Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-25

French; as to Austria-the idea of going to
war with her was silly.
ALBERT has appealed to the powers" said q
voice.
Albert That was the King of Belgium. So
he'd appealed had he? Belgiumi Wasn't she
guaranteed like Switzerland The Germans
would never be foo.s enough to! This was
civilized age-teaties and that It was no use
listening to lingo chatter. He would 60 and
lunch. But he could scarcely eat-the wealth.
er was so hot. He was drinking a glass Of
barley water when he heard the waiter at the
next table say to member: $50 1t says. sir"
Soames forgot his manners.
What does it say?"
"The Germans have invaded Belgium, sir"
Soames put down his glass.
''Who told YOU that?"
"ItS on the tape, sir"
Soames emitted sound that might have
come from his very boots-so deep 1t was
MY BILL he said. Then with q sudden
heming instinct he took a cab to Paddington,
and all the way In the train read the paper, or
sat staring out Of the window. He said nothing
when he got home-nothing whatever TO any
body OF what he hao heard-the whole Of him
absorbed in q sort Of silent and awful adjust
ment That fellow Grey-a steady chap, best
: of the bunch-must be making his speech to
the House by now. What was he saying? And
how were they taking itp He got into his punt
and sat there listening to the wood pigeons, Ia
the leafy peace Of the bright day. He didn't
want a soul near him. EnglandI They said
the feet was ready. His mind didn't seem able
to get further than that. To be ON water gave
him queer consolation, as II his faith IN the
feet would glide with that water down TO the
sea wherein the pride and the protection Of
England lay. He put his hand down and the
water flowed through his fingers. BY Georgei
There went that kinghsher-hadnt seen him
for weeks--nash OF blue among the reeds. He
wouldn't be that fellow Grey for something.
They said he was fisherman and liked birds.
What was he saying to them IN there under
Big Ben? The chap had always been gen
ueman, could he say anything but that Eng
land would stand by her word? And for the
second time Soames uttered a sound which
seemed to travel up from his toes. He didn't
: see what was 70 be done, except agree with
that And what then? All this peace, every
home throughout the land, and stocks and
shares-falling, falling!
GA ND my picturesi" thought soames. Yes.
and Fleurs governess-a German girl,
her, he wouldn't be surprised. And Whist would
become Of her-nobody would want . German
If there was war A dragon1ly new past.
Soames watched 1t with an ache, dumb and re-
sentful deep within him. A beautiful Summer.
fine and hot, and they couldn't leave It alone,
but must kick up this DEVILS tattoo. I'll over
the world This thing might-might come 10
be anything before It was over. Seven o'clocki
It must be over by now In the House 81 Conn
mons. And he punted himself slowly back.
He got out OF the punt and walked slowly Up 70
his front gate. A motor cycle came from the
direction Of Beading. The rider hung words
at him:
'Pawiymen., We're soin' an," and aputsercd
past Soames stretched out Q hand 30 might
o blind man have moved.
Going In? with little food inside end the
stars above him, al the imaginative EsWeF-
which, O. . rule, he starved-turned active.
clutched and CROPPED. Scattered, scuttling
images Of war came flying across the screen
Of his consciousness like 20 many Wild geese
over the sand over the sea. out Of the dark
ness into the darkness Of o laymans mind-a
layznan vino had thought In terms Of peace all
his days.
"weui"-and the thought gave him the
Queerest feeling, proud and miserable-"H We
begin We shall hold on" There was something
At once terrible TO him and deeply satisfying
about that instructive knowledge. They'd be
singing "Fsule Britannia" everywhere tonight.
he shouldn't wonder. People didn't ttdnk-a
little headed 1oti
The stars burned through q sky growing blue
all over the seas ships tearing along. And this
silence-this hush before the storm. That
couldn't last. No: there they were already
singing back there along the road-drlnak, he
would say. Tune-words- didn't know
them
cts long, long way to Tipperary,
It's long, long way to 60.
Good-by. Piccadilly! Farewell, Leicester Squarel
It's long, long way to Tipperary.
And my hearts right therel"
Whatshad that to do with 1.-THE should like
to know? They were cheering now. Some
beanfeast or other had got the news-common