e got there half an hour before the announced
time, and found the place nearly full. All round the walls hung
bunting, characteristic of the county. The Cornish Coat of Arms hung
over the chairman's table, while the chorus of the old Cornish song:

And shall they scorn Tre, Pol, and Pen,
And shall Trelawney die?
Then twenty thousand Cornishmen
Will know the reason why.

was printed in large letters, and hung in a prominent place. At the
back of the platform some one had written, "Cornwall has never failed
her country yet. Shall she be unworthy of the names of Trelawney,
Killigrew, Boscawen, Carew, Tresize, and Trevanion? Never!"

To Bob's chagrin he was led to a seat close to the platform. Evidently
the man who took him there, wanted him, as the son of one who had been,
perhaps, the most respected man in the town, to have a place of honour.

In a few minutes the audience was singing patriotic songs. It was true
that there was something jingoistic about them, nevertheless Bob's
heart thrilled. Perhaps there are no people in the whole country whose
voices are sweeter than those of the dwellers in our most Western
county. His heart caught fire as he listened. Yes, there was
something in fighting for home and fatherland, something sublime in
dying for a noble cause. Then again the horror of war, the brutal
butchery, the senseless hatred, the welter of blood, the blighted lives
and homes, arose before him. He knew that the meeting would have no
message for him.

Precisely at the time announced the speakers appeared on the platform
amidst a tumult of shouting, and then Bob's heart gave a great leap,
for he saw that Nancy Tresize, with several other ladies, followed the
old Admiral. In spite of himself his eyes were drawn towards her as if
by a magnet. He tried to look away from her, but could not, and then,
when he least expected it, her gaze caught his. It was only for a
second, but that second plunged him into the deepest darkness. He saw
the flush that mounted to her cheeks, the smile of derision that passed
her lips, and the look of scorn and contempt that expressed itself on
her face. He knew then what Nancy felt about him, and that he had lost
her--lost her for ever.

I am not going to try to describe the speeches at length--there is no
need. The Admiral spoke in a bluff, hearty way about the causes which
led up to the war, and then told of the part which the county had
always played, a