The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-01-15
CHAPTER XIV.

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Mia, ,rith oatstretchod arms, throIrs her
self forlUdrd 10 meet him
A great city is draped in mourning.
On every side. at half staff. the national
flag hangs limp and lifeless in the moist
and misty air, as though Of Its own voh-
toin dropping in honor Of the soldier
dead. Under the sodden skies, through
thronged yet silent streets, in long. long
column chosen detachments Of soldlery
are leading to its final resting place the
shrouded clay Of him who 10 such glorl-
ous purpose had led the Union blue In
every field from the Mississippi TO the
sea. and who through long years OF hon
orei service ranked foremost on the
rolls of the arny-foremost perhaps N
the great heart of the people For days. as
though in sympathy with the widespread
grief, the heavens have poured their
floods upon the brown and leafiess slopes.
All nature seems planged in wintry
gloom. The black smoke from host
Of stacks and chimneys has settled down
upon the silent city, covering II ike
pail. From north and south, from east
and west. battalions and batteries, ma
tional and state, have been concentrat-
ing to take part in the last honors TO the
illustrious chief, and dripping, yet dis
ciplined, without the stir of martial
music. the men have marched from the
trains TO the rendezvous assigned them
about the town.
At last the hour has come. The weep
ing skies have checked their tears. The
streets and sidewalks along the line of
march swarm with citizens, whose hush
ed voices and revereut mieI speak elo-
quently Of their sense of the national
loss. From many stately mansion
and modest homestead out beyond the
business section festoons OF black are
futtering in the rising breeze, the iiaS >
twined with Grape, the windows, bal
comics and steps are alive with spec
tators. And, far ont on the west
ward avenue, on sheltered portico that
projects from a solid, old fashioned res
idence of cut stone and almost over
hangs the street, there Is gathered lit
tie bevy of fair forms and faces which
we saw together for the first time that
Indian summery afternoon Of the recep-
ton at Pawnee.
The rapid tlot of orderlies and
mounted police, sent ahead To warn the
populace off the street and back TO the
sidewalk, and the distant vailing of
cavalry trumpets far down the avenue,
have told that now the funeral column
is approaching; and from the warmth
Of the coy parlor, well wrapped in
mantles and furs, the ladies have come
forth into the chilly February day
Mrs. Berrien. Mrs. Holden and her chill
dren; Winifred, whose soft cheeks are
aglow and whose dark eyes turn instant
ly, eagerly toward the head Of the ad-
vancing escort; Nita Guthrie, pallid,
lanquid when unobserved by her guests,
Vet Frightening instantly, bravely, when
addressed, and striving to be her old
gracious, radiant self for the sake of
these and other visitors from Pawnee-
for the Twelfth has been detailed es-
peclally 10 lead the escort of the great
commander, and all the way from the
frontier and only few days home from
the stirring scenes of its fierce campaign
the regiment has been brought hither by
the orders of a general who knows their
worth as well be knows their wrongs
and whose soldier heart has felt for them
In all their trials.
1t was in his power 10 give TINS honor
10 others, but though his own OLD regi-
meat is within easy call. he means that
the people shall see for themselves what
manner of men are these WHOM press
and pulpit have assailed, and against
whose fair fame the shafts Of SANDER
nave been hurled, only TO fall blunted
and broken or, ike boomerangs, come
hurting back about the ears of the
thrower. Vindicated by the verdict Of
highest powers Of the land. gray haired
Farquhar is chosen TO command the es-
tort, and, though the flower Of the na-
ti0n's soldiery marches in the funeral
train this day, the eyes Of all the gath
cred throng are strained TO see and hail
and honor the standard and the guidons
Of the men who bore the brunt of battle
only two short months gone by.
And with the squadrons and the guns
from Pawnee came such of the wounded
officers as were well enough to be trans
ported hither. and with them half a
dozen of the ladies Of the garrison. To
the huge delight of the old battalion,
two of whose troops are cruelty thinned
in numbers now, the loyial major is per
mitted by DIR. Holden to mount .'Old
Glory" and take his position in front of
the line. To the tremulous joy Of Wini-
fred Berrien, Mr.. Brewster has tele-
graphed from Washington, whittier he
was summoned Immediately sfter the
close of the investigation at the agency,
bidding them bring his horse and equip
lnents, for even though he cannot draw
ssiber he means TO ride with the black
troop" on this day of days. She has not
seen him since that wonderful morning
when, like a Young snow king, he burst
through the fieecy barriers about them
and stood before her rejoicing eyes their
rcscuer. her fathers preServer. her lover.
her hero; and ever since in his pride he
has held alOof from her and AL she
holds dear. Sine can hardly hush the
futtering Of her heart as now, near at
hand. she hears the familiar strains CT
the truInpets Of the Twelfth, still sound
ing the m9urnful dead march. Other
ladies Of The Twelfth are here-Mrs.
Hazlett. Mrs. Gorham and Mrs. War
ren; and small wonder can there he that
their soft eyes I'll with tears. Ever since
the brief and bloody campaign the sad.
solemn tones have been their daily
music. The Grape is not We; rrlsting 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 crowds have drifted
back from the asphalt. The platoon of
mounted police has slowly clattered by.
Then in long rank. boot TO boot. mafied
In their blue oyercoats. the yellow lined