The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-05-31


ing'on. the red men are sure OF d
helping hand from her
~-O~~~~~~~-
The board was crazy with the fu.
tiity Of 10, when the old editor Of the
Free Press walked in with a news.
paper file and asked 70 be sworn; op.
ening 10 he read: Born, yesterday
10 John and Mary Carter, a fne boy.
CONGRATULATIONS John To the
board. The date is June fourth,
1897. the boy will be tventy-one June
third 1915" Without comment, he
walked out.
Without further ado the board ad.
iourned. congratulated Bert, and clos
ID the incident. bur the secretarys
angry ewes held Bert Without ap.
parent vo.tion he walked up 70 her
and asked II she wished to speak to
him.
yes. do" exclaimed Mary, vehe.
menty. How could you sit there
hat way? Why didn't YOU get up and
say you'd 60, anyway.'
"Whv. Miss Marvin, I thought a
trial was a trial u would be queer
for a man TO say: "Oh, stop IT, I'll
confess I'm guilty Just 10 stop the
fuss. wouldn't it?'
well, yes Mary admitted. "but
YOU needn't let il come 70 that. Why
do you suppose the Lord gave you
all that strength If not to defend your
country
"Oh, why" stammered Bert, I'll 90
il you want me to- But Mary had
walked away. her head in the air.
Bert was puzzled. He had heard
little discussion Of the war. To him
Il was matter Of age. He'd 80 when
called What was the matter with
the girl? He'd 20 ask her
Mary hesitated then held out her
hand "l-mother says / was rude TO
you today. Forgive me and I'll tell
you how feel about it,
So Bert received his first lesson in
patriotism from the lips Of a pretty
girl, too much in earnest 10 remember
that she was pretty: that Bert was
handsome-or anything else except
that she wanted him to be a soldier.
Presently Mrs. Marvin came in and
Bert spent the hG1piest evening Of his
life When he arose to 80 he asked
and obtained permission to come
again.
Returning 70 the Windsor. ne saw a
light in the Free Press office and went
Up 10 thank the editor for his kind.
ness. He disclaimcd any credit. say.
ing that he was friend OF his fam.
lily; intimating that Bert was glad No.
10 60 10 war.
Why. no. Mr.. Freshman. I don't
care much either way. Thought Id
go when called; but I've made up ny
mind 10 enlist I'm not a coward"
But the editor dismissed him with a
curt nod, to Bert's chsgrin.
His lessons in patriotism progress.
ed till the town wondered IL Bert
would stay in Hays or Mary 70 to
the mountains Bert was sure that
life without Mary was not worth liv.
ing. But Mary tearfully but firmly
refused him, dearly as she knew she
loved him; she could not marry a
man younger than herself-she was
past twenty. Bert did not tell her
he had enlisted, but said goodbye and
took the first train back 10 camp. A
dreary journey. but more than one
Indifferent chap who talked 10 Bert
had his views changed about his duty
10 his country.
His camp fellows met him eagerly,
glad that he was back; they had miss.
ed him; had some mail for him, too.
II was a belated letter from his
mother, telling him OF sickness. dis.
couragements and inability 10 get
mail, but the paragraph that held his
attention read; You are now OF
draft age, my dearest son. because az.
ter you were hurt and missed school,
| gave you the birthday OF the baby
that died, so you'd not seem 50 be.