TWO SOULS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 11 September 1902, Page 23

TWO SOULS.

I. ' Hear.t of Jesus, have mercy on me poor boy,' sobbed Mrs. Hinclun. Mrs. Hinchm said this us she sat in the Guard-room, of her Majesty's military barracks at Coik, of which town the worthy woman was (sa\e in her calling) an unobtrusive citizen. ' Oh ! wisha, Joe, Joe, what ' ' Yerra, cheer up, mother, you'll bo bethur before your twice mar.rid,' replied Joseph, with a forced cheerfulness. 'If you only kern homo last night, boy ' a fact to which Joe inwardly assented, and he could hardly stifle a groan when he saw how the rosy pictures of ease and enjoyment which the recruiting sergeant had drawn, fon his tipsy brain. had up till 1 then only materialised into a loss of his liberty and a splitting headache ' An' sure if I could make up the price o' ye itself, but me little handful o' valla wouldn't make it in, tin year.' Tho ' value ' was Mrs ll's professional term for the basket of vegetables, her stock in trade, which lay outside near tho barrack gate. ' Anyhow, Joe darhn', won't you promise mo to mind yourself ; Say " Sweet Heart of Josus " every night before you goes to bed, won't you, Joe, allanna ? ' ' I will, mother,' assented Joe, who waa struggling between his inclination to cry and his shame of the grim smile on the face of the bronzed sengeant who was watching the scene a little distance away. ' There, there now. mother ' ' And won't you mind the dhrmk, Joe boy "> ' said tho mother, beginning again with renewed courage like Abraham. Jog hung his weary head. ' And look ! take that badge ot tho Sacred Heart and carry it always, won't you now '> Promise me And if ;\ on c ' ' Och, my Hod, mothei , la\e us alone ! ' and with a wolence that was half tenderness .loe lumped up and fairly sinned his poor mother out of the. room and pulled the door. to. The handful of '\alla ' Was nist then occupying the humorous attention of one of the red-coated loungers about tho barrack ga te, who was exciting gioat amusement by inserting pebbles and stones into the wares of Mrs IT and specuJating, not too respectfully, on tho possible owner When the said owner armed drying her e,\es in her apron tho wag proceeded to console her most tendeilv, and the poor woman's grief prevented lier fiom noticing tho con\ulsi\e amusement of tha other soldiois till the solemn assurance that 1 hey would 'make him say lus pra\ers e\eiy morning' aroused tho dark suspicion in tlic worthy mation's mind th<\t the fellow was only ' humbugging ' her. With tho gallant assistance of her consoler she proceeded to hoist the heavy basket on her back, but Iho tremendous hea\e of tho rascal behind landed the load nearly upon her shoulders and tumbled much of tho pile over the owner's head. With a doubtful compliment on his dexterity, Mrs. ITinchm was turning around, when tho shout of laughter raised by tho event suddenly collapsed, and to a s-hort. sharp cry of ' t'shun ' every man stood up and stood liko a statue. A sparely limit elderly man with white hair and m tho uniform of a general was standing behind. Mrs-. H, noticing tho plumes in his tri-colored hat. bobbed as well as her load would allow her, and with a faint hope for Joe rising in her mother's heart she said :

' 'Twas the way me poor .son 'liste ' ' What corps does that man belong to, sergeant"' ' said t he general (who commanded the di-tiict), noi healing the bowed head of Mis II , hut nxmg a. look on hci a^ailnni which made that young man grow \<m y serious. ' The X 's, bir . here on escort duty,' said the sergeant. ' Confino him till he lea\cs," was tho prompt answer, and to her wonder the great man stooped and, tnkrm up the fallen \egetables. put them on tho old woman's ha.sket, while private Finch was marched into the guards-room to reflect with muoh profane \erbal. acconii>animent on the uncertainty of luuinan life. The sorrowing mother moved off, waddling sturdily under her hea\^ load, and cininitmg from tune to tiino, apparently for the public benefit, a sing-sonir ri^ . which only the experienced can of the housewife could recognise as ' line caulillowers ' Ah, poor woman, thy chant was in the minor key , and though the load on thy poor aching back givew lighter, tho load on thy mone aching" heart was not relie\ed She was a sincerely pious soul, and thai same evening as she wended her way to tho confraternit\ meeting she wound up her description of the day s experience- to her ' gossip,' Mi s Reban, by tho sorrowful remark . ' Thnn sojers is the di\il ' — a lamentable arguing from particular to general which would ha\e gne\ed the soul of itudyard Kipling She felt better, however. when she had subsided heavily in her se.it in St. Patrick's Church And, ah ' poor Mother Kinchin, though \ our addii ion to the de\out chorus was not the sweetest, nor (without being too blunt) tollouing (unte on the lines of the toinposer, though your li.wnnbook was held upside down, and \om pi onunciation of Iho sacied name had tho broad sound of the Minister lush, \et your effort was not hv an\ means the least pleasing to the CJieat .Listener, who knew the mikv and read Iho heart of o\ery one of the hundreds theie Perhaps, indeed, nioie of those- tears that tho Inlimte J_o\e m our tabernacles is tlurstmg foi aie wiped away by cluck aprons than by Cciiuhru; handkerch ieis Her .Joe. her onl\ bo\ was gone for a 'soiei,' and oiilv (lod knew what would become oi him Joseph's rellcctions on the situation were interrupted liv the sadden entrance- of linesman Finch who connecting tho detected Coi koinaii with his own unexpected conlmemeni , proceeded to gi\c him and all his ielations a distinguished place in the mud-geyser of ad|ecti\es with which ho was o\erwhelnnng all lepresentatni'S of law and order Another, tnno this would )ia\e led to the destruction of the guai il-rooni furniture, but the scion ot the house of llmchm, after his (irst astonishment, confined himself to a few tei se oluurgations to his assailant .Little did either ol the two men think of what results this inauspicious meeting was- Lo lead So blindly do we move thi.ough our pai t m tho woild. we ne\er know how tho piece will end oi when Will it be comedy or ti\i'god\° Tho clown wo laugh at in the InM act. while we stint as the hei.o. ina\ .show ho boai s 1 a noble beat t beneath tho motley dic-s, ,\nd we m.i\' iind our armor, only paper tinsel cio tho curtain has rung down Only One knoweth the end

ii. Six months' drill and a regimental tailor made a consider.ablo mipro'vrment in the appearance of the new

chum of the X.'s, and he was by no means below the average when ho joined E Company of that distinguished body of warriors ati Templemore. But, ah me ! there are tilings) to be learned in the army besides the intricacies of the latest form of drill, and that, too, by a young fellow who had passed no inconsiderable portion of his 24 years at tho street corners of his beloved city. In truth, the statement in his mother's petition for his nelease which represented him as tho ' sole support of his mother' was a slight straining of tho facts of the case, though its Wompt (and, of course, regretful) rejection (in a long blue envelope) caused tearful indignation in the Hindi in household. Joe had unwittingly enlisted in an English regiment, winch contained but a small number of Catholics, and these— Rnglwh-born all of them— he found, from tho extent of their religious knowledge, might bo classed just as truly as Mohammedans. His hopes had risen when ho hoard of an () Connor and a Leahy, but he fairly, stood aghast when he found some tune afterwards that both of them. who were ' bred, born and reared ' m the Seven Dials, didn t know in the least what Mass was about, and had ne\cr even heard of the Blessed Virgin. However, as he surlily answered tho famt remonstrances of his conscience, ' when you're with pigs 1 you must grunt '— -a'now version of the old adage about Home. He learned that, though the moral atmosphero of his nathe haunts was not always pellucid, it was a restraint to li\ c amidst a Catholic population , ho learned what a check on the broad down-grade had been the example and prayers of his poor, pious mother, and that as no on© apparently expected any good from a soldier, ho might as well let his character go as easily as his few shillings weekly pay. 'Kilo, Corkoy.' was the first salutation ho got in the bar.rack quarters, and the speaker sat on tho bed wheio he had been stretched • Know 'im ! ' he added' to inquiries , • me and 'mi's old chums ; ain't we - Corkey "> ' Joseph was christened on the spot. llmchm uas mo father's name' said Joe, slowly as he stared at the speaker, who ha<* risen and came o\er, offering his hand, 'and they christened mo Joe, so if you don't mind ' The two men were a contrast as they stood facing each other in tho strong- I'ight from the window The ■smile had left the Irishman's blue e\es tor once, and 1 ho deep line down between tho e.\cbrows made tho usually good-humored tanned face look a little formidable. When an lushman of that kind grows quiet under pro\ocation, you had better handle him gmgerlv Tho other soldier looked older, am \ fine dark eyes lit a face of sallow paleness- — a keen dane-de\il face, the strong; bulldog mouth that showed a broad line of whito teeth m a hard smile amply atoning for any softness in the eyes. Don t you remember me, then ? ' And it was only when a mimicry of Joe's mother at the gate of Cork barracKs had boon given, so droll that tho son had to smile, that he recognised his assailant of tho first morning of his military life ' Oh, is that you *> ' ' v <\ as ' rnvulo Albert Finch, of TTer Maiestv's X.'s ' Mi- Finch seemed to lie in a very different mood that day ITo was \ery affable, so cleverly affable that tho new chum did not suspect any thing as they subsequently, with two or Hire.) others, proceeded on Joe's imitation to that Mecca of the thirsty Atkins— the canteen. To bo ' da- • cent' is bred in the bone of every Hibernian— a moan one is sure to be a hybrid. Joe soon came to see tho position Bertie Finch had in tho battalion. With intelligence to make him a ' non-com.' in a year, he remained a full private because he waa

too often full in an entirely different sense. He was known as the Warbler because he really was so in more than his name. He was one of tho singers of the regiment. But few ventured on that familiarity unless: tho addressee were in a very sunny mood There were times when a kind! of savage moodiness came on the man, and woe betide whoever put the spark to his volcanic temper. His tongue was a biting scourge. Had his victims any peculiarity, bodily or mental, a savage caricature was painted of him, and if the subject were too stupid to be affected by withering ridicule, the fecund mind of the man, like the quick-firing gun, poured a hail of epithets that the fiend could handly improve on. Finch could afford this, for, thougfi not the most powerful man in the battalion, his skill when he put up his hands, and the devil behind his hitting, had fonced a toleration of his eccentric ways on the hottest tempers in the regiment. Give him the minstrel corps to coach for a sing-song and he had officers and men feeble at his whimsical absurdities. Next day probably he would walk alone, with the doom of the damned shadowed in his dark eyes. Such fits had invariably one ending — drink. And then until the guard-room held him there was nothing he was not liable to do. Joe was generally exempt from attack, but one evening there was an exception, and result was the appearance of both men next morning before the colonel ; Finch with a plastered gash whene the heel of a heavy regimental boot had struck him. The cause of war had been the Cork man's sensitiveness about his country, and the result was his removal to the diistrict military prison Cor a period of (90( 90 days.. It was art event in his life which it was not in human nature to appreciate, but it was in truth a check on the downward road and gave him in the lone-. liness of his cheerless cell time to look ahead and see the clear ending of the way. A few words from tho prison chaplain and he recovered tho mood he used to know before his faiith had been dimmed and his heart hardened by the godless surroundings of his military life. Some months later, when tho Assistance landed her living cargo at Calcutta, amongst the draft going up to Jubbleporo to join tho second battalion of the X.'s was Joe Hinchin. Finch was also there. Far away an old mother's head was bowed, and toil-wrinkled hands clasped. ' Heart of Jesus, havo mercy on me poor Joe ! ' Who answered her never a word. 111. ' One of that new draft wants to see you', sir,' said a hospital attendant at Jubblepore, and tho Jesuut Father X came to a cot where two wildly staring eyes looked up afc him, and he heard from the parched lips of a soldier muttering over and over again deliriously, ' Heart of Jesua, h&-\o mercy on mo ! ' IV. ' Now, Joe, do you not honestly feel better and more a manly nian ? ' said the samo good Jesuit two months later as lie met Joe, with the fever palor bronzed away, stepping across the barrack square. ' I do that. Father, there's a ton load off me heart, and with the help of God I won't miss one till I havo 'em finished,' saiid Joe, and he looked away lest the steady eyes bent upon him should soe the moisture that had rushed to his own. ' God bless you, Joe lad, and now let pie see a stripe on that arm soon,' and with a hearty slap on tho shoulder tho priest walked away. And it came to pass Tho steadiness 1 of No. 17,058 was the more marked by contrast with his iyevious conduct, and one day as ho stepped along by tho quarters of hia company, the appearance of a number of

grinning faces in response to an excited cry of ' God's sake lads, look at Carkey,' made him blush scarlet. Later in the day, Bert Finch made his voice heard in an address of congratulation to a circle of shouting Atkinses, ' 'Is Koy'l 'Ighness, Dook of Blackpool, Commander-in-chief of the 'ole bloomin' British army said nothing, and in a day or two tho soldier boys grew accustomed to the new power of Lance-Corporal Hinchin The canteen knew him no more, but the struggle he often had to make to keep from it came less from tho animal desire for drink than it did for the craving for something, to ' rise the cockles of his heart ' when the daily light with his temper made him despondent. The mock gravity his chief tormentor, assumed whenover the new stripe showed itself amongst tho leisure trivialities of tho men always brought the thunder flush upon poor Joe's face, and tho strained jaw muscles and quivering hands showed what was passing within. Still it would pass, and tho pallor that followed wrought such an .effect on the men that all save a few of the older and more hardened spirits treated Corkey with no small deference when the second stripe camo soon, and the lieutenant mentally marked) Corporal Hinchin as the best soldier in his company. He was still a good fellow with the privates, and as the Warbler marked the decreasing popularity that his gibing enjoyed, hia bitterness only increased, and the gap between the two former spreemates became wider. ' What sort of a fellow is that new corporal, Vereker ? ' said Captailn B. to Joe's lieutenant, crossing to their quarters together from mess one e\emng. ' Why ? ' queried, the other, thoujgfo. ho could havo given a straight answer. ' Why, I camo on him yesterday by tho east gate, striding up and down, and swearing to himself like ' and tho captam laughed heartily at the picture. ' Swearing-, was ho ?| ' said lieutenant Vereker. ' Yes, in a mad, excited kind of way , sounded like swearing, anyway, and groaning to himself. I don't think the fellow is all right, and should advise you to see what is wrong with him.' ' I think Father X knows,' was tho answer. ' Good night, Bronson.'

V. Jubblepore barrack was in a. bustle Stormy cheering was in tho air. The laziest loafer in tho battalion took a new interest in life, for news had come suddenly that thero was big trouble on the frontier, and tho X.'s w<jre ordered north. ' You don't seem very elated, Joe,' said Father X at tho railway station, noticing the contrast between the subdued demeanor of tho young Irish corporal and the rollicking high spirits of the men about him ' What's the matter with you, lad ? ' ' Well, you know, Father,' said tho young soldier, and the troubled eyes 1 looked far away westward, ' I had eight of the nine done, and I had my heart set on finishing 'em. I see tho good they done me, Father, and God knows I done my best to keep 'em up in spito of tho divil— tho timptations — and now I dunno what to do.' ' Ob, I see — I remember.,' said tho priest, and a softened look camo into tho eyes fastened on tho reddening face of the young man. ' Well, Joo, my lad, God is good, and oven yet tliero may be a chaaice.' ' I hope so, Father.' They parted, to meet again under curious cincumstances. A wild rumour ran from corps to corps that •in Irish regiment at the front was being ordered back in disgrace for mutinous .cowardice, and the wrath and bitter scorn that found vent in broad Scotch and jerky Cockney

made martyrdom for every Hibernian who had to hear it. But a corporal in the X.'s had something as a countervail to cheer him. Father X had come to the camp that morning, and now, after his confession, God seemed to have lifted the cloud,, and the Nine Fridays would be completed. Joe Hinchin had a lightened heart. He felt sure that the infamous repont about the Irish regiment was not true, and that the talk, however hard to bear, would pass in a few days. Yaas,' ho heard a voice saying that same evening, as he passed a group of men off duty, ' I'd shoot the 'ole. damned sons of cabbage women.' The earth and sky swam around the Irishman. He was conscious only of a wild, mad leap thatJ hurled the nearest men out of his way, of a savage fury that screamed through clenched teeth ; a roaring, like thunder was in his ears and fire in his brain. Blows fell on his face, but he felt them only as a rock feels, the pattering of rain. To grip the throat of the man heaving beneath him and dash his head against the ground, to choke and strangle with, a bulldog hold trill the foul tongue would blacken in the lying mouth was the one desire. Shouting and panting, they tore the two wild animals asunder and clung to them while the provost sergeant and hia men came running up. 1 What is all this ? ' shouted Lieutenant Vereker, hurrying down from the officers' quarters. ' Private Finch and Corporal Hinchin, sir, have had a fight.' . ' I am very sorry for this, Hinchin,' said the officer later, as Joe sat handcuffed in a tent. ' Very sorry ! What made you forget yourself ? What ? Answer me. No answer camo but a long /-ending sob and bitter crying. He went away. ,' Oh, my good God, have mercy on mo,' said the sobs within the tent. Oh, Christ, my Christ ! after all me stnvin', and God so good to me, and me poor ould mother ' Next day, haggard and white, wiith livid bruises and swollen lips, Corporal Hinchin heard his degradation from the colonel in silence. His hard won stripes were gone. He was a private again and a black mark to his name. Day followed day dn a leaden routine of duty when onco again ho was at work. The rude sympathy extended to him he avoided, because he dreaded any more unmanly exhibition of weakness, and hia full heart was only mastered by a rigid silence. Comfort came in a visit from the same good Jesuit who had cheered him before — strong, earnest words of cheen that made the gloomy eyes brighten a little, but ' You're late, Father, for the wan thing. I'm on sintry go to-night at twelve, and we'll advance at "daybreak. However, I'm aisy in mo mind now.' ' Stay'— the priest was thinking,, evidently, and Joe wondered a little what was coming. Then the Jesuit whispered something to him that made the soldier stare full-eyed in astonishment. ' Is it in airnest you are, father ? ' ' Yesi, |Jc*e. The love of God takes Him to strange places, and you don't know what may happen.' Tho soldier's breath came quickly, and ho could only whisper hoarsely, ' All right, sir,' but the clasp of his rough hand told what he felt. ' I shall be able to come up from tho Field Hospital in an hour, after I'm done there, and remember, don't shoot me, Joe,* he added lightly over his shoulder as he strode off.

TTo bo concluded in our next)