CIGARETTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1916, Page 10

CIGARETTES.

(By LESLIE THOMAS.) I Although Corporal Henry Best was a stranger In the little town, many folks ? turned to stare after him as Jie walked i along. Some nodded a friendly saluta- * tion; others even stopped and spoke, seeing that his left arm was bandaged an.l rested in a sling. ' Off-handedlv he. answered the invariable questkn. and in return put one ' t>! hi? own. "Yes: keep straight on for Pomona 1 Road," lie was instructed. Corning to a corner in due course, he turned along the quiet side-street, and < began to examine the numbers on the houses. At last he pushed open a gate. ,■ "Does Miss Wfcney live here—Miss Mabel Witney? Fd like to speak to her for a few minutes, if she doesn't mind." ; Asked to step in, ho waited rather nervously. Footsteps sounded in the passage. "I've just come to thank you,' , he ■■ blurted out, "for the cigarettes you sent SJS." The fair-haired girl.gave a little start, ami smiled. "Oh:" she murmured, ":>o you're from the trout. You've been wounded.' , "Out of hospital now, Hough, and soon I'll bo able to get back. Meantime, having a few days' furlough, I—l thought I'd look you up. Your name aad addrcio were on the package, you see. The boys would have liked mc to come. They were jolly grateful, I can tell you!" Corporal Best had stammered slightly; Miss Witney was also rather confused. She glanced at his shoulder. "Blankshire Fusiliers." He nodded. "I didn't know what regiment would have them.' , "Ah! those smokes were grand! If you could only have seen us enjoying ithem! The vestas, too —we'd hardly a match left in D Company. We fairly blessed you!"' The fair-haired girl flushed happily. "I'm so glad they were appreciated." "If the truth were known, you helped to win a bit of one battle. All of us wanted ;i cigarette, theTe in the trenches. "We'd been under artillery ■ fire for hours —hadn't moved. Yes; -we were dying for a smoke. Then a lull came; and they brought up your present—handed out" a packet to everybody. We were 60 surprised we could hardly speak. T-hen-the chaps gave a cheer, and they all lit ap. Afterwards the Germajis " He hesitated, glancing at the clock on the mantelpiece. "Do sit down and tell mc all about it," Miss Witney urged. "That is, if joa aren't in a hurry." "I was wondering whether you could spare the time to listen," the corporal explained. "Well, as,l was going to cay, at got dark; and the Germans crept up to try ta take us by surprise—hand to land" fighting —bayonet work. And I'm sure they'd have beaten us .back, there •being about four times, as jnany of 'an, only we'd had our smoke, and that put new life into us.' , -"Yes;" the girl queried, leaning for•ward. "And then?" i= We held on,'? concluded Corporal 3est simply. Hiss Witney's eyes were shining. Unconsciously she stretched out her hand. "I'd like to hear some more, please."

He mentioned various experiences, and described many episodes of the firing line, trave deeds which his comrades had performed as a matter .of duty—hostly, he inferred, under the stimulating influence of.iliss Witness cigarettes. "Oh; I'm afraid you "exaggerate!" He shook his head.. "If s all true. Speaking for myself, they cheered mc up no end. Nothing else would have done the same. I'd been feeling- sort of lonely; you knois* —a≤ if nobody cared what happened to me—nobody at home, I mean. I'm an orphan. Miss Witney; and what relations I've got —well, I don't suppose ■they evs£ know Tm in fits Army. That's how it ■ses. When I read your name, out there, it seemed to mc that you were a iriend of mine—if you don't mind mc Baying so " The girl made a hasty gesture. "So naturally I wanted to see you. Pve often wondered what you were like —whether you were an old maiden lady, or —or " She laughed softly. "I won't ask if you're disappointed. I'm very pleased, anyhow, that yon came. And I'll never forget the Blankshire Fusiliers—D Company, isn't it 5" Corporal Beet rose to go. "You must tell them, when you get lack, that I'm thinking of you all." He met her gaze with respectful admiration. '■'It'll help mc a lot to rememherthat!" "Don't forget there's 30Tnething-in England who wishes you well. I can quite understand your feeling lonely and neglected, especially when the other men get letters from home." '"Could you write a line later on to mc?" T!ie corporal was surprised at his own bolun&as. "That is to say— you ivon't make anybody jealous if you do?" She smiled, with a sigh and,a shake of the head. "I should have thought," 'he stammered, "that there was a'whole m>wd of :ellows —who —well, I'm surprised!" At the hall-door she offered her hand', and Corporal Best reluctantly , prepared to depart. "We might meet again one of these jl a y= — if I'm lucky," he managed to remark from the gate. He found a place in the town to sleep that night; and the following morning fee spent in promenading the main streets, hoping to encounter iliss Witney f It was not until the afternoon, Siafc they came face to face. She stopped,Oo chat; and a quarter of an hour passed raggaly.. Finally; he escorted her part'of the -way horse, For the next §ew days his plans succeeded equally dell. By new she had dropped a certain formality of -manner, and treated fcim as an old acquaintance. Once he confided his aspirations fot promotiea. She hoped, she aseared him, thai the sergeaat's stripe -would soon to 1113 sleeve. A stout, rubicund man mottled face passed them at that-moment, eying the corporal with disfavour as he raised ihis hat. "That's >Ir. Pickering. I expect I'm gonig to marry him eventually," Miss Witney commented. Corporal Best gave a violent start. -Don't!" he exclaimed in a fervent whisper. Then lie coloured, wishing he had not spoken. The girl, however, did not seem to "My people advise it," she added caielessly. " He's vrell off, you know. I daresay things will driit on and on ,tiß one "of these days I shall find I'm enlaced to ihim." '•You don't tare one way or the other-?" asked the corporal jerkily. She shrugged her shoulders. w "Son 3 xe thinking of the fine Jhome he could give yon, perhaps. I once kneoff eomeone —it's sis or -serpn "years - aggi now "

"Well?" Miss Whitney prompted, .with a sudden show of interest. " I imagined anjself in love with iher, I suppose. At any rate, -when she threw mc over, I remember I—l was very cut up. But Hihia—that was her name—she didn't mind hurting my feelings! She took the other fellow because he had a bit of money and a nice, house and furniture. I hear they led a cat-and-dog life, though." He broke off. "And. so you're warning mc against accepting Mr. Pickering?" Corporal Best winced at her tone, and began to apologise. " I didn't mean " " It's all right." Her manner changed. "Of course, you don't want to hear about my one and only love affair. She looked up at him chaflmgly. " I daresay you've forgotten about your faitliless sweetheart long ago." "Yes; I have—now," responded the corporal slowly. They walked a little way together in silence; then Miss Witney disconcerted him by suddenly saying good-bye and boarding a tram. He strolled thoughtfully back to his lodgings. The next day they did not meet at all; and by the time Corporal Best retired to bed he was bad tempered in the extreme. " I've offended her," he growled. Tin better with my rifle than my tongue, and that's a fact!" The following afternoon he waited for over an hour near the corner of Miss Witney's road, gazing at frequent intervals in the direction of her gate. Hia patience "was at last rewarded. Hurriedly he withdrew out of eight; then turned round and walked forward again. "My luck's in! Fancy, just as I happened to be passing '' "' Why, your arm's not bandaged now. Is it quite 'better again?" asked the girl as they shook hands. He nodded. "This i≤ my last day. My leave's up." "That means you're off to-morrow— ' back to the front. I expect you're , pleased!" "For some things," the corporal , agreed. "It'll seem strange, spending Christ- ; imas over there —fighting, inetead ot 1 sitting down with your friends to a . turkey and plum pudding." i "That's the Kaiser's fault; and I'll i- have-to pay off my grudge somehow!" ; He cleared his throat. ''Were you going anywhere particular?" i " I'd made up my mind to visit my cousin." ; Hie face fell. "Wouldn't another i time do as well? You see "She doesn't exactly expect mc," Miss I Witney admitted. ( In fact, the cousin was forgotten as , they strolled up the hill and acro33 the > common. The girl listened engrosscdly > to more of Corporal Best's adventures i in France. > " You were going to tell mc about the , time your regiment rushed the German ; trenches."

'•H'ni! well, I'm not much of a chap for describing things." £ "That's only modesty," she retorted, "and at all!" n " They outnumbered vs —as usual,' he began, after a moment. "They came in swarms. We mowed 'em down with maxims and rifle fire. Owing to their - close formation, you absolutely couldn t enise! But for "all the hundreds they were losing, thousands seemed to spring up from nowhere. Our chape did their utmost, but jnst the weight of the encmv carried 'em back." - "You -mean- the '" Germans '.'daptuied' that position?" " Not for long! The Blankshires were .behind, acting as the first line of reserves tiiat day. luckily the Germanh advanced, instead of holding the gTound they'd won. Consequently, my regiment ' routed "em." , "You're not giving mc any details,' CMiss Witney interposed. "Not only stopped 'em., but-followed 'em up—right over our first trenches back to their own. The Germans ran, and we chased 'em." His eyes flashed. "Cold steel did the work. Round mc the fellows in D Company were fighting • like demons. They meant to have their Tevenge!" He seemed to forget the girl's presence as he described the scene. Certainly "he did not notice the growing look of repulsion on her face or observe her'shrink away. "Stop, stop!" she cried abruptly. "I won't listen to any more. It's hatefull" With a start Corporal Best realised that she was waving him a.?ide. "You're callous —brutal!" " I'm a soldier," he returned deprecatingly. "Soldiering a rough trade; there's no getting away from that. Besides, you wanted mc to tell you " Miss Witney swung away from him. "I think I'd better go and see my cousin after all." "But you said " " I'll wish you srood-bye now." " I was hoping," Corporal Beet blurted, " that you might be able to come as far ac the station to-morrow —I'm catching the nine o'clock train." " I'm afraid it's not convenent," she murmured coldly. "Youil write to mc, though?" " Please don't expect that, else you'll be disappointed." "Didn't you promise——" "Then I must ask you to excuse mc." The picture of helpless regret, he tried to detain her. " You know I've fallen in love with y OU _y Ol i know It quite well. I wasn't going to cay anything about it, though, till I came baek —till the war's over. Still, you might have given mc a hint before, instead of letting mc think——" " If you choose to imagine thing 3, it's net my fault, is it?" The corporal drew himself up. "So you'll marry your precious Mr. Pickering with his money bags! Ah, well! all girls are the same!" "Good-bye!" called Miss Witney, hardly turning her head. "What's come over him?" That was the question asked continually by D Company. of the Blankshire Fusiliers. They could not understand the alteration which had taken place in Corporal Henry Best. They all knew that he was plucky; he had always shown cool courage when in a tight-corner. But now it had become a foolish disregard for his personal safety. He risked his life recklessly. Twice he- "was commended for daring and successful aet3; the third time, a superior officer rebuked him. "Wo don' -want to lose good men, Best. We'll need every one we've got before we're through with this business. Don't let mc hear of you behaving like that again. It was stiger madness!" A Tiacancjr occurred? aqreever, a week laierj apd he •sras-prompted. *&c«¥" im. a .sergean£; btrfc she £nassr thought J

When he was fighting his mind was occupied; but in the long hours'of inaction, he had time to think of Mabel Witney. Gloomily he would recall memories of her, picturing the room in which they had first met. Nobody could rouse him from his depression. "I hope we get a post delivered this i week. My wife's sure to write mc a line." "I don't have to worry about letters, thank goodness!" he growled. I Nearly all the men • received some correspondence next day.-. When he saw them reading and re-reading the precious sheets of notepaper, he pretended that he did not care. He scoffed at comrades who wished to quote pieces of domestic news. One evening information eauie to hand giving the exact position of one of the enemy's ammunition convoys. Three men were asked to volunteer for a dangerous mission. Sergeant Best and two privates of D Company were finally chosen. Stealthily in the darkness, hiding often and making wide detours, they approached the enemy's Hues. Separating, they crawled towards the German sentries. In the early hours of the morning the commanding officer, watching anxiously through his night-glasses, saw a flash of light on the horizon. A great explosion followed. "By gad!' , he ejaculated proudly. "They've done the trick!" Two men returned, the remaining private unhurt, but Sergeant Best wounded and limping. Much to his disgust, he was ordered to the base hospital. Here the doctors attended to him swiftly and skilfully. "Feeling more comfortable now?" He assented gratefully enough, but in a tone which implied that it was a matter of small importance. Presently, however, a message came, "Sergeant Best? A parcel for you, the nurse repeated. An amazing change occurred in ma demeanour. "For mc? You're sure?" he queried eagerly, half incredulous. "Oh, it's addressed "Corporal Best, but there's no mistake." The name was plainly written in a feminine hand. As he feverishly tore open the wrappings, discovering a box of cigarettes, he hardly dared to hope that "his first excited conjecture was 1 correct. ■ Inside the box lay a slip of paper. "Mr. Pickering has gone away. All girls aren't the same. Come back safe— Mabel." , . Servant' Best held it tightly in his fingers as he dropped back upon his pillows. , •If I can. I will—by Jove, yes! he murmured ecstatically to himself. "What do you think t"