News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-09-21


futtering of her heart as now, near al
hand, she hears the familiar strains Of
the trumpets of the Twelfth, still sound
ing the mournful dead march. Other
ladies of the Twelfth are here-Mrs
Hazlett, Mrs. Gorham and Mrs. War
ren; and small wonder can there be that
their soft eyes fill with tears. Ever since
the brief and bloody campaign the sad
solemn tones have been their daily
music. The Grape is not yet rusting on
The sword hilts of their lords, worn in
honor of poor Thorpe and Rand and
Burrows, when it is renewed for the
general in chief.
And now the c,pwds have drifted
back frsm the asphalt. The platoon OF
mounted police has slowly clattered by.
Then in long rank, boot to boot, muffled
in their blue overcoats, the yellow lined
capes turned back, led by their veteran
chief and guiding their spirited grays
with hardly touch of rein, the trum.
peters of the Twelfth cover the street
from curb to curb, the braZen bells up.
lifted and pouring forth their mourn.
full strains. A little space, and then
mounted on mettlesome bay in the rich
housings of a general officer, there rides
the marshal of the parade, followed by
rank after rank of staff officers, all il
the somber dark blue of the service. The
autumn frosts of a vigorous life hav,
silvered the strands at his temple and
tinged with ruddy glow the cheeks oi
that firm and soldierly face, but the
eyes gleam clear and clean as ever they
shOne quarter century ago, when ht
and Farquhar spurred through the misty
forest aisles about Dinwiddie and lee
the cheering troopers to the charge OF
Pickett's crouching line at the Forks
He knows the fair party on the Guthri,
balcony at single glance, and touches
the visor of his forage cap as he moves
slowly by, then summons all aid, givel
him a low toned order, and the Officer
reins aside to let his comrades pass, the1
jogs back down the avenue to meet the
column. And now necks are craning OF
every side, and q murmur runs along
the crowded banquette,
A murmur that fain would break forth In
cheer
but for the solemn occasion of theil
coming. Eyes CLEAN and brighten; lip:
stir with inarticulate greeting; hands
kerchiefs and hats are waved in voice
less acclaim. Any other time and al
the great city would burst into tumultu
Gus cheer, for here rides gray haired
Farquhar at the head of his staff, and
Just behind them, commanding the
Twelfth, still pallid from his wounds
but erect and soldierly as ever. the Sc
nior major, dear old Berrien, lowers
his saber in acknowledgment of the sa
lutte of the aid, bends his ear to lister
to the message, glances quickly at the
balcony into the smiling face of hi:
wife, meeting Winifred's dark and
glowing eyes, but shakes his head, mo
tions to DR.. Holden, who is at his left
rear, and ambles on. Holden mods ap
preciatively IN recent oE what seams
to be q similar message, reins out OF
column, followed by his orderly, dis
mounts at the side street, and presently
is standing by his wife's side, welcomed
most cordially by Miss Guthrie to the
now crowded balcony.
In column of platoons stretching from
walk to walk, clear across the street,
ranks carefully aligned, every mans
head and eyes straight to the front, the
leading troops of the Twelfth are now
clinking steadily by. Hazlett has
glanced out of the corners of his eyes at
the lovely picture on the gallery, but,
riding at attention as they are, and on
duty, he makes no sign. Randolph and
Ridgeway, heading their platoons, strive
to do two things at once-look as though
they saw and appreciated the fluttering
greetings of hand and handkerchief and
smiling eyes to their right, and still look
as though they did not see it at all. The
sorrels, the grays have gone by, the bay
troop is passing, and now yonder comes
Gorham over on the other side of the
street, the nearest he can get to his regu-
lation position of four yards to the left
of his leading platoon, and out from the
screen of tree branches and
in front of the center of the first sub
division of the blacks, his saber arm
still in its sling, his face pale with con-
6nement and suffering, but tall and stall
wart rides Curly.
"Oh, there's Mr.. Brewsterl Mr. Brew
ster! Oh, why doesn't he lookY' cries
Miss Guthrie, as the handkerchiefs be-
gin waving furiously, and fair, eager
faces press forward in the effort to at
tract his attention-an but Winifred,
who, though bravely smiling like the
rest, is clutching with trembling hands
the back of her mothers chair and
shrinking behind her mothers form. 1t
is impossible for him not to see the fut-
tering signals. He half glances toward
that thrOnging gallery, and in a second
the light leaps to his eyes, flush to his
pallid cheek. Instinctively his arm
twitches in the effort of the hand to
reach the cap visor, and the instant
twinge of shooting pain brings him to
his senses. He has one brief, tfeeting
look, however, at the beaming face he
loves, and he has just time for half
gesture with the bride hand, o little
nod, and then, as on he rides, he feels
rather than sees that one sweet face
that beamed upon him has suddenly
paled, that one graceful form is now
back into Holden's waiting
and expectant arms. Only two platoons
IN the black troop today, for the Others
sleep beneath the wintry sod or still Ian
guish in the hospital waxd. Only two
platoons. Brewster heads the first; a
-all, dark eyed, dark mustached SER
geant the second.
There's Sergeant Ellisr' cries Mrs.
Berrien, in her pride and pleasure.
And he's shaved off his beard. Did
you ever see him look so young and
Yell?"
But Mrs. Holden, too, has turned, and
loes not heed. Her watchful eyes, her
attentive ears, have other work to do.
)bedient to her husband s touch, she has
lrawn close to his side. 1t is into her
lrms and his that, with one quick, gasp
ng, stifled cry, Nita Guthrie has fallen
Is though stricken by a bolt from heaven.
t is by these loving arms the limp and
form is quickly borne within
md laid upon the sofa, and Holden
whispers to his devoted wife, "It is all
lear now"
That night, the long ceremonies of the
lay concluded. throng of fair women
md brave men are gathered in the par
ors and corridor of the great hotel
Down i'll the marbled court below some
Italian musicians are playing soft, sweet
music. Out in the street, under the
,lare of the electric light, fine regi-
nent of state troops has drawn up in
Ong extended line and is standing at
ase while its officers are bidding fare
veil to host of friends upon the walks
elow. Here and above are soldiers of
IL branches of the service, who with
he mornings sun will be scattering to
heir stations again. Some are clustered