VALLEY

340 RAINBOW VALLEYJem longed for, were gone forever, and that neverwould it be necessary for the sons of Canada to rideforth to battle "for the ashes of their fathers and thetemples of their gods."The shadow of the Great Conflict had not yet madefelt anyforerunner of its chill. The lads who wereto fight, and perhaps fall, on the fields of France andFlanders, Gallipoli and Palestine, were stillroguishschoolboys with a fair life in prospect before them:the girls whose hearts were to be wrung were yet fairlittle maidens a-star with hopes and dreams.Slowly the banners of the sunset city gave up theircrimson and gold; slowly the conqueror's pageantfaded out. Twilight crept over the valley and thelittlegroup grew silent. Walter had been readingagain that day in his beloved book of myths and heremembered how he had once fancied the Pied Pipercoming down the valley on an evening just like this.He began to speak dreamily, partly because hewanted to thrill his companions a little, partly becausesomething apart from him seemed to be speakingthrough his lips."The Piperiscoming nearer," he said, "he is nearerthan he was that eveningI saw him before. His long,shadowy cloak is blowing around him. He pipes hepipes and we must follow Jem and Carl and Jerryand I round and round the world. Listen listencan't you hear his wild music ?"The girls shivered.