Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-07
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In the summer of 1915 Mark Sabre
mas that he Is estranged from human
mpat and understanding with the
OLD sweetheart. now unhappily married
Sabre's prosaic and snobbish wife. Ma.
bel, fails to understand her husbands
business, he is undermined by jealous as.
socfates In the firm of Fortune. East and
sabre and a promised partnership is di.
vert, tom hin oaTTyning, Al thi.
BILE and she asks Sabre to take he,
away. War is declared and Sabre PUSHES
to secure a commission: He speaks tc
Colonel Rattray Of the Pinks.
GO ON WITH THE STORY.
"Eh? Into what?"
"The, war" 1t was easier after
the plunge. IT see in the papers that
civilians are being given commits
sions by recommendation. Can you
gel me a commission? ?"
Colonel Rattray showed surprise.
no doubt I could, If you're eligible.
How old are. you, Sabre?"
"AThtrty-six."
Colonel Rattray said doubtfully.
Come on up to the Mess in the
morning and I'll get our doctor to
have a look at you. Then we'll see
what can be done. All right. eh?''
III.
He said nothing to Mabel of his
intention. 1t was just precisely the
sort of thing he could not possibly
discuss with Mabel. Mabel would
say. "Whyever should you?" and of
all imaginable ordeals the idea Of ex-
posing before Mabel his feeling about
England 49,. he would tell her
when 1t was done, il it came of.
And his thought was, when a few
hours later he was walking slowly
away from his interview with Major
Earnshaw, the doctor at the barracks,
THANK God, I never said anything
to Mabel about it,"
Major Earnshaw had very pleasant
~ had a go at this heart Of yours
Withdraw his s~tethoscope and shaken
his head. It was mo go; absolutely
none. Sabre"
well, but that's for q commission.
I'll go into the ranks"
You can't possibly go in as you
are-now. The standards will prob
ably be reduced, but they'll have to
be reduced a goodish long way before
you'll get in. I don't mind telling
you"
Then came another OF the friEhtful
undoings Of his emotions. M
The occasion was that Of his meet
Ing with Hardness outside the County
Times office. Hardness was q cap
tain of the battalion that had gone
out who had been left behind, owing
to some illness. The British Expedt-
tionary Force had been in action,
Sabre said, News? Anything
about the Pinks?" i. 57
Hardness nodded. He seemed to
be swallowing. Then he said, Yes,
the regiment. Pretty bad
Sabre said. ANY ONE" and also
stopped.
Hardness looked, not at Sabre, but
straight across the top Of his head
and began al appalling and as as 1t
seemed to Sabre, an endless recita-
tive. THE Colonel's killed. .Bruce!is
killed. otway's killed"
"cottars killed. Bullens killed"
Endless! The names struck Sabre
like successive blows. Were they
never going to end?
brother" his voice cracked.
KILLED. Skies Is killed"
skies killed .... . And your
brother /. T. /" ,M
Hardness said. in ! very thin.
squeaking voice. Eyes, the regiments
pretty well-The restment,sE.' He
looked full at Sabre and said ina
very loud, defiant voice. II bet they
were masnificent. BY God.I bet You
why the he'll wasn't I there ?"ss5{ He
turned abruptly and vent sway, walk.
Ing rather funnily.
This WIS the moment at which
there descended upon Sabre, never
- leave him while ~heiremained not