Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-01-04


received Inotice the night beforel He
brought kerth small package wrapped
IN tissuelpaper and unfolded II. II con-
tanned q photograph, four letters and
n t,nv Testament. He silently handed
me the first, and, leaning forward,
struck match so that could see 1t the
better. The pickering light disclosed
the face lSf beautiful woman-a wom-
an whom knew.
ave are engaged" he said, simply.
look ed at him, astonished. Despite
our intimacy, this was the first time ne
had spoken of 1t. He read my glance.
"It has been too sacred to speak OF,
even TO you. have not been able to
realize it"-his voice faltered-"but
now I want you to send them to her
II I TALL"
He replaced the packet within his
blouse.
at only happened the night before l
left" he explained. II had not dared
to dream Of 1t before. hope-I hope
that she will not remain unmarried
she was born to be happy. This must
not mar her life-tell her So"
grasped his hand In mine, and then
he lay down beside me and turned his
boyish face once more to the twinkling
stars. Though we neither of us slept,
we lay silent on that Cuban hillside till
the dawn of day.
How calm he was, and forgetful OF all
save duty, as he received his orders and
formed his men for that bloody charged
We found him az night after the guns
were still and the rattle Of the mus
kerry had ceased, lying on his back
where he had fallen, the cold starlight
bathing his still, upturned face. He
clutched his breast with his left hand,
his right, grasping his sword, was out
stretched, straight. l removed the
package. 1t was blood-staned-a bull
let had passed through It.
The fever took hold Of me, and, heart
sick and footsore, l crawled down to
Siboney and boarded the first return
ing transport. At the post Office on
shore-composed of tent and attend
ed by a government official, who, poor
fellow, died soon of the yellow fever
I found some letters and carried them
on board ship with me to enjoy the
treat Of reading them at leisure, and
then l noticed that one was addressed
in the same handwriting as that Of the
letters to Allan Clave, written ty the
woman to whom he was engaged. Isaid
that l knew her-that explains 1t. The
letter had been forwarded to me from
Tampa, and this is what 1t said:
New York, June TO- 1SsS-Dear Cousin
Andrew: As usual, have gotten myself
into O horrible mess and turn to you to help
me out. You remember last spring / Wis
tied an army post, where the til infan-
try were stationed? had desperate fir
tation with an awfully dear fellow named
Lieut.. Allan Clave. The regiment was or
dered to the front. He was fearfully In
earnest, and I suppose was carried away
by the excitement and glory-at any rate
you know that l am impressionable. But
you know, too, that cannot keep that sort
Of thing up long-don't blame me. CAM
y
to write him regularly at Tampa, and his
letters-well it's got to be stopped, for hi:
sake. Now, thought you might be able
to see him, and perhaps you could explain
simply can't write Paint me jet black II
It will do any good, only do 1t, and shall be
everlastingly grateful. Tell him that 1t was
all foolish mistake. l."
1 dropped the letter as If 1t had stung
me. l was almost alone on the after
deck of the transport. We wee slowly
working our way along tn Cuban
coast. 1 took Allan's blood-stained
packet from the inner pocket of my
coat and slowly unrolled it. 1 looked
at the photograph a minute, then struck
match and lit it and the letters, In
GLIDING the one that I had just been
reading-one by one, and let them con
sumo in my hand till but a fragment re-
manned, when threw them out into the
swirling wake of the ship, where for g
moment they made fiery trail with
which the copper rays of the setting
sun mingled, and then they disappeared
forever.
"She was born to be happy, this must
not mar her lfe-tell her sol" wits
pered to myself. And then, "Thank Goo
he is deadl"
The little Testament with the clear
hole bored throusn 1t still have.-Les
lies Popular Monthly.