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Show Tho London man made the meeting quite a success. Private Bradley's few remarks, given with some reluctance, reluct-ance, were excused becauso of the glory which surrounded him "the Germans are terrible hard to beat wo want help" and twenty-seven men signified their willingness to enlist. When at last the handshakings and farewells were over for Private Bradley Brad-ley was returning to France tomorrow tho soldier walked home with his father and mother. His mother was a little woman with black eyes and a del-icato del-icato mouth, very like her son. -Her husband, a sturdy, oldish man, seemed very thoughtful. Mrs. Bradley glanced now and again at her son, who was . . looking straight before him, breathing deeply of tho country air with all its remembered scents. "It was a fine meeting, dear," ho said, almost timidly. Her son nodded. "Yes," he said. They said nothing more for a littlo, and then, "I must be up by six, mother, to catch the London train." "Yes, dear; very well." They entered the cottage, and tho two men sat down while Mrs. Bradley spread supper. Mr. Bradley seemed to detach himself him-self from his thoughts with an effort. "Well, my boy," he said, more robustly ro-bustly than was his wont, "so you'll be in the thick of it again in a day or two." "In three days from now." "They get you over pretty smart." "Yes, vory smart," said his son, without enthusiasm. They seemed to have a difficulty in continuing the conversation. It was almost with relief that they took their places at the table. Mrs. Bradley was covered with confusion to find that she had forgotten tho butter, and, moreover, there was a knife short. "Must have been all those speeches got to my head," she excused herself. As it happened, nobody seemed to have much appetite. After tho meal the same silence fell upon them. More than once the mother seemed on the point of making a remark, but checked herself. Once she passed her handkerchief handker-chief across her eyes as if Jier head pained her, and glanced furtively at her son to see if he had noticed anything. any-thing. Presently ho stood up. "Well, good night, mother," he said. "I shall have a long day tomorrow." Ho kissed her and then kissed his father. His voice had become quite hoarse. "Good night, both," ho said again. They listened to him stumbling up the little flight of stairs in his heavy boots. "It's " been a proud day for us, mother," said Mr. Bradley at length. The mother sat still in tho chair. She looked very small. Her husband t.oomed to feel tho need of speech. "It's a fino thing lor us to have a son like that serving his country." Ho JH spoke with unnecessary emphasis. 11 "It's a fino thing," said his wife as I H deliberately. I H Presently the old man raised him- H self and stretched his arms. He yfl feigned a yawn. II "Well, it's time wo went to bed," H he said, and turned to put out the 1 B lamp. Town Talk. H |