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Show ' "THE MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF" By Amy Allen, Sacred Heart Academy, v J United States, had, at last, entered this great struggle, which was involving involv-ing with few exceptions every nation In the world. It was with a patriotic resolution, that Reld Brennan read tho glaring headlines, whloh announced that the President had finally decided to break relations with Germany. Two years previous Reld Brennan had graduated from Yale, and ho had Immediately been taken Into partnership partner-ship with his father, in the latters large banking corporation. Reid was tho only child, andi had always been the Idol of both parents. It was known by everyone acquainted with the Brennan Bren-nan family, that stern old Mr. Brennan had centered all of his hopes in his son, ever since he bad been a towhead-ed towhead-ed youngster in gingham rompers. As the petted boy grew older, people sighed and gravely shook their heads, for Reld had grown to bo a high-spirited, selfish, young .man. Despite his faults he had been popular among those of his own age, but the older and more experienced men grew critical, criti-cal, when Reid left college and entered the bank. Ho felt no interest. In his work and had only continued to stay, because as one of the clerks had remarked, re-marked, "Ho could come and go and do about as he pleased because he was tho son of "The Old Man." Reld's faults and rash deeds had always been overlooked by his mother and father, and they attributed them to his youth, and like all other boys someday he would settle down, and until he did, he should not be criticised. So one evening in April Reid burst joyously Into the spacious library, Iressed In the uniform of tho United States army and merrily whistling "Yankee Doodle." With mock gravity, ho saluted his mother and father, and proceeded to charge on the Invisible enemy. His mother bravely concealed conceal-ed her emotions for Reld's sake and It was his father who broke the silence, following the exhibition of military manoeuvres. He gazed proudly and smilingly upon his stalwart son, who had harkened to the call of arms. "I suppose," said the old man, if I ve e your age, I would heed that same cali. Tho fighting blood of your Revolutionary Revo-lutionary fathers is aroused, and It can not be denied, but son," and his voice rrow husky, "your mother and I are c.oing to miss you." It was too much for ine silver haired mother, and her small bodj shook with sobs. The moment was embarrasing for Reid, and he nervously ner-vously clutched his hat, and with the other hand, beat a wild tatoo upon the mirror like surface of the table. If ho had known that there was to be so ruch fuss, he would not have bothered to say goodbye. It was three months later, and Reid Brennan saw the stately Goddess of Liberty fade dimly into the horizon, as the mighty battleship with its army of khaki-clad soldiers sailed away toward the distant shores of France. The bright October sky with Its million mil-lion of twinkling stars arched over the I crowded streets of Paris. To the ears ! of tho expectant, eager throng came the measured beat of the drums and the heavy thud of many tramping feet. Then the crowd burst into a mighty shout as the troops of Uncle Sam came gaily marching down the street. They wore singing and .the crowd .became silent, 'as they caught the inspiring woros of the song. In the prison cell, I sit THnking mother dear of you And the bright and happy home so far away And the tears they fill my eyes Spite of all that I can do Though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay. Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! the boys are marching O. cheer up comrades they will come, And beneatth the starry flag We shall breath the air again Of the free-land in our own beloved home. As the song died awajr the boys from across the sea gave their salute and the first American army was ready to enter the trenches. A cold, drizzling rain was beating down upon the soldiers, in their dmpj muddy dug-outs. For two long dismal I weeks, there had been steady fighting, I and Reld, and his comrades had ! fought with the spirit characteristic of foot-ball days, but some of the brave men had fallen, Instantly killed by a shot from the deadly guns of "the enemy while others had been wounded and maimed for life. Reid had heartliy agreed with Sherman on the latters version of the war, when the enemies captured their provisions and for two days they were obliged to survive on hardtack, but how the French had come to their assistance and preparations prepara-tions were being made for a mighty battle. For three days the lines had been exceptionally quiet, and with the dawning of the fourth day, came the boons, and steady Are of the giant machine ma-chine guns. Bullets fell like rain and bombs came bursting through the air, gorgeous balls of flame. The Americans led by the French charged on the enemies en-emies lines and the fierce battle raged for hours, while the field became strewn with the wounded and dead. The plucky American flag bearer was struck down by a bomb explosion, and Reid grasped the SLars and Stripes and rushed forward. He had just shouted, "Come on Boys, when a deadly bullet embedded itself Into his shoulder, and down he fell, still clasping Old Glory. A barbed wire fence caught and held him in an upright position. Hours later Reid awoke, a warm stream of blood was trickling down his face, and the pain in his shoulder seemed unbearable, but the wire bara-cade bara-cade held him in a sitting position. Reld hoped he would not be left there to die a lonely death on "No Man's Land." Lying In front of him side by side he saw two Boldiers, one a small Frenchman and the other a big blonde Prussian. Tears of anguish were falling fall-ing in muddy streams down the stained face of tho German. "It Isn't the pain he explained," as his great body shook with sobs, "it is Gretchen, my wife, and the two children. chil-dren. Only yesterday she wrote saying say-ing that Thanksgiving day they would spend in prayer, thanking God that I had been spared and now -what shall become of them." The appeal proved too much for the Impulsive Pollu and forgetting his hatred hat-red for the enemy ho tried feebly to cheor the wounded soldier, "They will find us soon," he cried, "and you will be saved, but for mo It Is too late. I, also have a loved . ono who will die when she hears that i am gone. O Fleuretta, Fleuretta," ho murmured mur-mured and fell unconscious. Reld had listened to tho two wounded wound-ed 6oldlers Hke a man In a trance, and then suddenly something seemed to have snapped In his brain. Lying there on tho field of battle he found himself. Like a rush of glaring light flooding a darkened room, his selfishness came upon him. He remembered the quarrels quar-rels he had had with his father, his deceptions towards both parents. Reld had never thought until now how small and frail his mother had seemed as she bravely klsBcd him farewell, and his dad Is no longer young. His shoulders were stooped and the kindly face was careworn and wrinkled. The Frenchman French-man and the German had not thought of their pain but only of the grief their lived onos would experience, while he had not onco thought of his parents. Reld grew dizzy and his wound pained and stung him, while a cold, half snow, half rain came flying down from the gray overcast sky. Ho heard tho sound of voices In the distance, a feeble cry arose to 'his Hps and then came the darkness. Thanksgiving morning dawned crisp and clear, and Reid awoke in a small French hospital. He felt stiff and weak, but the. pain In his shoulder was gone. Drawn close to his bed were two small hospital cots. Tho occupants of each, he recognized, as his wounded comrades on the battlefield. The eyes of the Frenchman and the German smiled a cheery greeting to the American. Ameri-can. "We hopo. Monsieur," said the Frenchman, "that you are feeling well. God has been merciful and spared us three." The American nodded, "Yes, God had been most merciful." He had made a man of him. It was the German, who now spoke, "Today is the day of thanks, and It Is well that wo should pray to Him, who has been so kind." The occupants of the three white beds, a plucky Frenchman, who had lost his right limb, in tho mighty fray, an American, who had learned the lesson les-son of sacrifice, and a Pru&alan who held malice towards none, lie grim and motionless in their beds, and over their faces spread a look of gratitude, understanding and humbleness. The sweet faced sister of Charity paused in the doorway of the Utile room. For a moment a blue eyes failed fail-ed to comprehend the scene, but for only a moment, then she understood. The three pair of eyes belonging to the occupants of the three white beds, the brown eyes, the steel gray and the blue eyes were fixed as one pair upon the picture of our Lord, which hung on the wall. Their lips were moving, and three earnest prayers aroso to Him, who had been so good, that a sweetheart, a mother and father, and a wife and children had been on this day, spared the pangs of grief. In a great church In New York, tho glorious sun came streaming through the colored glass of the windows, and cast a radiance o'er the bowed grey heads of a little mother and a stately old man. In a far away land In a large Cathedral, Ca-thedral, knelt a pretty golden -haired wife, and beside her two lovely children. chil-dren. Where tho candles flickered and the sweet voiced choir sang, a beautiful dark-eyed maid knelt in a small Fronch chapel, fingering her rosary, ro-sary, and gazing rapturously upon the fair Mother of Christ. nn |