The Boy with Wings

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  THE BOY WITH WINGS

  The Boy With Wings

  By BERTA RUCK (MRS. OLIVER ONIONS)

  AUTHOR OF

  "His Official Fiancee," "The Wooing of Rosamond Fayre," "In Another Girl's Shoes," Etc.

 

  A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York

  Published by arrangement with DODD, MEAD & COMPANY

  COPYRIGHT, 1915, By DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY

  Published in England under the title of "The Lad With Wings."

  DEDICATED, WITH AFFECTION TO THAT BRAINLESS ARMY TYPE. MY YOUNGEST BROTHER

  "The men of my own stock Bitter-bad they may be, But at least they hear the things I hear. They see the things I see."

  KIPLING.

  CONTENTS

  PART I

  _MAY, JUNE, JULY, 1914_

  CHAPTER PAGE I AERIAL LIGHT HORSE 3 II THE BOSOM-CHUMS 19 III THE EYES OF ICARUS 34 IV THE SONG OF ALL THE AGES 54 V THE WORKADAY WORLD 62 VI THE INVITATION 71 VII A BACHELOR'S TEA-PARTY 75 VIII LAUGHING ODDS 82 IX A DAY IN THE COUNTRY 89 X LESLIE, ON "THE ROOTS OF THE ROSE" 107 XI THE HEELS OF MERCURY 122 XII THE KISS WITHHELD 128 XIII THE FLYING DREAM 144 XIV AN AWAKENING 152 XV LESLIE ON "TOO MUCH LOVE" 168 XVI THE AEROPLANE LADY 178 XVII LESLIE ON "MARRIAGE" 186 XVIII THE OBVIOUS THING 193 XIX THE SEALED BOX 212

  PART II

  _JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, 1914_

  I THE AVIATION DINNER 223 II THE WHISPER OF WAR 235 III THE LAST SUNDAY OF PEACE 241 IV THAT WEEK-END 259 V THE DIE IS CAST 265 VI HER GUARDIAN'S CONSENT 267 VII HASTE TO THE WEDDING! 280 VIII THE GIRL HE LEFT BEHIND HIM 293 IX THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" 300 X LESLIE, ON "THE MOTLEY OF MARS" 310 XI A LOVE-LETTER--AND A ROSE 321

  PART III

  _SEPTEMBER, NINETEEN-FOURTEEN_

  I A WAR-TIME HONEYMOON 335 II THE SOUL OF UNDINE 345 III A LAST FAVOUR 350 IV THE DEPARTURE FOR FRANCE 361 V THE NUPTIAL FLIGHT 364 VI THE WINGED VICTORY 370 POSTSCRIPT--MYRTLE AND LAUREL LEAF 376

  PART I

  _MAY, JUNE, JULY, 1914_