The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-16


girl. never can hear a word she says She
seemed very excited about something. Said
she wanted to come round.
Mrs. Cit may be about him. Some news in
| the papers haven't seen. Please please
tell me what's in It,
Mr.. G.-Nothing to do with the boy at all. you
bet your life. Somebody wants to meet me
at the club.
tHis hands are trembling and he is having some
difficulty in opening it. It out upside down.
At last he gets it right and looks at it,
Mr. G.-where are my spectacles?
Mrs. G.-Oh, Fred!
Mr. G.-Mother, don't be silly. Ethel, where
my spectacles. had 'em.
Gle gropes the table. Ethel finds them He
reads the message and hands 1t to his wifc)
Mrs. Cob. my dear father my
(The tears in her voice overwhelm her words.)
Mr. G.-There, there, there mother J..
now quiet.
(Ethel has not left the room; she is standing
awkwardy but unable to 90. by the door,
Mr.. G.--Ethel. Master Harold is in England
again. It's from him he's home on
leave he'll be back with us this morning.
That's all!
Friends later bring to the parents an illustrated
paper in which is picture Of the with the
inscription: bidding the world of the Hun. Lieu
tenant Gould accounts for six of his counrys foes.
For such magnificent work this young hero is to be
awarded medal for his distinguished services"
Rejoicing parents and friends go to the station to
meet the young soldier. Jean. Harolds sweetheart,
waits at the house. Presently Harold. who has
eluded his welcomers. comes in. Something
strange in his manner frightens and puzzles the
girl.
Harold-Look at me. ut is a commandh Look
straight at me.
Jean-Harold!
H-You are like her.
J.-IIarold!
II. with an indicating movement OF his hand
across his own forehead.)-An across there you are
and your hair the wavy bit
J.--Ilarold dear what are you talk
ing about?
H.. and your eyes terribly like Il
HIc looks suddenly over his shoulder. and then ap-
prchensively round the room) :. do you think
people haunt you? No. OF course they don't
of course they don't. I don't believe in
ghosts. There isn't anything any more after you've
been killed. Only, if there is would they
go haunting you for the rest OF your lifeo
There can't be anything after you're dead
fear comes into his voice. he spoke to me the
boat heard his voice. a.
Whose voice? don't understand.
H-Hes dead now and he had locket-
thing and she was like you :.
It's all muddled-the beginning out of our
trench into theirs where they were
and men coming at you their faces quite
close and shooting at them and the
helish noise and the shouting and our men
with bayoncts and somebody screamed
it went right into him and then him.
Gle pauses, then begins again in a low monotone.J
He just gray thing at first coming at me
|. hadn't got a shot left and I hit at him, with
something in my hand sort of knife
into his face into his mouth against
his teeth and my hand came out with a lot
of blood and things remember thinking
how used to hate going to the dentist when was
a kid l remember thinking that quite dis
tinctly and while thinking Of the time
| had tooth out this big one at the back
l. got clutchcd up together i. then
VIC fell | was right top of him. and the
thing had in my hand--it must have been knife
1t went right into his stomach . j.. . right in
of him. and looked at him j.. quite still he
was looked quite long time I
looked al his face he Just about my agc
and put my hand over the part that was
all smashed and thought how good looking he
was hair with the tinicst little curls, YOU
know then raised myself up and took the
knife out it had gone right IN him. and then
all sideways and tried to undo the tunic.
but it was all-Oh. didn't do it, You see. I'd fall
lon on him; it wasn't my fault exactly . and
then he began to CRY out and knew it must
be hurting him simply horribly . he kept
crying 'outand he wouldn't stop Oh, IL
was too awful! and tried to kill him.
CA movement. at last. from Jcan.)
1t was the only thing. to put an end to it .
| but couldn't till put my fingers round
| his throat and pressed and I pressed and
pressed he couldn't struggle much I.
watched the life die out Of his eyes