Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-05-19

TO us it stands for, injestice, cruelty
and oppression, and, oh, my Lawd
Almighty" with q despairing outward
sweep Of his long, lean arms, lit stands
fur all the pure cussedness that the dio-
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 tho winning side"
Seth's protuberant blue eyes grew
yet more prominent, as no clasped his
hands about the elevated kneecap just
then doing duty as hat rack for his
brimless palmetto. He repeated Strong's
words dreamily:
1.-The blue stands for success and the
gray for failure? 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 spent storm. ! may be
left here to keep things quiet, or l may
be ordered away by 8 O'Clock IN the
morning. I wanted to arrange for the
safety and comfort Of our mother and
sister, and tho 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. 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 III
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. All outward and
visible signs Of hostility between these
two counted for nothing at that supreme
moment. The smoke of battle that had
rolled in dense, obscuring cloud be-
tween Strong Martin and his past life
lifted to grant him 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
-. L Caf1, ~
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 1t.
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 she be? Who is
there to look out for her, poor little
sne? Her old father, the onlies' friend
she had in the world, only the good
Lord knows whether he is Twin or dead
She'd rather know him dead than find
him inside uniform like yourn.
Hold your tongue, Seth Martin
You are sentimental fool.
The officers brows contracted omi-
nously. He abruptly vacated the chair
he had drawn up to Seth's side and
walked over to one Of the front win
dows, where he stood leaning heavily
against the easement, staring modify
out over the early morning stir in the
encampment. 1t was impossible to stem
the current of Seth's biting scorn.
"Yes, she would, Miss Mamie would.
Her and sissy are the bravest soldiers
know Of They are just wrapped up in
the cause, Strong Martin, and the man
that amt ben true to the gray will
hat to hang his head before them two
spunky girls. They're grit to the back
bone You may find shirks and towards
among the men-that's me-and you
may find traitors-false, black hearted
traitors - among the men, monsters
that's ready to lift their hands. ag inst
the very mother that sucked 'em-
that's you-but the southern woman
rings true every time, cir. She does, by
jimminy."
Through the long, silent hours of the
night just gone Strong Martin had been
schooling himself for this interview.
He knew how great a shock was await
ing his brother, and he knew how con-
tracted was the lens through which his
own departure from the traditions Of his
family would be observed. Seths crude
violence fell upon benumbed sensibili-
lies
He scarcely heard what Seth was say
ing. He knew it was abusive, but what
Of that? He turned away from the win
dow and faced the excited man, who had
remained seated from the beginning Of
this unpleasant interview. The sound
Of his brothers. high pitched, querulous
voice was exasperating to his tired
nerves. He raised his hand authorita-
lively.
Hold up, Seth. What you are saying
does not amount to row Of pins. You
are Confederate simply from force Of
circumstances and surroundings. am
Federal from identically the same rea-
sons. This accused war is practically
over, and you are on the losing side.
Tomorrow, at the hour Of noon-today,
rather, for the night is already gone-if
you hear - slow guns from the direc-
ton of the gunboat lying off Deersneck,
you may know that Robert 4. Lee has
surrendered and that the war is over.
That is the signal agreed upon in case
the rumor of surrender is confirmed.
That being the case, brother Seth, you
and / have other work than quarreling
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