The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-08-05
THE studied nonchalance OF the

"HE SCuQleU nOucndlduce VI tuc
village telegraph operator as he
- sauntered up the main street Of
Gray Willow from the depot betrayed
the sense of Importance with which
he was inwardly swelling. This pc
culiarity was quickly noted by the lit
tie group Of prominent citizens" gath
cred about the broad doorway Of the
livery stable to discuss the coming eau
Gus and enjoy the GOODNESS which dis
titled from the freshly sprinkled floor.
''He walks like man ready to open
a handsome jackpot with a royal
f1ush," remarked Hockey" Crane, the
justice Of the peace.
'Say, HIP he called to the operator.
You can't make us believe you've got
news concealed about you just by put
tin on airs. I've about concluded there
amt any war outside the newspapers.
They do say Its really begun. but I've
yet to see any proofs Of it."
"Well, you just wait about an hour
an you'll believe it easy enough" re-
piled the operator.
A half-dozen tilted chairs suddenly
sought the level Of the floor, and as
many voices inquired:
whats upT' and Come; can't y
give US the newsT
"All I've got to say Is that you'd
better be down to tn station about
ABS If you want to see sight that
means business" And with this the
operator pursued his way up the
drowsy street to the postoffice, there
to repeat his mission of mysticism
On his way back to the depot he was
again waylaid and compelled to con-
fess that q 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 Hickey" Crane was
not of this number. Instead he sought
the musty seclusion of his court
ton Of the impromptu speech which
he felt sure he would be called upon
to deliver on behalf of the patriotic
citizens of Gray Willow.
In forty mi0utes the depot platform
was packed with girls In white, their
cheeks flushed with the excitement Of
anticipation; with sober-faced women,
awkwardly expectant men 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 the actual presence Of war that
reached the ears Of the orators wife,
who Strengthened up from the devo-
tional attitude which she had taken be-
side her pansy bed, where she was
wedding. The shouting was faint, but
It had an ominous, forbidding sound.
She could not clearly identify it. as she
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. Intuitively the
thought of war came to her mind, and
she was notlAsnaaaised, AS TIA train
came into view, to see that the plat
forms and windows were crowded
with young men in slouch hats, blue
uniforms and leggins. The four young
Cranes 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
crenk Of the front gate aroused her and
a moment later she was unlocking the
screen door to admit Mrs. Fink, who
kissed her with unusual fervor and
exclaimed:
"Ain't it just dretful, Mis- Crane
this terrible war. l amt had no realiz-
in sense of it 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. I'd be set right up
If any Of my men folks could talk like
he did. / never heard such patriotism
not in all my born days. An he's
goin' t hold a big war meetin' In tn
opry-house tonight an raise COM
j'ny. l expect my boys'n enlist, but I