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acred cause。
The newspaper press published full reports of many of the sermons preached。 These sermons all struck the same noterepentance； sacrifice； service。 On Monday morning men walked with surer tread because the light was falling clearer upon the path they must take。
In the evening； when Jane and her friend； Ethel Murray； were on their way downtown； they heard the beat of a drum。 Was it fancy； or was there in that beat something they had never heard in a drum beat before； something more insistent； more compelling？ They hurried to Portage Avenue and there saw Winnipeg's famous historic regiment； the Ninetieth Rifles； march with quick； brisk step to the drum beat of their bugle band。
〃Look；〃 cried Ethel； 〃there's Pat Scallons； and Ted Tuttle； and Fred Sharp； too。 I did not know that he belonged to the Ninetieth。〃 And as they passed； rank on rank； Ethel continued to name the friends whom she recognised。
But Jane stood uttering no word。 The sight of these lads stepping to the drum beat so proudly had sent a chill to her heart and tears to her eyes。 〃Oh； Ethel；〃 she cried； touching her friend's arm； 〃isn't it terrible？〃
〃Why； what's the matter？〃 cried Ethel； glancing at her。 〃Think of what they are marching to！〃
〃Oh； I can't bear it；〃 said Jane。
But Ethel was more engaged with the appearance of the battalion； from the ranks of which she continued to pick out the faces of her friends。 〃Look；〃 she cried； 〃that surely is not Kellerman！ It is！ It is！ Look； Jane； there's that little Jew。 Is it possible？〃
〃Kellerman？〃 cried Jane。 〃No； it can't be he。 There are no Jews in the Ninetieth。〃
〃But it is；〃 cried Ethel。 〃It is Kellerman。 Let us go up to Broadway and we shall meet them again。〃
They turned up a cross street and were in time to secure a position from which they could get a good look at the faces of the lads as they passed。 The battalion was marching at attention； and so rigid was the discipline that not a face was turned toward the two young ladies standing at the street corner。 A glance of the eye and a smile they received from their friends as they passed； but no man turned his head。
〃There he is；〃 said Jane。 〃It is Kellermanin the second row； see？〃
〃Sure enough； it is Kellerman；〃 said Ethel。 〃Well； what has come to Winnipeg？〃
〃War；〃 said Jane solemnly。 〃And a good many more of the boys will be going too； if they are any good。〃
As Kellerman came stepping along he caught sight of the girls standing there； but no sign of recognition did he make。 He was too anxious to be considered a soldier for that。 Steadiness was one of the primary principles knocked into the minds of recruits by the Sergeant Major。
The girls moved along after the column had passed at a sufficient distance to escape the rabble。 At the drill hall they found the street blocked by a crowd of men； women and children。
〃What is all this； I wonder？〃 said Ethel。 〃Let us wait here awhile。 Perhaps we may come across some one we know。〃
It was a strange crowd that gathered about the entrance to the drill hall； not the usual assemblage of noisy； idly curious folk of the lighter weight that are wont to follow a marching battalion or gather to the sound of a band。 It was composed of substantial and solid people； serious in face and quiet in demeanour。 They were there on business； a business of the gravest character。 As the girls stood waiting they heard far down Broadway the throbbing of drums。
〃Listen； Ethel；〃 cried Jane。 〃The Pipes！〃
〃The Pipes ！〃 echoed Ethel in great excitement。 〃The Kilties！〃
Above the roll and rattle of the drums they caught those high； heart…thrilling sounds which for nearly two hundred years have been heard on every famous British battlefield； and which have ever led Scotland's sons down the path of blood and death to imperishable glory。
A young Ninetieth officer； intent on seeing that the way was kept clear for the soldiers； came striding out of the armoury。
〃Oh； there's Frank Smart；〃 said Ethel。 〃I wish he would see us。〃
As if in answer to her wish； Smart turned about and saw them in the crowd。 Immediately he came to them。
〃I didn't know you were a soldier； Frank；〃 said Jane； greeting him with a radiant smile。
〃I had almost forgotten it myself；〃 said Frank。 〃But I was at church yesterday and I went home and looked up my uniform and here I am。〃
〃You are not going across； Frank； are you？〃 said Ethel。
〃If I can。 There is very strong competition between both officers and men。 I have been paying little attention to soldiering for a year or so； I have been much too busy。 But now things are different。 If I can make it； I guess I will go。〃
〃Oh； Frank； YOU don't need to go； said Ethel。 I mean there are heaps of men all over Canada wanting to go。 Why should YOU go？〃
〃The question a fellow must ask himself is rather why should he stay；〃 replied the young officer。 〃Don't you think so； Jane？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jane； drawing in her breath sharply but smiling at him。
〃Do you want to go in？〃 asked Frank。
〃Oh； do let's go in；〃 said Ethel。
But Jane shrank back。 〃I don't like to go through all those men；〃 she said； 〃though I should like greatly to see Kellerman；〃 she added。 〃I wonder if I could see him。〃
〃Kellerman？〃
〃Yes； he's Jane's special； you know；〃 said Ethel。 〃They ran close together for the German prize； you remember。 You don't know him？ A little Jew chap。〃
〃No； I don't know him；〃 said Smart。 〃But you can certainly see him if you wish。 Just come with me； I will get you in。 But first I have got to see that this way is kept clear for the Highlanders。〃
〃Oh； let's wait to see them come up；〃 said Ethel。
〃Well； then； stand here；〃 said Frank。 〃There may be a crush； but if you don't mind that we will follow right after them。 Here they come。 Great lads； aren't they？〃
〃And they have their big feather bonnets on； too；〃 said Ethel。
Down the street the Highlanders came in column of fours； the pipe band leading。
〃Aren't they gorgeous？〃 said Smart with generous praise for a rival battalion。 〃Chesty…looking devils； eh？〃 he added as they drew near。 〃You would think that Pipe Major owned at least half of Winnipeg。〃
〃And the big drummer the other half；〃 added Ethel。 〃Look at his sticks。 He's got a classy twirl； hasn't he？〃
Gorgeous they were； their white spats flashing in time with their step； their kilts swaying free over their tartan hose and naked knees； their white tunics gleaming through the dusk of the evening； and over all the tossing plumes of their great feather bonnets nodding rhythmically with their swinging stride。
〃Mighty glad we have not to fight those boys；〃 said Frank as the column swung past into the armoury。
The crowd which on other occasions would have broken into enthusiastic cheers to…night stood in silence while the Highlanders in all their gorgeous splendour went past。 That grave silence was characteristic of the Winnipeg crowds those first days of war。 Later they found voice。
〃Now we can go in。 Come right along；〃 said Smart。 〃Stand clear there； boys。 You can't go in unless you have an order。〃
〃We ar…r…e wantin' tae join；〃 said a Scotch voice。
〃You are； eh？ Come along then。 Fall into line there。〃 The men immediately dropped into line。 〃Ah； you have been there before； I see；〃 said Smart。
〃Aye； ye'er…r…r right ther…r…re； sir…r…r；〃 answered the voice。
〃You will be for the Kilties； boys？〃 said Frank。
〃Aye。 What else？〃 asked the same man in surprise。
〃There is only one regiment for the Scotchman apparently；〃 said Frank； leading the way to the door。 〃Just hold these men here until I see what's doing； will you？〃 he said to the sentry as he passed in。 〃Now； then； young ladies； step to your right and await me in that corner。 I must see what's to be done with these recruits。 Then I shall find Kellerman for you。〃
But he had no need to look for Kellerman； for before he returned the little Jew had caught sight of the young ladies and had made his way to them。
〃Why； how splendid you look； Mr。 Kellerman；〃 said Ethel。 〃I did not know you were in the Ninetieth。〃
〃I wasn't until Friday。〃
〃Do you mean to say you joined up to go away？〃 inquired Ethel。
〃That's what；〃 said Kellerman。
〃But you areI meanI do not see〃 Ethel stopped in confusion。
〃What you mean； Miss Murray； is that you are surprised at a Jew joining a military organisation；〃 said Kellerman with a quiet dignity quite new to him。 Formerly his normal condition was one of half defiant； half cringing nervousness in the presence of ladies。 To…night he carried himself with an easy self…possession； and it was due to more than the uniform。
〃I am afraid you are right。 It is horrid of me and I am awfully sorry；〃 said Ethel； impulsively offering him her hand。
〃Why did you join； Mr。 Kellerman？〃 said Jane in her quiet voice。
〃Why； I hardly know if I can tell you。 I will； though；〃 he added with a sudden impulse； 〃if you care to hear。〃
〃Oh； do tell us；〃 said Ethel。 But Kellerman looked at Jane。
〃If you care to tell； Mr。 Kellerman；〃 she said。
The little Jew stood silent a few minutes； leaning upon his rifle and looking down upon the ground。 Then in a low； soft voice he began： 〃I