Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-07-21

he paused In his walking to and FRO
and came to halt behind his friends
chair, looking down compassionately
upon the back Of Ramsey's motionless
head. His tone changed. II guess it
isn't just the ticket--me to be talking
this way to you, is IT'D" he said, with a
trace Of huskiness.
"Oh-it's all right" Ramsey muir
INJURED, not altering his position.
II can't help blowing up" Fred went
on. II want to say, though, know
I'm not very considerate to blow up
about her to you this way. I've been
playing horse with you about her ever
since freshman year, but-well, you
must have understood Ram, I never
meant anything that would really both
err you much, and thought-wel1,
really thought 1t was a good thing.
you-your-well, I mean about her,
you know. I'm on, all right. know
It's pretty serious with you" He
paused.
"Its-it's kind Of tough luck!" his
friend contrived to say; and he began
to pace the floor again.
"Oh-well-" he said.
"See here, ole stick-in-the-mud,"
Fred broke out abruptly. after her
saying what she did Well. it's none
o. my business, but-but-"
"Well, what?" Ramsey murmured.
II don't care what you say, If you
want to say anything"
"Well. I got to say It," Fred half
groaned and half blurted. "After she
said that-and she meant it-why, If
were in your place I'd be darned If
I'd be seen out walking with her
again."
"rm not going to be-" Ramsey said,
quietly.
"By George" And now Fred halted
in front of him. both being huskily
solemn. II think I understand little
Of what that means to you. old Ram
sey; I think 7 do. I think I know
something of what 1t costs you to
make that resolution for your coun-
try's sake. Impulsively he extended
his hand. "It's pretty big thing for
you to do. VIII you shake hands"
But Ramsey shook his head. 81
didn't do 1t. / wouldn't ever have done
anything just on account of her talk
in that way. She shut the door on
met was good while ago."
"She did! What for?"
"Well, I'm not much of talker, you
know, Fred" said Ramsey, staring at
the pen he played with. "I'm not much
of anything, for that matter. probly,
but I-well-I-"
"You what?"
"Well, / had to tell her I didn't feel
about things the way she did. She'd
thought had, all along, guess. Any
way, it made her hate me or some
thing, I guess and she called 1t all
off I expect there wasn't much to call
off, so far as she was concerned, any
how" He laughed feebly. "She told
me better go and enlist"
Pleasant Of her!" Fred muttered.
Especially as we know what she
thinks enlisting means" He raised his
voice cheerfully. "Well, that's settled !;
and, thank God, old Mr.. Bernstorff's on
his way to his sweet little vine-clad
cottage home! They're getting guns
on the ships, and the big shows liable
to commence any day. We can hold
up our heads now, and we're going to
see some great times, old Ramsey boy |!
It's hard on the home folks-GOsh l
don't like to think of that! And
guess it's going to be hard on lot Of
boys that haven't understood what it's
/ all about, and hard on some that their
family affairs, and business and SO on,
have got 'em tied up so it's hard to 70
and of course there's plenty that just
| can't, and some that aren't husky
enough-but the rest Of us are going
| to have the big time In our lives. We
| got an awful lot to learn; it scares me
| to think of what l don't know about
being any sort of rear-rank pri-
vate. Why, it's a regular profession,
like practicing law, or selling for q
| drug house on the road.
"Golly! Do you remember how we
! talked about that, way back In fresh
man year, what we were going to do
when we got out Of college? You were
going to be practicing law, for in
stance, and well, f'r instance, re-
member Colburn; he was going to be
doctor, and he did go to some medi-
cal school for one year. Now he's In
the Red Cross, somewhere In Persia.
Golly!"
/ He paused, then chartered briskly
on swell, there's one good old boy
was with our class for while, back
in freshman year; bet we won't see
him in any good old army Old rough
neck Linski that you put the knob or
his nose for. Tommy Hopper says hi
saw Inn last summer in Chicago soap
boxin', yellin' his head off cussin' every
government under the sun, but mostly
ours and the allies, you bet, and goins