The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-10-08

III HE studied nonehalance OF me
village telegraph operator as he
u sauntered up the main street OF
Gray Willow from the depot betrayed
the sense OF importance with which
lie was inwardly swelling. This pe-
culiarity was quickly noted 10y the lit
tie group of prominent citizens gath
cred about the broad doorway Of tue
livery stable TO disenss the coming eau
Gus and enjoy the coolness which DIS
titled from the freshly sprinkled hQor.
sHe walks like a man ready TO open
handsome jacspot with royal
iush,' remarked Hockey Crane. The
justice of the peace.
SAY, Hi.' he called to the operator.
You, can't make ms believe you've got
Jews concealed about you just by PUT
tin ON airs I've about concluded there
amt any war outside the newspapers.
fHpy do say its really legun, but I've
yet TO see any proofs Of it,
We'll. you just wait about an hour
an You'll believe Il easy enough" re-
piled tile operator.
. "A. ifaita5zen -t+4ted CHALK suddenly
sought the level of The floor and as
many voices inquired:
.,aTN hats aat;;., and. Cons; can't gl
give Us the news ? ---
All I've got to say is that you'd
-better lie down TO tn station about
lis II you want to see n sight that
means Business And with this the
operator pursued his way up the
drowsy street TO the postottice, there
10 repeat his mission of mysticism.
On his way back TO the depot he was
again waylaid and compelled 10 con.
fess that special train loaded with
United States regulars was coming
from the West. Most of the men hur-
ried home TO carry the news to their
families. But Hockey" Crane was
not of this number. Instead he sought
tue musty seclusion Of his court
ROOM" and there began the prepare
ton of the impromptn speech which
he felt sure he would he called upon
to deliver ON behalf of the patriotic
citizens of Gray Willow.
In forty mioutes the depot platform
was packed with girls in white.l their
cheeks flushed with the excitement Of
anticipation; with sober-faced women,
awkwardly expeetapt .meu and hilar-
Ious youngsters. The shout which
went up from this waiting throng as
the train loaded with troops rushed
into the station was the first intimation
of sthe actual presence, OF war that
reached the ears Of the orators wife.
who Strengthened up from the deYo-
tional attitude which she had taken be-
side her pansy bed, where she was
wedding The shouting was faint, but
Ii had an omlnous. forbidding sound.
She could not clearly identify IT. as siIe'
pushed back her pink checked sun bon
net and listened. Then came the in
sistent changing of the locomotive bell,
followed by the putting of the engine
as 1t pulled out; lntultiyely 3, the
thought of war came 10 her mind, aud
she was not surprised, as the train
came Into view, TO see that the plat
forms and windows were crowded
with young men in SLOUGH hats, blue
uniforms aud leggins.' The -four young
Crimes occupied positions of perilous
vantage on the top'stringer of the BACK
picket fence, where they were cheer
ing as only the American boy can
cheer at his first sight of real soldiers.
But their mother did not even call to
them. Her mind was ringing with the
one word: War! She sat in her lit
tie, low sewing chair before the sitting
room window and began dreamily TO
turn the leaves OF her Bible. The
|. creak OF the front gate arohsed her anti
a moment later she was unlocking the
screen door to admit Mrs. Fink. WHO
kissed her with unusual fervor and
exclaimed:
Saint it just dretfu. Mis- Crane
this terrible war. amt had no realz-
in sense Of 1t before. But It's comm
home t all of us now. You'd ought to
: have, heard the speech your husband
made t. them heroes at tn train 1t
was just splendid. Id be set right up
II any of my men folks could talk like
he did. | never heard such patriotism
not in all my born days. An he's
goin' L hold big war meetinI IN n,
opry.house tonight an raise a com
my. | expect my boys'll enlist. but |