The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-29

This fashionable resort had been daily
chilled with dread of those long, black
Spanish cruisers which it was said would
some fine day lay off the harbor, lombard
the coast and destroy the town. So Sc
riOuSly were these stories taken that
many of the guests had hied away to
safer quarters for Il few weeks. until Ger
vera fleet was sunk near Santiago, when
they flocked back TO the seashOre, and
the great hotels were once more thronged
with the gay and fashionable.
Both Old Point Comfort and Norfolk
were filled with soldiers. portion OF
Gen. Miless invading army was to en-
bark for Porto Rico, and all day long
the martial tread of numerous hosts and
roll of drums had made the window panes
rattle in their sash.
Ii was night. and the Grand Hotel was
n blaze of glory. The corridors, halls,
rOtundaS and parlOrS were filled with a
throng some gay and some sad, but all
elegantly dressed. Mingled with the other
costumes were brilliant uniforms of both
the army and the navy.
The ladies were all attired in the very
latest and most becoming costumes, and
every shade and hue of the rainbow tiut-
tered and quivered under the brilliant
light of the great electric chandelier.
There We're sad hearts in that throng, as
well as gay. Many an aching breast was
concealed beneath the blue coat and brass
buttons. Many fair-haired son had bid
den adieu to mother and sweetheart, to
march into hostile country and brave
the dangers of a tropical climate in the
sickly season. OF that gay throng to
leave next day all could not be expected
to return, and who could say which fair,
fresh young cheek had been marked for
the Spanish bullet or yellow fever!
Lieut.. Arthur Thorpe was Il young fell
low from Ohio in the volunteer service,
whose regiment would embark next day
for Porto Rico. Arthur was the son Of
a soldier, his father having been Captain
in Grants army in the Wilderness cam
paign.
Capt. Thorpe had come back from the
war with Il dark shadow on his soul, and
took no pleasure in the recital of deeds
of heroism, as many of his companions
did. tie married and lived Il quiet life,
rearing and educating his children, yet
continually wearing Il look of sorrow,
vain regret which time could not wholly
efface.
Arthur was wholly unlike his father
To him life was all sunshine and smiles.
1t was thought that he inherited his hap
by disposition from his mother, who was
of a bright, sunny nature: Arthur was
lust "a when he started with his regI-
ment for the West Indies. He was
handsome young fellow, tall, with his
fathers dark-blue eyes, and black halr.
In fact. when he donned his uniform his
his father who had stepped out of the
frame of the cid picture made 30 years
before.
The young Lieutenant had been three
days at Old Point Comfort awaiting the
arrival of the transports, and having con-
siderable leisure wandered about the place
at will. Many beauty paused to give
the handsome officer second look.
Among other bellies of the beach, he one
day came upon fair creature with gold
en- hair and soft brown eyes. Her figure
was poetry, ease and grace, and such
form as Il sculptor might go mad over.
Il would give much to know her." he
thought as he wended his way along the
beach. rs there no way to get an in
troductiony' he asked himself as he went
TO his hotel. Where there's a will there's
j way" is an adage which proved true
in his case, for a Captain in another regi-
mcnt, whom he knew, was friend of
the little gOlden-haired beauty, and next
day he was presented to Miss Elsie Alden,
the Virginia belle. Knowing that his time
was limited, the young Lieutenant re-
solved to improve it to the best possible
advantage, and if his lOve-making seemed
I little premature, under the circum-
stances it might be eXcusable.
The two had walked and talked almost
continuously. He had told her of him
self and his hopes and ambitions, and
she had told him of herself and mother,
social influence in the South. Her father
had died six years before, when she was
but u years of age. Her grandfather,
who was a Confederate Colonel, was
killed during the last days of the rebel
lion. But that feeling of hatred was melt
ing away under the sunlight of patriotism
which moved the whole country; the new
generation knew no North and no South.
The SONS of one section had married the
daughters of the other, and old differ
enccs were fast passing away.
she will surely be here this evening"
thought the Lieutenant, as he went from
parlOr to parlOr, crowded with guests,
chatting and laughing as if grim war had
never cast a cloud over the land.
Hello. Lieutenant; you seem lost, ,"
said his friend, the Captain. Whom are
you looking for? I'll wager it is the
pretty little Virginia belle"
The Lieutenant blushed to the roots Of
his hair, and the Captain resumed:
well, my dear boy, she is in Parlor
S. You viii find her there; now, go and
be happy. Her mamma is there, also, and
l fancy the fair Elsie is anxious to pre-
sent yen to her"
The Lieutenant lost no time in hasten
ing to ParIor $, where he found Elsie
with woman Of 43 or thereabOuts, whom
he rightly concluded was her mother, sur
rounded by half n dozen or more officers,
gaily laughing and chatting.
She seemed to feel his presence so SEN
sitive is love, and turning, greeted him
with a smile Of welcome.
20, you have Gomez" she cried, and
Fastening to his side drew him toward
her mother and said: Mamma, let me
present you to Lieut.. Thorpe, Of the 4th
Ohio"
The beautiful widow started and gave
him 4 stare in silence. There was some
thing in his features that seemed to turn
her into stone, and she glarcd at him with
the fcrOcity Of tigress, failing TO recog
niZc his bow.
From Ohio" she at last gasped.
Lieut.. Thorpe, from Obio-oh, Godl FL
Sic, come away with me"
Mother. mother, you are illV' the
alarmed girl exclaimed trembling at her
mothers awful wilderness.
The widow, trembling, drew her daugh-
ter to their own apartment without utter.
Ing another word; then, after she had
closed and hOlted the door, turned toward
her and sObbed:
Elsie. Elsie, do you love me?"
Mother, you know l dor' the agonized
girl answered.
Then give up that man. Never coun-
tenancc him again."
why mother? Do you know him?'
u never saw him before; but he is OF
the hated breed. lie comes of a race
hate. Listen, and / will tell you why.
was but 10 years of age when the great
civil war closed. Ny father was a
Colonel under Lee, and it was during the
famous campaign Of the Wilderness that
mother, hearing he was wounded, took
me with her, and FASTENED TO the front.
His wound was only slight, however, and
he was still able for duty. We were with
him when battalion Of Union cavalry