“Those French—aren’t they magnificent? Why aren’t we there, fighting by their sides? Oh, we’ll get there yet, but it’s hard to wait. Think of those fellows—holding on two long, anxious years! And they came over here—Lafayette and the rest—and poured out their blood and their money for us. And we think we’re doing something when we send them a little food and some tobacco to buck up on!”
“I say—do you want to fight—a minister? Why, I thought all your profession asked for was peace!” Young Tom’s tone was curious. He did not soon forget the look in the face of the man who answered him.
“Peace! We do want peace—but not peace without honour! And no minister fit to preach preaches anything like that! Don’t think it of us!”
“Well, I used to hear Doctor Curtin—the man before you. He seemed to think—— But I didn’t agree with him,” Tom hastened to say, suddenly deciding it best not to quote the pacific utterances of the former holder of the priestly office. “I thought we ought to go to it. If this country ever does get into it—though Dad thinks it’ll all be settled this year—you bet I’ll enlist.”
“Enlist! I should say so!” And Black took up the paper again, eagerly reading aloud the account which followed the headlines of the sturdy holding of the fiercely contested ground at Verdun—that name which will be remembered while the world lasts.
He looked up at length to find that the other customer had gone, and that Miss Ray, the shopkeeper, had come forward. He looked into a face which reflected his own pride in the French prowess, and forgot for the instant that he had come to buy of her or that she was there to sell.
“It’s great, isn’t it—the way they are holding?” she said, in a pleasant, low voice.
“Great?—it’s glorious! By the way—how do you get hold of this late edition so early?”
“Have it sent up by special messenger from the city. Otherwise it would be held over with the rest of the papers till the two o’clock train.”
Tom broke in. “Pretty clever of you, I say, Miss Ray. Just like the rest of your business methods—always ahead of the other fellow!”