Mount Carmel Township High School - Kismet Yearbook (Locust Gap, PA)

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2 F fa E Q The next day war was declared lon Germany by England. Everybody in the countrv was enthusiastic over chasin' the Hun, and makin' him play in his own back yard. Finally the great battle of the war was fought, the christen- ing of the British troops, the Battle of Loos. The British scored a complete victcry. The patriotic feeling that swept over Eng- land at that time engulfed nearly every human on the island. Phil again visited June and this time she told him she was registered as a field nurse and was to leave for France within a fortnight. Phil thought this self-sacrifice was a wonderful act. He had already applied for his captain's commission and expected a reply at any date. Louise knew of his visits to the Kirney home and resented it. Phil was so enthused over June's patriotism and self-sacrifice, he made a suggestion to Louise, saying that she ought to do something worthy for the cause. He said that she should not be outdone by a gardener's daughter. When she heard .lune's name mentioned she lost all self-control and immediately flamed at Phil. She cpenly accused him of visiting June Kirney, and to top the proceeding she threw his engagement ring in his face. At first Phil was dumfounded and struck speechless. But when he recovered, he became undaunted and easily perceived a woman of her calibre was not worthy of any man's affections. He resolved that he would not have anything further to do with her. Phil was given back his old commission as captain of the Coventry Guards, his old trocp. After organizing his forces, he left by train for Dover and from there embarked for Calais. They landed in Calais in a blinding snowstorm, December 3, 1915. Phil's troop belonged to the 59th Regiment, which was assigned to the Scmme sector on the western front. The Germans at this point launched drive after drive in an effzrt to capture the Chan- 1181 ports. So when Phil's company arrived it was immediately sent into action. They distinguished themselves in the way they drove the Germans back. But during the drive Phil's great friend, the divisional com- mander, was killed and the next week Phil was given notice of his promotion to divisional commander, and he received orders to move his troops to Ypres. The Germans, finding the Somme sector impregnable, began to concentrate their efforts upon Ypres. The Allies began to mass their triceps in an effort to erueli the great salient which the Germans were driving in their lines. June was stationed in the vicinity of Ypres. Phil was slightly wounded in a skirmish and spent a week in a base hos- pital. He then returned to his regiment. During military maneuvers he met June. She was driving an ambulance. The ambulance driver was killed about two hours before and .lime toek his place. Phil spoke to her fer about a half hour. Duty compelled her to take the Wounded to the base hos- pital. Somehow or ether on the return to the base hospital with THIRTYFIVE

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1' 'Q THE TIMELY AVVAKENINGD A well built, handsome looking young man stood lazily against the brick wall of the War Oflice. War clouds threatened England, for her powerful adversary, Germany, was piling insult after insult upon the British. The young man appeared to be about 26 years of age. His name was John Philip Royster, the only son and child of Lord Royster, a wealthy land owner and a Member of Parliament. His first name was John, but he was known to the people of his neighborhood in the Berkshires as Phil. Yes, Phil had seen something cf life. He was a member of the Coventry Guards, a detachment of the King's own regiment. Phil was very enthusiastic about the Army the first two years he served. After two years of service he was given a captain's com- mission. But lately drill practice and the early hours one had to rise had bored him. So he was standing in front of the War Oflice doubtful of which of the two courses he ought to take. Whether to retain his commission or relinquish it. He finally decided in favor of the latter and left for his father's home in the Berkshires. There was also another reason for leaving the Army. He was engaged to marry Louise Markel, a comely young lady of 21. She was a very irritable person and at times very difficult. Louise was the daughter of Henry Markel, an 'old retired manufacturer. The wedding was to take place within two weeks, and great preparations were being made for the affair. Phil had plenty of amusement for his leisure hours. His fa- ther, Old Matt, as he was termed by l1is neighbors, was a large, stout man in his early Hfties. He possessed a strong tempera- mental character and was cheerful and jovial at all times. Phil being his only son, he bestowed everything upon him. Old Matt owned the large palatial family mansion, his vast estate included the land for miles around. On the second day of his return home, Phil decided to visit his old friend Sam Kirney. Sam lived alone with his daughter J une in a little cottage on the Royster estate. Sam was the gar- dener of the Royster estate. He inherited the position from his father. The job as gardener was hereditary in the Kirney family. But the race was about to die out, for Sam Kirney had only one child, his daughter June. She was a pretty, dark-haired girl of 20 and a great friend of Phil. When Phil approached the Kirney homestead, June was waiting at the gate. At first she thought it was a stranger, but when she recognized Phil she immediately rushed out to meet him. Her father was not at home, so Phil had to spend the evening in her company. She told P'hil of her intention to join the Red Cross forces if war broke out. Phil acceded it was a fine idea, but warned her of the dangers to be risked. TI-HRT Y-FOUR

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H A - X ff' 2 1 the wounded occupants of her ambulance she took the wrong road and was headed for the German lines. Belgium was so devastated that one could see for miles around. Phil watched her progress along the road, and when he saw her make the wrong turn at the crossroads, became alarmed. Several artillery horses were standing nearby. Phil mounted one of them and rode as fast as the horse would carry him. He had to traverse open ter- ritory, in order to head her off. Two German snipers had taken shots at him. One of the shots grazed his shoulder, but unmind- ful of the injury, he kept ,gaining upon the ambulance. When Phil told June what she had done she was terrified, not for her own safety, but that of the wounded prisoners. Both Phil and June were to be decorated for their bravery and were to be honored bv Marshal Haig, the commander-in-chief of the British armies. He had established his headquarters in a cottage in a little valley about seven miles from Ypres. Phil was recalled from the front for a consultation with General Haig con- cerning certain military operations. Marshal Haig's presence was kept secret so that no spies would get wind of it. So Phil dis- missed his chauffeur about a mile away from the place. Phil came plodding along the muddy road. He was near the peak that turned down into the ravine. His eyes became uncon- sciously fixed upon an object. lt was a man with a rifle. Phil im- mediately saw the target he was aiming at. It was the cottage. Phil acted quickly. He drew his heavy automatic and fired. The fellow quivered and fell over the ledge. Phil turned the body over. It was Freddie Schmidt, the famous German spy. Phil left for the cottage to report the matter. Coming upon the porch, he noticed a live-gallon glass jar. He investigated and found out it contained glycerine. He intended to blow the place up. Undoubtedly the German followed the Marshal from Brus- sels with the intention of assassinating him. When he saw the Marshal had established a base, he had to act quickly. He put the glycerine on the porch unnoticed and tlhen ran toward the hill with the intention of escaping the flying debris, and when he was in the act of shooting was killed by Phil. Old Matt Royster died in 1917. Phil and June came home and were married and occupied the old mansion. When Phil was reading the daily paper one day he found in the divorce notices Louise's name. He often said to June afterward it was a TIMELY AWAKENING. ' JOSEPH McANDREWS, '27 THIRTY-SIX