"The Pomp of Yesterday"   By: Joseph Hocking (1860-1937)

'THE POMP OF YESTERDAY'

by

JOSEPH HOCKING

Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre. God of the Nations, spare us yet! Lest we forget, lest we forget." RUDYARD KIPLING.

Hodder and Stoughton London New York Toronto

JOSEPH HOCKING'S GREAT WAR STORIES

ALL FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER THE CURTAIN OF FIRE DEARER THAN LIFE THE PRICE OF A THRONE THE PATH OF GLORY 'THE POMP OF YESTERDAY' TOMMY TOMMY AND THE MAID OF ATHENS

OTHER STORIES BY JOSEPH HOCKING

Facing Fearful Odds O'er Moor and Fen The Wilderness Rosaleen O'Hara The Soul of Dominic Wildthorne Follow the Gleam David Baring The Trampled Cross

"Let us never forget in all that we do, that the measure of our ultimate success will be governed, largely if not mainly, by the strength with which we put our religious convictions into our action and hold fast firmly and fearlessly to the faith of our forefathers."

Extract of speech by General Sir William Robertson.

March 2, 1918.

CONTENTS

CHAP.

I THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST II SIR ROGER GRANVILLE'S SUGGESTION III THE STRANGE BBHAVIOUR OF GEORGE ST. MABYN IV I MEET CAPTAIN SPRINGFIELD V HOW A MAN WORKED A MIRACLE VI PAUL EDGECUMBE'S MEMORY VII A CAUSE OF FAILURE VIII I BECOME AN EAVESDROPPER IX EDGECUMBE is MISSING X THE STRUGGLE IN THE TRENCHES XI EDGECUMBE'S STORY XII THE STRUGGLE ON THE SOMME XIII EDGECUMBE'S MADNESS XIV EDGECUMBE'S LOGIC XV DEVONSHIRE XVI LORNA BOLIVICK'S HOME XVII A NEW DEVELOPMENT XVIII A TRAGIC HAPPINESS XIX A MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS XX A STRANGE NIGHT XXI COLONEL MCCLURE'S VERDICT XXII EDGECUMBE'S RESOLVE XXIII SPRINGFIELD'S PROGRESS XXIV A STRANGE LOVE MAKING XXV 'WHY IS VICTORY DELAYED?' XXVI 'WHERE DOES GOD COME IN?' XXVII SEEING LONDON XXVIII SUNSHINE AND SHADOW XXIX CROSS CURRENTS XXX THE MARCH OF EVENTS XXXI EDGECUMBE'S RETURN XXXII THE GREAT MEETING XXXIII THE LIFTED CURTAIN XXXIV MEMORY XXXV AFTERWARDS XXXVI EDGECUMBE'S RESOLUTION XXXVII MAURICE ST. MABYN XXXVIII A BOMBSHELL XXXIX SPRINGFIELD AT BAY XL MAURICE ST. MABYN'S GENEROSITY XLI THE NEW HOPE XLII AN UNFINISHED STORY

FOREWORD

It is now fast approaching four years since our country at the call of duty, and for the world's welfare entered the great struggle which is still convulsing the nations of the earth. What this has cost us, and what it has meant to us, and to other countries, it is impossible to describe. Imagination reels before the thought. Still the ghastly struggle continues, daily comes the story of carnage, and suffering, and loss; and still the enemy who stands for all that is basest, and most degraded in life, stands firm, and proudly vaunts his prowess.

Why is Victory delayed?

That is the question which has haunted me for many months, and I have asked myself whether we, and our Allies, have failed in those things which are essential, not only to Victory, but to a righteous and, therefore, lasting peace.

In this story, while not attempting a full and complete answer to the question, I have made certain suggestions which I am sure the Nation, the Empire, ought to consider; for on our attitude towards them depends much that is most vital to our welfare.