Evening star., 1917-12-23
80

heart-breaking business. but the order
of priority established method Where-
show of equity. Al last. at some Aoyr.
none knew or cared exactly Wneu. ene
steamer forged slowly out into the
channel. backed. and swung. amid tne
sands who were left to the tender msr-
cies of kultur.
In addition TO her crew. she carried
f3s passengers, mostly wounded SOL
diers. women and children.
There was no room to lie down. save
In the space rigidly preserved for the
atretcher casez. Tho decks. the cabins.
the holds. were packed tight with . Nv
ing freight. Surely never before has
vessel put to sea so loaded with hu-
man beings.
The captain decided not to attempt
the crossing by night and lay to TIL
morning. The ships boats returned te
the quay, and brought OF some food
and water.
Meanwhile. leaders OF sections were
chosen. the people were instructed a.
TO the danger of lurching, and ropes
were arranged so thst any unexpected
movement of the hull might be coun-
teracted.
At 8 o'clock next morning the en-
Rines were started; at 10 o'clock that
night the ship was berthed at Dover.
BY the mercy of Providence the sea
remained smooth all day. though the
midchannel tidal swell caused danger
GUS and anxious moments. OF course.
there were mineheids to be avoided.
and strong tides to he cheated, but.
allowing for these hindrances. the trip
occupied fourteen hours. whereas the
Belgian mail packets employed on the
same journey used TO adhere steadily
to a schedule OF three hours and three
quarters,
On the way. death took his dread toll
among the wounded. but to nothing
like the extent that might well have
faayad Thu hrfn0fn0 Of that
great company OF people from the hor-
rors OF the German occupation Of Bel
gium to the safe harborage OF the
United kinsdom was magnincens
the crowded and glorious annals OF
British seamanship.
So Irene and her true knight met
once more. Only TO nart again after
three biisssul DAYS. This time Dalroy
went to France and took his place in
the fzhting line line. a., He r,a.nr endured the the
trenches. shared In the gain and loss
OF Neuve Chapelle. earned his majority
and seemed to lead charmed life un-
I'll high explosive shell burst little
too close during the second day at Looo.
He was borne OF the field as ona
nearly dead. But his wounds were
slight. and he had only been stunned
by the concusslon. BY the time this
ulhEHosss Ndf GpHnsIfSo- HoWGtcrs AZ
was at home and enjoying six weeks
leave.
Nothing very remarkable would have
happened II the Earl of Glastonbury.
not created rare commotion one day
at luncheon
Dalrov was nm in town after a few
days rest at his uncie's vicarage In
the Midlands: he and the younger
members of th. household were plan-
ming round OF theaters and such like
destinations. when the earl said.
quietly:
You people seen, to he singu,arly
devoid ~ original ideas. George Alex
ander. Charlie Hawtrey and the latent
revue star provide n sure and certain
refuge for eve-y country cousin who
comes to London for Il fortnights mild
what do you suggest, dad.' de-
manfled Irene
Why not have . war wedding"
'oh. let's" cried the iapper sister.
ecstat.cally.
Dalroy swallowed whole some article
of food. and Irene hlushed scarlet. But
father" had said the thing. and
mother" had smiled. so Dalrov, whose
widest dreams hitherto had dweit on
marriage ct the ciosn OF the war ss =
remote possibility. bestirreG himself
like good soldier man. rushing all
fences at top speed.
The brother in the guards secured
ceedinRlN good looking Bengal Lancer
was sempaneled as best man" Ito TIN
joy ard torment of The fapper. wko
mined during whole week after hfs
depa-tureD. and. almost before they
weu knew what was happening Dalroy
and his bride found themselves speed
ing toward Devon in a fine car on their
honeymoon.
And why not?' growIed the earl.
striving to comfort his wife when she
wept a little at the thought that her
beautiful daughter. her eldest born
would henceforth have a nest of her
own. Dash 1t all. Mollie. they'll only
be young once. and this rotten war
looks like lasting a decade. Had we
searched the british Isles we couldn't
have found n better mate for our girl
He's Just the sort of chap who will
worship Irene all his life, and he has
in him the makines of a future COM
mander-in- CHEZ. or I'm Dutchmants
As his 1ordship is certainly not
Dutchman. but unn,ietakabiy English,
aristocratic. and county. it is permis-
sible to hone that his prophecy may be
fulhlled. Let US hope, too, IL Dalroy
ever leads the armed manhood of Brit
ain. II Will be cohort formed to rem
der aggressive war impossible. That,
at least. is no idle dream II should
be the sure and only outcome of the
worlds greatest agony
THE END