The Mount Holly news., 1918-02-12
Was He a craven2

quisite workmen In articles of the
bijouterie that attract and charm the
antiquary and the tourist.
The merchant had hired an expert
worker in cork to reproduce on quite
large scale the entire village of
Leisle. 1t was so faithful a reproduc-
ton that it showed every steeple, the
magnificent cathedral, castles four GEN.
turtles old, even the village graveyard
and the tall memorial shaft marking
the grave of the father of Earle Daw-
son.
"Some day we will go there" Earle
had told Norma. "When the war is
over, we will make this journey our
deferred honeymoon" Norma sighed,
but to herself. She fairly worshiped
her lover for the fine qualities she
knew he possessed. Her thoughts,
however ethereal at times in harmony
with his own, were practical. Ever
and always Earle shrank with aversion
when the horrors of the unnatural con-
flict abroad were discussed in his pres
ence. The thought of cruel warfare
of the wreck and ruin of battle chilled
him. When the call for volunteers
came he was not responsive.
you're not going to be Stacker,
are you, DawsonT' the brother of
Norma Lane asked him one day.
Earle writhed at the insinuation. His
intellectual face expressed varied bat
Ting emotions.
"You are harsh and unjust" he
said in a tremulous voice. 81 could
not bear the carnage that strikes ter
ror to my merciful nature"
ut isn't question of feeling" spoke
the other bluntly, ''but one of patri-
otism. See here, Dawson, we're shy
our boasted quota. Join in"
Il will think Of It," muHmured Earle.
"You will think of it harder when
you come to know the frightful van
dalism displayed by the enemy daily
coming to lightly
Earle was troubled. The shrinking
timidity against practical and unpleas-
ant things, catered to by his indulgent
guardian, nurtured by chosen associa-
ton with friends of a temperament
like his own, had weakened courage
and Judgment. He fought against this
conviction. He was generous in his
contribution to every national aid
movement presented to him. Deep
down in his heart, however, he realized
tnat this was as nothing. A more VI
tai sacrifice was demanded.
He found Norma distrait and secret
ly troubled one evening when he called
upon her. More than once he noted
the quick tears come to her eyes, but
she smiled and laughed them away
WITH assumed lightness of spirit when
he solicitously sought to fathom the
cause of her perturbation.
'It is only touch of the blues" she
declared. 1--WE all have them at times,
you know"
The next morning, however, Earle
received a brief note from Norma, so
unusual an event when he had seen
her so recently that something intui-
lively told him that 1t was directly or
indirectly connected with her mood of
the previous evening.
81 would like to see you, and alone,
before noon," the missive ran. ut
is important"
Norma received him In small room
off the parlors. Her eyes could never
express anything but gentleness, but
there was this morning a gravity to
her face that perplexed Earle.
II have sent for you, first to return
you this" she said, and she slipped
from her finger and placed in his palm
the engagement ring he had given her
months agone.
"Oh, you cannot mean it, Norma -
he gasped, staring blankly at the pretty
| trifie.
''Yes, Earl, 1t must be So" replied
Norma firmly, although her sweet lips
quivered. There is duty you and
owe Jointly, as separately, to our coun-
try. have thought everything over
have resolved to devote myself to
hospital work with the army abroad
i One of us must CO."
He regarded her In profound con-