'TWIXT LOVE AND DUTY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 47, 18 June 1915, Page 6

'TWIXT LOVE AND DUTY.

WHY HARRY O'RORKE WENT FOR A SOLDIER.

Harry O'Rorke was as fine a fellow as any could wish to see, Hi-> chest was broad and his smile the same, his stature was six foot three. He was healthy and cheery and brawny and bold, with a sledge-hammer kind of a fist; Buf, of course, he'd his faults, and the greatest was this: that he pointblank refused to enlist.

The fact was, he courted a lassie called Nell; oh. a sweet, golden-haired little thing. Willi neat, slender figure, and bonny blue eyes; she could sew, she cook, she could sing. She would sit and sew shirts for the soldiers for hours with never a wish to desist; And. of course, she had faults. ;tnd her greatest was this: that she wouldn't let Harry enlist. Whenever the subject was mentioned to her, .she'd answer quite simply and plain:— ' I don't want my Harry to go to the Front, to lose all, with nothing to gain. So ra.-li as he is they would kill Inin strvght off. Besides—one will never be missed. He hasn't to go!" It was settled at once. And that's wliv lie duln't enlist.

Jiut Harry's a heart which bumped up 'neuth his vest and said, "Why, this cannot be you ! To stay at home here in England, my lad, when you know you've a duty to do. Don't let a'i the other hoy- do all the work. Be off—straight away—i insist 1" Anil lie niutteied, "You're right!" and lie reached for his coat, and he went, like a man. to enlist. And they took him away to the Front pretty quick, and poor Xc'l was as white as a sheet. As he gave her a wave and went marching along to the tune of the hand down the street. And -.lie said to herself. " He may never come back!" and her pretty eves, filled with a mist. " But I know he's done right. It I !<>»<_• i him or not, I am proud that be j went to enlist." —"Tic Hits."