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

a stronger player than Trevanion. Nancy, who sat by his side, was radiant with smil

wn to a man like Trevanion, and then to beat him, means not only ski

until it's won, sir,"

What did I hear about your plan to

e good lu

being a book-worm. Of course your scholarship will come handy to you in Parliament, so per

o do them

hat Roger would go into Parliament; indeed, he was as good as nominated for St. Ia. But he was killed in the Boer War, poor fellow.

ennack?" he went on, when presently

I can't. I must get b

omise to his mother seldom goes wrong. But come up to

d Bob. "Thanks very much, Ad

, and to prepare the way for me, than if you had got ten

Bob, "because I shall

the evening with us," she said r

But I told you how things

arly," cried Nancy

ion. Acres upon acres were made purple by this modest flower. The sea was glorious with many coloured hues, the whole country-side was beautiful beyond

nd he had barely entered the little town when he saw Count von Weimer,

ndering if I should haf the good fortune to mee

ranger to St.

and-and because I want peace." He still spoke in broken

peace?" Bo

mother's side. I love France too, and am at heart a Frenchman. But then my house is in Alsace-Alsace, you understand. France under German Government. I can say her

u like

, progress. That is why I think of buying a house near St. Ia, and settling down. Realising my position in Alsace

t beautiful spot o

ouse yesterday which captivated, charmed me. Tre-Trelyon, yes, that's it; Trelyon,

the district. Why, it belongs to Admiral Tresize,

Oh, yes, I saw him! What a splendid specimen of

wife's family, the Trelyons. I'm s

pose, what you would call a rich man, but I hate dealing with agents, and lawyer

he's most

he Navy, I

, but he is still one of the most

I am a man of peace. I hate war of every sort. I am at one with what

the Servia

y behind them, and now, I suppose, they've sent impossible demands to Servia. It is here in the e

ow

on European politics,

se of Servia, Germany w

't you see w

many would declare

ry, although I am an Alsatian, is bound to be d

" cried Bob eagerly.

eed not fear. England, in spite of the Entente Cordiale, holds to her p

military nation, in spite of a section of the communit

me. But about my desire to buy Tre-Trelyon-ah, your English names are hard to pronou

al Tre

you think it would be po

ered what the Admiral had said. "I'm dining at his ho

ndly of you; but I must

eve

. "Yes, I can quite imagine how one who is a Frenchman at hear

ed across the Channel, even while it was generally felt that the tragedy of Sarajevo could never lead to open hostilities. About the middle of July, as all the world knows, it was believed that Aus

of the Austro-Hungarian Note to the Servian Government, especially when we read the terms of the Note. They were so brutal, so arrogant, that we could not see how any s

ceived a letter from a friend who lived in Vi

he has been using almost superhuman efforts in perfecting his army and navy, until Germany has become the greatest fighting machine in the world. It is well known, too, that the Kaiser believes that Russia is so impoverished and enfeebled by her war with Japan that she is no longer dangerous, and he considers France altogether unprepared for war. This being so, it is the general opinion in diplomatic circles that the Kaiser's purpose in sending Servia impossible conditions is intended to arouse hostilities. Only to-day I had a chat with a man who moves in the inner circle of things, and he told

I suppose I smiled incredulously, for th

pocrisies, is a war devil. He hates the thought that England shoul

a fool," I replied. "He kno

and arrogance. He thinks Germany

ria's demands with the exception of two points, and suggested tha

r!" I thought; "nothing

arded Servia's answer as unsatisfactory, and that the Austro-Hungarian M

w's house, where I saw Bob reading t

ied-"just fine. What

was he who proposed

, and now it is he agai

is

Balkan Conference didn'

arrel? The murder of the heir to the Austrian throne. A g

letter which he received from V

pure imagination. Do you know, I admire th

oug

ever the circumstances, England had no occasion to be dragged in, and that it would be criminal on the part of our statesmen if they allowed it. Evidently Sir Edward Grey thinks the same. Of co

ermany

b confidently, "we shall soon he

ds the views expressed by the Admiral's frie

t Austria, without giving Servia any chance for further consideration, had declared war upon her, and seized certain of her vessels which happened to

ry one, but because they will help to make the story I am writing

equence a Council was held in Berlin. Of course we knew nothing of what was said in that Council, but when we heard t

ar on Russia on August 1, and I remember meeti

o join in a Conference; but Germany refused. Nothing can be plainer than that. If Germany had wanted peace, she could easily have

know the reason Germany g

. Fancy saying that Austria as a Great Power could not think o

ed Bob. "But, thank heaven, we are

pray not,"

hink it possib

, Luxemburg is a small neutral state, and has been promised the protection of the

hearsay," w

I answered; but Bob did n

e Boer War nearly broke his heart, while this business threatens to b

ewspapers, and events followed so rapidly

e when he read Sir Edward Grey's momentous speech. His

. "Whose ever hands are clean of this bloody business, h

ll in vain,"

t the Kaiser, in spite of his pious harangues, has b

cessity for us to be

elp Russia on account of their alliance, and the question will naturally arise as to whether we can s

k of war,

hat war is, know of its bloody horrors. War is hell, I know that; but I would rather

crush us. She has no

e angrily, but did not

proofs that all this is a part of Germany's plans; that she has used these Sarajevo murders as a pretext for causing Euro

ared. The shadow of war had closed the Stock Exchange, and paralysed b

of England to rise and help their country in her need. Several you

my name," cried George

. at

y," said Dick quietly. "Trevanion's

ob quietly, "I