The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-12-08

were not ready-not the least ready
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. Il must
report at once"
| Guy Faleoner turned to him with I'M
bounded enthusiasm lighting no his
young face.
'I'll go with your he cried. rs it
too late to enlist tonight?'
"I'm afraid So" Larry said.
Guys words struck his mother with
quick chill of fear. She rose hastily
from her seat and going fearfully up
| to her son, laid supplicating hand up
on his arm.
But, Guy, you're not going to the
WARP" she said with catch in her
voice
"Why. of course am, motherr,
'Of course he isr' Georgy Wagstaff
repeated after him.
But, Guy-you said you wouldn't
fight" his mother reminded him trem-
ulously Her feelings had undergone
sudden change.
Il 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. / couldn'tr
That's the spirit, my boyp' Sir
George told him with renewed trust
| in British manhood.
'But, Guy-you mustn't! couldn't
let you go!' she told him brokenly.
He was sorry for her. And yetthere
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 not in
the world! You're the only thing I've
leftw And then she took him III her
arms and sobbed. To her had come
only a little more quickly than to
other English mothers the remuneration
that war demands Of lowly and high
alike.
| Don't cry, mother, please-don
| Guy said gently. You know I've got
to go. I'll come back all right"
"Of course he WILL" said Georgy.
"And 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 a 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. 'Kou
hear that, mother? Why, that alone is
worth going to the front for-andl I'll
get " G. and be hero and well live
happily ever after"
OF such is the rosy OPTIMISM of
youth.
eeeEgz wagstaf placed 80
/ in his.
''For once, you dear old thing,
can't argue with you," she said And
though she smiled at him, she had diff
ficulty in keeping back her tears.
Guy Falconer stood very erectlas he
took his mother by the hand Hk saw
women in new light now--saR and
recognized the sacrifices they hAd in
evitably to make In life's battles, since
the beginning of time.
Come on, mother!' he said gravely
"Take me to the barracks
my son, I'm proud of your she
half whispered, as she looked up at
him through her tears.
$50 am II" added Georgy Wagstaff.
She had acquired all at once d new
sense of proprietorship in Guy you'll
write me?" she asked him.
every day!'' he promised eagerly.
"And you-you will be careful,
won't you, Guy?" his mother besought
him, with her hands upon his Shout
dcrs.
"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 I'd the
others with an air of unaffected pride.
There's the true Englishmang' he
said.
"And there'Il be hundreds-tf1ou-
sands, like him--the flower Of our coun-
try, who won't come back" Ethel said
slowly. "Oh, It's too terriblem The
little tragedy had touched her to the
quick. Beside it her own troubles
seemed momentarily dwarfed.
Eyes, it is terrible" Sir George
agreed. He had no Illusions as to
what war meant for England.
81 must go at once to the war ONCE"
Captain Redmond announced hurried
ly. And he shook hands with Miss VIII
loughby. "Good-by, Ethelr he said In
tone that was far more sober than
was customary for him.
II must return to the admiralty"
Sir George said. Coming, Redmond 2"
rs he moved toward the door.
Larry had already started to ioin
him when Ethel called him back.