Canton High School - Cantonian Yearbook (Canton, IL)

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THE CANTONIANQ C. HS l I I l l I for service somewhere and may never see you again, it seems foolish to bother your mind with my affairs. Pray for the freedom and victory of France as I shall do myself until my last breath. Foshae read the note over and over and ended it with the following sentence: Care for yourself and should you see fit, please care for Char. A train whistle was heard and Foshae hurriedly sealed the letter. In ten minutes Foshae with the rest of the volunteers from the village were bound for their destination. After several days of impatient waiting for his master's return, Char decided to set out in search of him. For four days Char wandered on, not knowing when or where to stop. His old home. not being far from the border of France, he was soon in hostile territory. It was early in the morning on the fourth day of his search when he reached a small German C'E'lH'lP. The soldiers at once decided to keep the dog with the intention of training him to search for wounded. Though Char was not a valuable dog, he was intelligent and soon learned and per- formed his duties skillfully. A year and a half passed and Char learned to enjoy his work for the enemy. One day after a battle, Char was sent on a searching trip as he had often been done before. However, he was not successful in finding the battlefield of the previous day and was returning to the camp when he heard a low moan. He hurried in the direction of the sound and found in a little hollow a man in a French uniform. Though his face was distigured and covered with blood, Char recognized the man as his old master. He seemed to realize that his master was dying, for he jumped from side to side, barking and howling like a mad dog. The noise attracted the attention of a soldier in a German uniform, who immediately hurried to find the cause of the disturbance. VVith great difficulty he quieted Char, lifted the Frenchman and asked his name. Foshae only pointed to his pocket from which the German soldier drew a letter addressed to Mr. Guy Foshae. Foshae! he shouted, Guy Foshae! VVhy, I have a brother by that name. You are my brother ! The wounded brother smiled sadly and tried to speak. Opvopenfit, he gasped. The German soldier then discovered that the letter had not yet been opened and that he was to read it to his brother. It is from Hilma, he began. You probably know her. She says that she will never forgive herself for the treatment that she gave you that night. Since that time she has learned the cause of your hesitationg that is, that you had three brothers in the German army. She fully realizes that you are not a coward and asks your forgiveness if that is possible. Guy Foshae heaved a sigh of relief. Nothing was said for several seconds, then the dying man said, Answer! , Surely, old chap,', replied the brother. Do you want me to say that she is forgiven? Guy nodded his assent and the brother promised to write to her. The French soldier said no more and died in a few minutes, leaving his partner in business and a brother enemy to mourn. Guy Foshae was never called a hero, and still he was never again spoken of as a coward. RUBY BATI-I, '19 VVhen the clouds all seem like black ones And the world turns upside down, When you sit on thrones of thistles, And you wear a thorny crown, Vifhen you see no glimpse of sunlight, Through the clouds before your eyes, Can a fellow be real happy If he grits his teeth and tries? If the clouds would turn to white ones -And the earth turn right side to, If acquaintances were friendly, And the word of each were true. If but one streak of sunlight VVere seen once in a while, It then would be no great task For a guy to sing and smile. RUBY BATH, ,157 - 1 ' Ill lll Ili!! 146

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C. I-I. S. THE CANTONIAN I I I I I I A BROTHER ENEMY UY FOSHAE was not a coward, at least he was not the sort of coward that we so often meet with in every day life. He feared no man or animal in his quiet life among the Mausse Hills of France, solitary except for Char, his dog and partner in business. Foshae lived comfortably by hunting, assisted by Char to whom he talked and whom he treated as a younger brother. The sun was just setting as Foshae rose from his stool by the fireplace, made a pretense at combing his disheveled black hair, and, reaching for his hat, left the crude little one-room hut. As he stepped out he was greeted as usual by Char who clumsily threw his huge front paws upon his master's chest and proceeded to kiss him affectionately, while his bushy tail beat steady time upon a large box which was near at hand. In return, Char expected a number off kind words and a few pats upon his shaggy head. This sort of greeting was only a curstom which Foshae and Char had kept during the six years of their partnership, and Char did not intend to violate the custom even though his master had been acting dreadfully sad and queer for two whole days. It was the master who had evidently forgotten the custom, for instead of the usual tenderness with which he greeted his partner, he knocked him aside and shouted harshly: Get away, Char! Go lie down! Char sulkily resumed his place by the door and lay looking questioningly at his master. Foshae was too deep in thought to notice the odended and bewildered creature, and hanging his head he walked slowly over the hill. Several times Char started by habit to follow his master, then remembering the harsh words he turned back each time more bewildered. It was dark when Foshae reached a quiet little village whose lighted houses might have looked cheerful to him had he been in a mood even to look at them. At a small, cheerless house and at the request of a young lady who greeted him at the door, he entered. Guy, exclaimed the girl, when they had seated themselves. what is the matter? You look ten years older to-nightf' There was no answer. Both sat silent for a few seconds, then she cried impatiently: VVell! VVhy did you come to-night if you won't talk? At this she started from the room, but came back when Foshae began: I--I want to talk-that's why I cameg for a little consolation, I guess. Consolation ?', Yes, haven't you heard? I've heard lots of things, of course. VVhat do you mean? Had you not heard about the war? IVar is declared. Of course I've heard about it. ls that why you look so down-hearted? I-I'm afraid it is, Hilma, that is- You! Are you a coward? Do you hesitate to fight for your country? Afraid rr And she tossed her head challengingly. Yes, Hilma, I hesitate be-because- No reason will excuse you from cowardice in warfare. You are a traitor and I hate you ! W But listen, Hilma, I'm not a cowardf, Not a coward ! She smiled sneeringly at him. And I suppose you still expect me to marry you, a coward, a traitor. VVon't you let me explain ? he pleaded. Explain! How can you explain.?7, 'gBut, Hilma- Oh! Go away, she sobbed bitterly, your presence annoys me. Foshae looked up. Hilma was gone but he could hear her sobbing in the other room. He picked up his hat and left the housq feeling like a sneak thief. All the way home he walked very slowly, trying to think, but somehow he could not collect his thoughts. It seemed only a terrible nightmare. A week later Guy Foshae was dressed in the uniform of a French soldier. He stood just outside of the door of his little hut and a big tear fell on his cheek as he bade Char good-bye. You must not go, he said kindly to the dog. I'1l be back some day-perhaps. Really, Char, I'm not the coward Miss Hilma believes me to be. You wouldn't want to kill your own brothers either, would you, old chap? Char wagged his tail violently. Of course you wouldn't, agreed Foshae, after interpreting the wagging of his tail as a negative answer. Foshae patted his partner a number of times, then arose and without looking back started over the hill as he had done the week before. He walked slowly but firmly and in about a half hour he reached the village whence a number of other young men in French uniforms joined him and went to the depot from which they were bound for service for their country. Here Foshae stole a moment or two to write Hilma a few lines. My dear, he began, you call me a coward, though were you to know the truth you would probably change your mind. But since I am now dressed in a French uniform, bound as 9 III III 145 Illll

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