The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1890-07-03
BROTHERS.

Va, heard everywhere in Washingto
dark mutterings of secession" and ''ct
ercion," he did not, or would not, bcliev
in the baleful import of the words.
His landlady's pretty daughter. Berthe
had captivated his young fancy, so that
was thinking far more of the sovereignt
of love than the sovereignty of State whe
Fo.t Sumpter's cannon roar reused hiI
from his bed.
With the order to rejoin his regiment il
his pocket, Clarence had resolved to obc
it. There had been but one moment o
indecision.
Standing in the little boarding hous
parlor, on the morning of his departure.
letter was handed him from his onl,
brother. Huber wrote:
Il shall not be traitor to my nativ
State. remain here to defend it from tn
invader"
There was no word of advice to th,
younger brother. but his widowed mother
had added one tremulous line-shc eOulC
not think that any son Of hers would bt
Virginia's enemy.
was, his hot tears blurred the written page
whereupOn entered Bertha, and he silently
handed her the letter.
She read it slowly, then, turning hel
beautiful eyes upon him, she said:
AT West Point you learned the art OF
war at the expense of your country. Can
you use q knowledge thus ga ned against
her, Clarence?" she cried, pointing to the
stars and Stripes floating in view of the
window, "be true TO your oath to protect
that flag against Ill of her enemies.
The young man wondered that he had
| faltercd; taking both her hands in his he
mingled with his words of farewell a
promise Of allegiance to his cOuntry's
flag. -.
In the dark days that followed he cher.
ished the hope that the fortunes of war
would not lead linn back to his native
State. Yet one spring day found him not
only in Virginia, but almost within sight
of Point Providence, and battle impend-
ing.
Gen. Hamilton, his superior officer, sent
for him to rcport at headquarters
.'Licutcnlnl, said Hamilton, when
young Grey appeared. Il learn that you
are Viryintgi, aud very familiar with
this locality"
Sir" replied the young man, and his
voice was not quito clear, Il am within
five miles of my birthplace"
Then Hamilton uufoi,lcd his plan.
Just before daybrc;lk lie intended TO at
tack Il bridge held by the Confcdcrates
During the night Grey must march his
men ly some circuitous route best known
to himself TO the rear OF the enemy. and
he must then deploy m.n across every
road by which the Coufederutcs could
possibly escape.
As Grey plssed out of the tent the scout
who had discovered the position of the
Confederatcs-at--efe bridge approached
and laid detaining hand on his arm.
''foung fcllet," he said,' in low voice,
don't you go to thinkin' that because
them rebels at the bridge is raw recruits
you got soft thing. Lord; the leader o.
them Home Guards is a reg'lar stiff
backed blue Mooder Grit! why the folks
round here low that Herbert Grey kin
hold that bridge if 'Yanks' come along
with horns CROWN out in their heads;
defcndin' the site OF his forcfathers, you
know"
That night, above the sounds of the
wind and the driving rain, could be heard
the tramping of feet and the clinking of
cantecns us Il body of infuntry moved out
from the Union lines and disappeared in
the gathering gloom.
told h;mSelf t1.t hn nas now ac,;nm wa" "".
nc q hro,bor nor vct .,s y con- rM, 80, "0s W.
. Virg;nian lut onl,, &c . col so,d;or foii,n. 40
;nr i dS,tv wherever She lei ~ -'--0"
Rut oh the odor of tb;s familiar foros,
of Virc;n;a nine. what memor;es :, hr;nGs
II ;s not co darE h,t tho vonnr ,oar,s ~ Lssn
eve racoon;1es M tho anot ;hara 5et,vaon hot
cedar and q dwarf.nine where Herbert
uscd to set for him the snare to catch rat'
hi,s ~ -----' '--~ $4,000 " 0--
And now he has reached a little emi.
nencc and he turns his head aside to catch
n rlimnse of ~ marble shaft which he
knows is in sipht Suddenly wild sn.
perstition thrills. him. Can he who sleens 4
beneath that marble rest in his grave while
his son-o Vircinian-inyades Virrinia2
And Hubert WHO had taken the fathers
ploce TO his young brother he will learn
that that brother-tlat migrate. that trai-
ncss framing his fathers Crovc-no not
that NOT q sten fnr4ber
"Haltp The ranks stood silent
The Young man reeled in his saddle rs he
rode forward aione lie did % not saw nv tn tn
himseIf that this woe desnrt;on for l,;S
hra;n seemed wb;ri;nr and oil be co,,IJ
ih;nL If was tho one t;xed % idea M of w warn;nr %
Hubert saving Hnhort md thcn retnrn;nS
- f~ht for ,i,s old for os 10 b,d s,rn,r -
Rer9Ia II Hulert wv woniS lat @ hi him n come 1"m hact. ~
Hubert never onnosed linn in onythin~