The Tin Soldier

t Jean McKenzie first heard the thin

ne had remarked, "why Derry

in," Ralph Witherspoon had

. He looked extremely well in his Ensign's uniform, and he knew it;

't see why any man should. I never did bel

eriously. She was too pretty with her shining hair and

from her motor car with Derry Drake on the night of the Secretary's dinner. Alma

" Alma pursued, "

Italy-disturbing news; news from Russia-Kerensky had fled to Moscow-there had been pict

"you don't do yourself justice, Alma. Before you know it you will be d

sation-." Alma's lashes fla

d never be quite clear to him why he loved Jean. She was neither very beautiful nor very brilliant

under her breath, "how can she say things like that? If

in love with you-because you

ad come upon a band of workers. A long-haired and seditious orator was talking to them. Jean had stopped her horse to listen, and before she knew it she was answering the arguments of the speaker. Rising a little in her stirrups, her riding-crop uplifted to emphasiz

ly. "I am sure this gentleman will be glad to talk to you," she had said to her little audience. "I'll lea

ad been easy enough after that to find Jean on his mother's visiting list. Mrs. Witherspoon and Mrs. McKenzie had exchanged calls during the life-time of the latter, but they had lived in different circles. Mrs.

old acquaintance had been renewed. Ralph had wooed Jean ardently during the short furloughs which had been granted him, and fr

"It was dear of you to give i

ad asked when h

cau

e is no

aming girl-with all of real life ahead of her-with her innocence a white flower,

ously, his air of possession, the certainty wi

cape me," he

to her father. "When I marry a man I don't want to be

men would be able to stand it. Let th

love doesn't come the way you want it. You

old yo

mi

Emily kno

t that his own perfect love affair with his wife had been the exception. He looked

at laughed and cried when you pulled a string. And that the wo

roclaiming her opinion of Derry Drake to the rest of the

lma," said Mrs. Witherspoon, "and it is prob

rty in the trenches," said Alma, "but I can'

n's voice. Her son and Derry Drake had gone to school together and to college. Derry had

as she might had she seen a soldier stripped of swo

the draft?" sh

It's a bit hard for the rest of us fe

ever try t

stay away from things. You see, he knows that people are

id Jean,

ot exact

much differen

much money as that doesn't have to be brave. What does he care abo

ou all know it. How many of you would dare cut t

and Alma was right. They might talk about Derry Drake beh

, ate her salad, ate her ice, drank her

e might stand in the forefront of battle. She had envied the women of Russia who had formed a B

Drake's cowardice. He had seemed something so much more than that. And h

risen early in the morning to write in her memory book, and she had drawn a most entrancing border about the page, with

word wonderful-her heart had run to meet him, and now-it wou

f view. It was medieval in effect, with a balcony and tapestries, and some precious bits of

eps, and talked of many things which brought the red

as the evening waned, she saw Derry Dr

eting vision of a certain steel engraving of the "Princes in the Tower" which had hung in her grandmother's house. D

ilver, with a touch of that heavenly blue which seemed to belong to her. Her crinkled hair was combed q

ere late. But my other engagements kept me. If I could have d

ole. You know Dr.

May I dance with your daug

e is up there

t him when he came. Somebody ought to show him that his millions didn't count. She hadn't thought of his millions last

world couldn't take away the stain. A man who wouldn't fight at this mome

McKenzie, your father says you may dance

in her ears, he

eft-for you-" The emp

I haven't anythi

appened to him. "Ralph will let me ha

voice stopped him. "I am not going to dance any more

zzled stare. Ralph protested. "Oh, look here, Jean. If

going home. Please ta

-byes were said, and Jean was alone with her

love me,

rling,

you always-to the

So that was it

sorry for him, Daddy.

"I should be sorry for mys

"He is not going

were telling him on

w my own mind. That I was a sleeping Pri

O

Prince, Daddy. Ther

as she had seen him on the night of Cinderella. She would have n