When Lieutenant Brownell was told of Hal’s decision to stand as a candidate he was delighted beyond measure. He said little openly, but the grip of the hand that he gave the second sergeant when he saw him, meant more than words.
As for Sarah Halpert, when she heard of it she ordered her car to be brought to the door, and she went at once to see Hal’s mother. She swept into the little house like a west wind, and caught her sister in her arms and kissed her twice.
“You’ve got a boy now,” she said, “that you can be proud of. He’s turned out to be a real McCormack after all. He’s got soldier blood in his veins.”
“I’m afraid so,” sighed little Mrs. McCormack. “I’m sorry he got into it. From what Hal says it’s going to be a fight, and I do hate fights.”
Sarah Halpert’s eyes snapped.
“Why, you miserable little pacifist!” she exclaimed. “Don’t you know that you’ve got this splendid country to live in because some one was willing to fight for it? Don’t you know that the only hope for civilization in the world to-day lies in the fact that red-blooded men by the millions are willing to face the German beast on the battle-field? You just get down on your knees and thank God that you’ve got a boy who isn’t afraid to go into a fight, either of bullets or of ballots!”
And she swept out of the house with even more vim than she had entered it.
She didn’t send for Hal this time. She didn’t want to see him. She was afraid he might put a stop to her electioneering activities. But if there was another enlisted man in Company E whom she did not interview on the subject of the approaching election it was because, after diligent search, she couldn’t possibly find him.
When Hal heard about it he went to her and protested.
“For goodness’ sake, Aunt Sarah,” he exclaimed, “stop it!”