. TT man
cannot or will not hear his country's
call he must either be able to give
a reasonable excuse to his friends or
be prepared to sacrince tneir . e sses,n,..
intention. "Impertinent young women
have no right to force such explAna-
tons by employing enblems OF cow
ardice."
Myrtle. how the white feather came
by its Significance"
You had better ask Mr.. Brent" re-
piled Mr.. Pollock grimly.
Molly. who was not so ABSORBED Win
her conversation with Percy as not 70
hear what was going on. gave low
toned, reproachful Father" Mr.. Pol
lock only grunted.
I'D tell you like a shot II ! could.
Miss Myrtle" said Brent politely But
/ haven't the foggiest idea. never
was any good at history. but I have
vague notion that 1t is connected win
the Black Prince. who wore one IN ms
helmet and said something about his
white plume shining"
replied the Myrtle. who had been .
eoyerness in her day BLACK Prince
indeed! Or Henry of Navarro for that
matter either, though suppose It's ne
you are thinking Of They were oo.n
very brave men. 1t can have no con-
nection with them"
Don't think I'm sticking myself up
as an authority" put in Mrs Lee.
pleasantly. but, as a matter OF fact. I
think I can tell you. I came came across
the explanation the other day.
Indeed" said Mr.. Pollock, all po-
likeness.
Yes: 1t dates from the time when
cock fighting was a fashionable sport.
A white feather is never seen IN a
pedigree gamecock. Its presence indl-
Gates a bird Of baser breed
"Dear me, dear me-" said Mr.. Pol
lock. Most interesting, I'm sure.
And" continued Mrs. Lee. still more
sweetly, "even today you Will find that
the cock with the most arrogant strut
and loudest crow has generally Wnite
feather in its tail o. by the way, Mr..
po1lock didn't YOU get one this morn
ing?"
Get what?" asked Mr.. Pollock. 81
don't understand"
"a white feather"
me, me" Between toast and in
dignation Mr.. Pollock positively splu,-
lineton has sufficient remnants OF good
taste left to respect my years
"Your years, Mr.. Pollock?' cried Mrs
Lee. But why should she know what
, they are? Nothing would be easier
than for YOU to conceal them"
"You fiatter me. I'm sure" said Mr.
po,iock hut looking far from pleased.
mo. no: not at ALL" persisted Miriam
1T didn't mean it that way: But heaps
Of men with a fine youthful const i!
tion like yours have managed to mislay
their birth certificates in a spirit OF
} patriotic enthusiasm"
Eyery one else had stopped talking
and was listening to this little alterca-
ton. conducted with such apparent po-
|; likeness. Molly,s face was husnea l,,, she ne
Mrs. Lee for diverttng attention from
Chris or to be angry with her Tor palt-
: ing Mr.. Pollock. Her personal distrust
Of Mrs Lee supplying tine sne
Mr. Pollock pulled himself together
my dear Mrs. Lee" he began. there
is nobody. I assure you. nobody who
| readily than should II 1t were only
possible But unfortunately I have
great responsibilities of private ma
ture which even IL. as you 30 kindly
than I am. would not permit mo to-
we'll, to risk my life on the battlefield
You are prepared to give me details
Of those responsibilities" Persisted
Mrs. Lee.
my dear madam began Mr.. Pollock.
genuinely indignant.
Don't think me impairment" said
Miriam. IT didn't expect you would be
s sesF tG heme to you ths aes that
are quite a number of men. besides
! yourself. who have responsibilities
: which they cannot reveal to the world,
but which are more than sufficient to
, justify them in staying at home" She
spoke quietly. but with an almost pas
? sionate conviction which must have
struck on her own ears. for she sud
denly gave a little laugh. "Ah. well.
, we are being very serious over nothing
at all" she said what have you been
doing with yourself all this afternoon:
Mr.. Pennicuik? You are our chief
source of interest, you know. I have
been admfring your uniform all tea
time"
: Now you are making fun Of me. Mrs
|. Lee" protested Pennicuik, though.