Saint Mary's beacon., 1918-02-14

tnal THIS was hb AOthkh6- A more Nt
tai sacrifice was demanded.
He found Norma distraIt and sce'ef
" troubled one evening when he callea
npon her. More than once he ucied
the quick tears come to her eyes, but
she smiled and laughed them away
with assumed lightness Of spirit VIXEN
be solicltously sought to fathom the
cause Of her perturbation.
1T Is only touch Of the blues" she
declared. 1--WE all have them at times.
you know
The next morning, however, Earle
received brter note from Norma, go
unusual an event when be had seen
her so recently that something lntui-
lively told him that II was directly or
Indirectly connected with her mood Of
the previous evening.
II would like to see you. and alone,
before noon." the mlssive ran. ut
Is important"
Norma received him In small room
of the parlors. Her eyes could never
express anything but gcntlenrss. but
there was this morning 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 II, Norma !"
he gasped, staring blankly at the pretty
trine.
"Yes, EarI. II must be So" replied
Norma firmly. although her sweet lips
quivered. There is a duty you and
owe Jointly. as separately. to our coun-
try. have thought everything over.
have resolved TO devote myself 70
hospital work with the army abroad.
One OF US must CO."
He regarded her In profound con-
sternation. He traced the deiicate Inn.
plication Of bis own unworthiness as q
patriot.
II think understand you" he said,
almost coldly. "You place a rcproach
upon me. There Is nothing more TO be
said. Good-by." A sense OF false dig.
nifty had come to his rescue. Sadly.
but silently. she let him depart. He
went home, TO shut himself ia his
room, TO think, 10 bare his soul 70 the
most critical analysis. Was he crav.
emf Was II not just that the gentle
being he loved should show him the
path Of duty7
Morning came. after a sloepless
night. lie paced the room, ever and
anon giving utterance TO the monot.
onOus words: ''One Of us must gol"
The sudden strident cries Of news
boys afoot at full excitement speed.
with an "extrn," attracted his ntten.
tion. He threw open the window aud
hailed one Of the nimble messengers
Of the presa He sat down and glanced
nt the newspaper. II told OF great
battle. and Of the vandalism OF the
enemy. OF the wanton destruction Of
town after town, holding the mos; pre-
cious works OF art and science. the
labor OF years ravagcd IN vengcful
onslaught, and there on the next page
was d vivid illustration az the results
Of heartiess, useless devastation OF a
month previous: "Leale as Il Is TO.
day."
flowiy the face ~ Earle Dawson he.
eafBe a rigid mask. A. sight of tine
hearilcHs desecration portrayed. It
seemed M II. An the place Of tlmidity.
Of q supersansitive shrinking from re-
sponsibilisys there cnrne 10 him aense
Of justice that firTned up every element
in his paturp. The beautiful cathedral
at Lei9e war meaningless mass = n
grand museum which heiC me historic
tffnsues-s of four cenfurE nag been
hufnesi 10 the ground lhe pretty. an.
tialtaisd chalets x.. 49,. !. n
slefaesdi Even the TfEvsyArd had
been plowed up By bomb and bHll. ahd
the shaft that metnorized the inss rest.
ing place Of his father lay prone. riy.
en- Ia twain.
Earle Dawson took the picture 70
the room where the cork replica ~
I,cisle was "Leisle ~ II Is today, I"
he quoted, the stern lnsistency of ret.
rihuiion forcing itself upon hia plant
mind. Leisle aa II was Al. there
shall be no hedtaney now. The path
Of duty showed clearly before hifn. n
u ended at some lonely hin. on acme
battle heleaguered plain. better no. That
the world might be free
Earle Dawson went atralghi to the
recruiting Office. There was a new
majesty now In face and mien.
II have come TO say good.hy." he
spoke. as be presented himself before
Norma at her home, "You said truly,
one Of us owed service to our country.
am the chosen one
And 10 her Riorifed vision he was
not only the man abe loved. would ever
love. but her hero, as WELT