The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1920-03-12


abreast along the far side of the street
Solemnly, and in absolute silence, without
strain of music, or a whistle, or a song! II
they were inspired by the highest flame OF
patriotism which can umine supreme sacrl-
flee, there was no visable on outward sign OF
it. Some of the faces wore a sulIen look, al
most as if they resented the position in which
they found themselves.
ITS very English" she muttered to herself.
"But hoirid, all the same. Why doesn't some
body cheer
On the impulse of the moment she opened
the easement window. and fluttered white
handkerchief with a pink edge, out upon the
murky air.
One caught sight of it. nudged his neigh
bour, and the four in that row touched then
caps.
~ don't care. I envy them Heavens; if
were only man. she muttered, as she shut
the window, after watching the tailend dls-
appear round the corner. And how Gilbert
can meet professions like that every day ana
not he ashamed of himself. | can't think. II
makes me dead ashamed to look them IN the
face"
Her face, which nature had originally made
sweet looked tired and sour at the moment;
ALSO her thirty-two years were plainly as
ceinable Unusually, her slim figure, ana
certain girlishness of style, took seven or eight
years off. She had been Gilbert StonhamS
only partially. They were childless, selfish
people, who had weighed things up in the queer
cold-blooded modern way, and decided they
could not afford luXurieS-children among the
rest Golf and bridge and theatres they must
have; the rest had to go to the wall.
But homes are not built upon such tounda-
tions. and during the last year, Just before
the war broke out. an immense WEAKNESS and
disgust of life and of one another, mad over
whelmed and encompasSed them They snap
ped at one another and were daily drifting tur-
Their apart.
And now the war was six months old. ana
Hilda was feeling bitter and resentfu because
she had no stake in it; because Gilbert had not
obeyed the call; and because she had not found
the niche she thought she could so elegantly
fill.
If only she were free she sometimes pas
sionately cried. But who among us is free?
Hardly a mothers son or daughter
The bitterness of her mood had not passed
when at six O'Clock she heard her husbands
latchkey in the door. She did not run to meet
him. The modern golf and bridge wife does
not do that! 1t is crude, acknowledgements
not done.
She yawned slightly, looked bored, and, when
he entered the room, hardly turned her head
But she had very clever trick of being able
to see withcut appearing to be Interested ana
she was so struck by something unusual IN
Gilbert's face, thta question Involuntary
sprang to her lips.
Aren't you well, Glib" she asked flppantly
He was a slim, dark young man, with face
somewhat dissatisfied and careworn. Very
well dressed after the fashion of the city man
but with something artificial and unreal about
him. They lacked life and vtality-that young
couple; they appeared old and tired before their
time. ~
I'm all right" he answered rather stiffly
ANY tea going?'
She elevated her brows.
six o'clock-and we are dining at the North
crofts at seven-thlrty.
Pm not" he assured her calmly. Better
ring Ellie up and tell her. Fact is, Hida, I've
enlisted"
Enlisted ?-How do you mean? Taken
commission, | suppose"
"No.-enlisted. I've always meant that If
I did go in, I'd join thoroughly There are too
many weedy chaps wearing Sam Brownies al
ready. | won't add to them. I'll earn my pro-
motion. or go without it-that's all. It's the
only way. 1t isn't fair to the Tommies,-they
want to be led, and a chap has got to learn
how TO lead, before he tries to lead them. My
views, Hilda-not worth much, perhaps, but
there they are
He spoke lightly, yet with touch of de-
fiance which indicated that he was not sure of
his reception Her face hardened.
you're just talking rot Gilbert. common
Tommy. you're going to be- Well, then, for
bid it; and if YOU persist--why l wash my
hands of you"
see: and can't alter it. | hoped you might
see it same as | do,-but might have known"
There was world of reproach in the words,
but IIilda Stonham, obsessed by her own purely
selfish outlook, failed to notice it. When she
had longed for husband to go to the war, she
had pictsred herself, walking with proper pride
nv the side of a well-dressed officer, entering
restaurant or theatre by his side, and the blow
to her pride was rather SCATTERING one.
She did not even, at that moment, enquire
what regiment he had honoured by his selec-
ton. she did not actually believe that he would