Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-30
Continuation
CHAPTER Xxx,

congruity in it approaching the ludi-
orous just near enough to destroy the
sympathy which should spring readily
at any manifestation of grief.
Major Martin of the Fifth found it so
on this occasion and sat twisting the
sunburned tips Of his long military
mustache in savage impatience which
found final vent in irritable speech.
eff it was not for the vivid recollec-
ton Of numberless occasions when you
have borne patiently with my cubbish-
ness and ill temper, Seth Martin, l
could find it in my heart to kick you
out Of that door. But as I sent for you
on much more important business than
to ask you how you like my blue uni
form I would be obliged to you if you
would stop blubbering long enough to
listen to me. I want to talk to you as
one sensible man might talk to another,
not as Federal to Confederate nor as
brother to brother, simply as man to
man, you understand"
Seth slowly removed the battered hat
into which he had been shedding his
copious tears. Weeping had not en-
HANGED his good looks.
II can't see fur the life of me what
you did send fur nj any which away
for. I should "a thought you'd rpther
not. I amt no soldier. That privilege
was denied me. I aim killed nary Yam
kee. That privilege was denied me too.
But, talkin> bout your clothes, it amt
the blue uniform as hurts my eyes and
my heart so bad, Strong Martin; it's
what the blue uniform stands for"
The major was selecting a cigar from
his case. He was deliberate in all his
movements. His selection made, he ex-
tended it to Seth with an inconsequent
remark: "You used to be great smok-
er. I a recommend that weed"
"Durned if you can, SO far as I'm
concerned"
Seth folded his arms virtuously across
the bosom of his worn blue check shirt
and glared resentfully, while Strong
composedly bit off the end of the cigar
and lighted it for his own consumption.
Presently, through his clinched white
teeth that held his cigar immovable:
$50 it is what the uniform stands for.
What does it stand for, buddy Seth?
Really, now, it would be much more
sociable if you would smoke too. Won't
you change your mind?"
"Much obleeged to you"
Seth stiffened his backbone into a
still more rigid angle Of resentment be-
fore resuming vehemently:
What does that uniform stand forp
To us it stands for injestice, cruelty
and oppression, and, oh, my Lawd
Almighty" with a despairing outward
sweep Of his long, lean arms, sit stands
fur all the pure cussedness that the die
tionary is got words fur and Seth Mar
tin amt"
: "That is something to be thankful
for, for we have graver things to dis
cuss this morning than uniforms, either
blue or gray. After all, there's not
much choice between the men who are
inside Of them. But the blue stands for
success and the gray for failure. For
the first time in his life Strong Martin
is on the winning side"
Seth's p%rotuberant blue eyes grew
yet more prominent, as he clasped his
hands about the elevated kneecap just
then doing duty as a hat rack for his
brimless palmetto. He repeated Strong's
words dreamily:
"The blue stands for success and the
gray for failurep l don't seem to ketoh
on, Strong"
"No? Nothing more natural. You
have been Theoretically sealed out yon-
der at Sans Souci, and you don't know
yet how badly you are whipped. I've
come to tell you. Practically the war is
over, brother Seth. The mutterings you
hear are from a spent storm. l may be
left here to keep things quiet, or I may
be ordered away by 9 o'clock in the
morning. I wanted to arrange for the
safety and comfort Of our mother and
sister, and the rest Of them, in case some
one less interested in them personally
should be left in command at this
point"
II don't know as you can do any
thing for 'em. I don't know as they'll
let you, in fact. Ma and Liza are toler
able bristly, you know"
"Tell me about them"
The soldier in blue and gold lace ga.
lore sat down close by the rustic in
homespun and tatters and laid a caress-
ing hand upon his shoulder. The pain
Of a mighty yearning took sudden and
full possession Of him. Alpoutward and
visible signs Of hostility between these
two counted for nothing at that supreme
moment. The smoke Of battle that had
rolled in a dense, obscuring cloud be-
tween Strong Martin and his past life
lifted to grant him a clear backward
glance at the rough, implanted over-
seer's house in the Sans Souci quarters,
where his father and mother had reign
ed in smiling content with their lot,
humble and obscure as it was A loving
vision Of himself and Seth, ~contending
In all boyish sports in the CRASHES
quarter lot, came to him helpfully-
Seth. always gentle and generous in the
contest; he, turbulent and ambitious;
Charlie, amiably neutral, and Liza,
pretty, arrogant, spoiled, the household
idol. After all, the essential elements
Of q home had been there, but he had
not recognized it.
"Tell me about them, he said again,
with a softening in his voice, land that
other one. Miss Colyer, the professors
daughter. Is she with my mother and
sister yeti"
"Where else should abe be? Who is
there to look out for her, poor little
one9 Her old father, the onlies' friend
she had in the world, only the good
- L. a H. - S>-1