Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-08-29
From 1.-The Observations of a Retired
Veteran.
published by request of the author, H. c.
Tinsley, deceased.)

published by request of the author, H.
Tinsley, deceased.)
Reference has been made by this pa
per and several others in the State t
the sketches of the late H. G. Tinsley
entitled observations of a Retire.
Veteran which appeared from tim
to time in the Staunton VindicatO1
while he was the editor. One of til
most striking of these is reprinted here
1t attracted great deal of attention
at the time it appeared. The writer re
mem bers meeting on the street Hon
Edward Echols, who asked him if n
bad read Tinsley's last adding that b.
had just received letter from hi
father. Gen. John Echols, then il
Louisville, KY, telling him if he ha(
not noticed Tinsley's little sketch
1.-THE Majors Last Love-" to look il
up and read it, THAT McCauley could
not have done better"
This sketch was published Dec. 19
1884, upon Mr.. Tinsley's return from
his vacation spent in Hampton, Va.
where he met the Major and bis ''little
one" The author evidently wrote
from his inmOst heart and expressed
sentiments which some of bis intimate
friends had not understood. In 1892
xpbox, Mr. n;nelo,, xuop+ 70 1ohpc u IN
kins hospital to have a critical opera
tion performed, which be and his
friends feared would result fatally, be
requested his business partner, A. 8
Morton, in the event of his death, to
merely announce the fact and follow
that announcement by the repu blica-
tiOn of 1.-THE Majors Last Love" in
lieu Of any extended sketch of himself.
The republication of this article now
may therefore be considered as done
by the request of the deceased 4:
StrOlling out as the sun was setting
On the first evening of my stay at vii
lage hotel last summer, saw two shad-
Ows cast across the street; one so very
long, and one so very short as to look
quite ridiculous. They were the shad-
Ows of the Major and his last love. The
Major, hatless, was swinging nursing
y the torn straw hat of his love, while
the little three-year.o lady herself
was struggling along with the Majors
nat piled with flowers and toys and tea
cups on her return from having "a
oarty' on the river edge. The little
'eet stumbled, the party crockery flew,
md the two shadows melted in one as
,he prattllng owner and the tall Ma
or knelt together to gather them up
rh at was my first sight of the Major
md his love.
l cannot say that any of us ever knew,
n came to know, all about the Major;
.lways excepting that we loved him.
lie was tall, straight, and frost-haired
lis regular features were of that sort
hat might have belonged to man of
Orty five or man of sixty, and he was
i changeable sort of person who one day
would look one age and the next an
,ther. Of his means, we knew abso-
utely nothing. 1t was said that his
wealth had been carried away by the
ivil war and that he was living on a
mall but sufficient remainder, which
vas doubtless true. Over his gray
nOustache there was a blue eye that
ometimes looked as if it might belong
o boy of eighteen and sometimes had |
be weary look of man long acquaint-
d with grief. His skin was as soft a. |
woman's and often suffuSed with a |
aint blush which would have better |
'ecome a woman. He was the very
plrit of gentlenesss to both men and |
vomen, and 1t seemed hard to realize, |
ooking at him, that, as we heard af.
this man had been wounded |
nd captured in battle and set apart |
o be executed in reprisal. We did not |
earn that from him, for he never talk |
d about himself. but from an old army
Omrade who met him and who was
he only man that we, boarders, ever
aw the Major familiar with. Not !
hat he was distant, but after gentle |
mile of salutation or recognition he |
ever seemed anxious to converse, and |
ike most men, silence gave him an air |
# mystery. There were many solu-
ions of the mystery by the lady board |
rs, particularly by Mrs. Pointlace, a |
estless little widow who was never at |
)eace unless she was in love with |
omebody or somebody was in love !
With her. Her theory was that the !
dajor had suffered, at some period or |
'ther, great shock to his affections
"a supposition that failed to find con
irmation in the regular appetite and
be eccentric neatness of the person |
Who had received the shock. Whether |
he iady's theory was correct or not |
lone of US had an opportunity to know,
or we would as soon have expected to |
ee the Major come into the dining |
Dom without his coat as to have heard
lin speak of his personal affairs. The |
widow was new boarder; if she had
)een there as long as the rest of us she
would have known that whatever he |
night have suffered in the past, the
Majors heart was now full to the brim
)f affection for female, and that fe-
male not longer than his arm.
She couldn't have been over three
7ears old, and was the only girl among
our boys, running up like stair steps.
can see her now under broad sum-
ner hat that would have coveIe ed the
,op of barrel. The crown had given
away and her little blue eyes would be
)ftener looking out through the gap