Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30

summer said, with his face as long as a
wet hammock" He was facing the hard
est problem of his life, for already the
| outbreak in Baltimore against the 9th Mas
sachusetts had given a foretaste of war.
Was his duty to the nation of his allegiance
or to the state of his birth? Day after
day he had seen his friends resign, one
after another, and pass out forever from
the academy His comrades from southern
states were urging him as a stanch south
erner to resign. He had no one of whom
to ask advice, because no one whom he
knew was unbiased, nor from the circum-
stances of the case, could be.
On Friday night, the 18th of April, Lieu
tenant Buckner had hardly slept. In the
morning he was up with the dawn, and
writing at his desk. The paper that he
penned was his resignation from the navy
of the United States. He had at last de-
| termined to throw in his lot with the Sc
cessionists. Signing the paper he waited
only until the superintendent should be in
his Office, and then he sent the document
in to him. 1t was that afternoon that his
downcast mien, as he slowly crossed the
parade ground, attracted the attention of
| his fellow officers and called forth the ques-
tion
whats the matter with Billy Buckner?"
A newcomer who had just then joined the
group was the one to answer it.
why, didn't you know he had resigned?'
| he said.
thought he would stick"
81 thought he had more sense" said an
other
You must remember that he is Ken
tuckian,' urged the first speaker, land that
the latest rumor is that his state has Sc
ceded. Then, too, Hunter Davidson and
Wood and Billy Parker have gone, you
know; all friends of his, and southern
''Wel1, perhaps that's natural. I don't
know how l should look at it If were a
southerner."
what! Natural to turn your back on
hot Thn xrynn 6oA
news wheeled about and pointed to the
curves of red. white and blue. as they un-
| dulated in the spring breeze. Natural
when the government has educated him :?
Natural to desert that government and use
that learning to aid those who are trying
to destroy the Union, which he has sworn
to defend? call it most unnatural!'
another.
Like Britisher or a Dutchman. prob
| ably" said the first in a contemptuous
tone. HE can never be one Of us again!"
Poor old Buck!' said the second speak
| er. He was good fellow" He shook
his head and looked down. They spoke
| of Buckner now as II he died that morn
! ing.
"Go light; here he comes" warned one
! Of the group, as the young officer came
| around the corner Of the recitation hall.
Buckner's eyes were upon the ground.
right? Should he have sent In his resig-
| nation? He knew that it must have al
ready been read by Commodore Blake the
| superintendent, and with other papers have
| been put in the mail for Washington that
| the Secretary of the Navy might take what
| action he chose. Buckner could not recall
| it If he would. And would he?
| AS he approached the group, who were
| only waiting for developments which should
| call them out in defense Of the Union. ali
| eyes were turned upon this, their late COM
rade. There seemed to be no disposition
| to draw him into the group as OF old He
was ostracized. But one Of the officers
| quicker Of wit perhaps than the rest. or
| approaching more deeply than did the
] others what Buckner's resignation meant
| to himself, to them and to their alma
! mater. called out In testing tone:
"Parlez vous francais?'
Buckner raised his eyes with surprised
/ incomprehension Of the reason why he
1 should be addressed in an alien tongue,
whats that?" he said
| az only said Parlez vous francafs'" re
/ turned the questioner. you know Won are
a foreigner now!"
A foreigner! The word struck a cold
/ chill to Buckner's heart
Perhaps you are going to take French
leave, like the rest Of them" added
another.
| Buckner started, stung to the marrow
| He looked the man in the eye. Was this
what they said Of him? A foreigner? "A
/ stranger to all Of these friends of his
| youth. with whom he had studied, with
whom he had served as a student and In