Page 35 - 1918 VES Meteor

THE }1ETEOR
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.fudgP. Just to say farewell to Tom. Tom, boy-- J[ollter (intcrruplillg). Judge, Tom i:; not going. .fudge (astonished). Xot ~oing! Why?
Jfother (scomfully). Ask him! (Drops in chair and
zceeps silently.)
Judge. :Myboy?
Torn. I just can't. It's not that I'm afraid. I'm not.
I think it's wrong to fight. It's not just. There is a higher law, the law of humanity. I can't go.
Judge (slowly.and gravely. }[oTHER looks up at him as he stands over To::-.r.) Tom, I haYe known you since baby- hood. I am going to speak to you as yom father would wet·e
he alive. I was vour father's friend, and his spirit must ue aliYC in you. Y~ushall not fail in the crisis. Yon come of a long line of fighting ance:;tors, and remember that not one of them fought for a dishonorable cause; all fought for great
and noble ideals, and it is for the perpetuation of those ideals that you arc called upon to fight now. There is no wToug in ;·our fighting. Yon are fighting for jn::;ticc and humanity, aud, if you do not fight) justice and mercy will giYc place to an iron reign. The Germans are the modern \'andals. Lool{ you upon tho ruined homes of l3clgimn, the ra,\ish:d gi.r1s,
the desolate widows, and think of your mother and s1ster. 1 need say no more. 1f:y boy, do not hesitate. The Rons of the Sonth and the sons of the i\orth arc the defenders of Amer·
ira and all hnmanit,. Go! To yom post!
(Silence. The Jrnca: rery stiff and yef eager. The
)[oTHER lool.-ing at her son, d w is lool•ing 'rery fhovghtful, with new l10pe. YIRGI~L\ ~lands in f11e doo1·u·ay holding To)r's tmiform. Theil. agflin, tliC bells, the call.)
Mother. 1t is the call.
Tom (jum]'ing ll]J eagerly, transfigured). It is? It is ! Thank God, I see it! The call! The eall of blood-of
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