All for a Scrap of Paper A Romance of the Present War

"you know what is in my

ed you f

so," and there was a s

y's

wanted you, I know that; fellows-better looking than I, more-more attractive than I, and with far better prospects. I am not your sort of fello

oward!" cri

llow like Trevanion, heir to a title, and captain in a crack

o you tell

any chance? I know your father would be mad, but I wou

es to foam on the great black rocks, while the sea-birds soared overhead. It was e

't kno

at all. It was almost hoarse, and

he repeated.

Yes, I have believed that-you cared for me. I suppose I've seen it, and

d Bob. "You have nev

emed to care for-for

care about Hector Trevanion? He hasn't a thought in his head above his latest horse and his newest uniform. But how

time!" There was a note of

ed to love a soldier, a sailor, a man of action. I can never admire a man who will be content to spend his days in a library poring over old dusty

for me all the time, although you-you didn't like my plans f

flesh without brains because she isn't a b

does this mean that yo

," she half-laug

rai

You've been a sort of negative creature, while I love a man of action. What are old shrivelled manuscripts worth to the world to-day? Who cares about the sayings of some old dead and forgotten German, or some obscure passages in Bede's Ecclesiastical History, when there's a great surging life

hat matter when I love you-love

ression. When Napoleon cast a shadow over Europe, and threatened to destroy our country, men of my name were among the foremost in fighting him. My grandfather represented St. Ia in Parliament, and he roused the country. While yo

ind is cast i

for you, you never even asked for them. And I-I wanted to dance them too; but-but I had to sit them out, and when other men begged me to let them put their names down on my

ching for you all the time, but I thought-why, you've always laughed at my dancing. But t

vexed with

s for you. And you love me, don't you? Oh, it's too good to be tru

so all the time? And-and yet

t, N

o hate a

haven't I

e something you

omething-that-- Nancy, you won't

g vexed," lau

in my arms, and kiss you-

why don

hrough the grass were thousands upon thousands of wild thyme, giving the little plateau a purple hue. They were hidden from the gaze of any who might be o

in his arms, and his kisses were as pure as tho

ed you?" he said, a

Nancy was rearranging her hat. She did not reply, but he

ad been telling me that you loved me, but

since," and there was

anted me to kiss you? O

d, but I'll make up

e kind of man she had meant to love, while he was far too happy to care for the lecture she had given him. Her kisses were warm upon his lips, her words of love rung in his ears. They were in the dreamland of happy lovers, while the sky of their lives was as free from clouds as the great dome of blue overhead. He was the only man she had ever loved, or ever could love, while to him the maid, wilful and passi

her again and again in his wonder, proud beyond all w

, you are

the all-beholding heavens who does not long to know that the man sh

vely dress you

you came down from Oxford, and

aw as I see you now. Nancy, there's no one

later years. Still, there's nothing sweeter or purer on God's green earth than the love of a clean-minded honest lad for the maid he has chosen from all others. It keeps the world young and hopeful; humanly speaking, it is life's greatest joy, and the man who can th

ly. Bob's new-found joy had led hi

to-night, Nancy. I know he'll be

not speak to him-

hy

ou mustn't speak to him unti

understan

that I have about men. He would never co

f alive. I've imagined that only thoughts, ideas mattered; now I know differently. I've lived only half-life. Mark you, I don't altogether go back upon my faith-I only add a new element to it. I've always said that we owe everything to thought. I've said that thoughts covered the seas with floating cities, and converted th

and what are y

ut reforms in our laws. There are great things that want doing, and I'm going to do them. I'm going to get at the helm of government, and destroy abuses. I am not go

ellow who has ever done or been anything in the world, has at some time in his life had such thoughts. Sad will it be fo

love to hear you speak in the House of Commons. Why, you might be elected for St. Ia! Dad has at g

aid to be sitting on a powder-barrel. Every nation in Europe is being bled to death, in order to pay war taxes, even although at present there isn't a shadow of war in the sky. Money that might be spent, and should be spent, on the betterment of the lives of the people

ou stop it? You wouldn't advocate the destruction of

war. He's said so a hundred times. The Czar of Russia doesn't want war. And yet hundreds upon hundreds of millions of money are being spent on war implements, while the people want bread. Besides, a ghastly, warlike, unchristian spirit is kept alive by thi

he nations could be persuaded to disa

y is half-hearted. The cause of Peace hasn't been voiced of late years. That's it," and Bob rose to his feet excitedly; "I see my work, Nancy. Neither your father nor any one else shall say th

the speeches that were made. They promised him that he should be made a colonel and all that sort of thing, and there was such laughing and shouting. Every one imagined it would be over in a few weeks; it seemed such a little thing to crush a few Boer farmers. After that I used to watch dad's face as he read his ne

ica too, desolated by that war, when-when it ought to have been avoided. Yes, my mind's made up. I'm going into Parliament, and I'm

tle, and then, when the proper time comes, I'll tell you. But, Bob," a

the lecturing. That's what it'll be all our lives,

u were going to be

don't lik

espise, it's cowardice," she cried. "I think I could forgive anyt

, and saw, close by, a newspaper blown

nd caught it. "It's to

looked at m

come to see the famous rock, contained news on which depended not only the future of their own lives,