FINIS 201 



remembered his sudden change of heart, in mid- 

 season, and his subsequent vast improvement and, 

 most encouraging of all, the nerve and determination 

 he had shown. In the silent, bronzed youth who sat 

 with us to-night and the young man who had so 

 jauntily descended from the train six months be- 

 fore, there was a world of difference. Perhaps, 

 after all ... 



Something of this line of thought seemed to be in 

 his father's mind as well as in ours. 



"I know reconnaissance is trying work," he said; 

 " Horace's letters home bear internal evidence of 

 the hardships you have been through. But I think 

 it has helped him, as it doubtless helped all of you, 

 to a better understanding of a man's duties and 

 privileges. 



" Before closing, I want to read to you some verses 

 which my son sent home during the latter part of 

 your trip, and which I understand he has not shown 

 to any of you. I think they deserve a hearing and 

 a judgment at your hands." 



He smiled alone in his emotion. So Wetherby 

 had burst into poetry, without our knowledge ! We 

 prepared to suffer as the Senator cleared his throat 

 and began to read : 



' ' They call our work ' Reconnaissance ' ; 

 A shorter, uglier word, perchance, 

 Would better serve the new man 's use 

 ,To circulate his heartfelt views, 



