Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-28

"Damme," said the colonel, in his ex- citement, 'if this is the spirit. of our women-with apologies to you ladies' what may we not expect from our men?"
 Mary Annan turned to Peyton in the confusion.
 Have I done well? Have said well?" she whispered.
 "Almost you have persuaded me-" said Peyton, smiling up at her.
 My son, my sonr' said his father, coming toward him and laying a hand upon his shoulder. "Thank God! Thank God!"
 The quick rattiing of drum outside broke the sudden silence which fell upon the company as the cheering at last died away
 Whats that? The long roll, eh?'' cried the colonel lifting his head and snifing the air like an old warhorse.
 'Tt's drum beating the assembly," said the mayor, who recognized the call from his West Point years.
 There it goes againP' cried another.
 Where Is itT' asked n third.
 'It comes from that direction" cried one, pointing toward the front of the house.
 "It's at the armory of the cadets, down on Cont street."
 They are coming this way" cried the colonel as the rattling grew louder. Quick! Let us see them"
 By common impulse the company surged toward the long French win lr.xxve %1Nn Annap was quicker than the rest, and Boyd Peyton was at her side. Their fingers fumbled at the curtains and the fastenings of the blinds and tore them open. In a moment the assemblage poured out upon the porch. They had sat unusually long at the table. Night had fallen-the soft, deep semitropic night-with the stars blazing brilliant ly overhead.
 Out on the street the troops were coming. The lights from torches car ried by negro boys on the Hanks spar kled upon the bayonets. As they drew nearer the flies Joined the drums in that already popular song, "Listen to the Mocking Bird"
 It shrilled through the dark and crowded streets. The entrancing strains rang above the cheers and shouts of the crowd. How handsome and myste- rious the soldiers looked in the uncer- tain light! After the Mobile cadets came the German, fusileers, then the Independent rifles, then the Washing ton artillerymen and In the rear the Light cavalry.
 .'Oh, where are they going?' cried Mary Amman to the governor, who stood by her side.
 The old governor hesitated moment and looked at her quizzically.
 You can tell us now surely, sir" she cried. laying her hand upon his arm.
 The governor hesitated still, but finally made up his mind.
 My dear Miss Mary" he said at last with fatherly kindness, raising his voice as he spoke so that the whole as- semblage could hear him, i've are go- ing to forestall the United States troops who were ordered south on New Years day. have directed the cavalry to seize the Mount Vernon arsenal! have ordered them to turn over the arms to the military force of the state!'
 "And the cadets and the rest?" inter- rupted the young woman.
 'They are going down to take and garrison Fort Morgan!"
 A sigh seemed to rise from the com pany on the porch as they realized the Hateful import of the governors words. 1t was followed by burst of applause, but the drums and flies were just op- posite the railing now. The captain of the battalion took In the group on the gallery but few yards away-the gov ernor, the mayor, the women. He turned sharply. A word of command rang out. There was crash and clah ter of arms. The light rippled over the moving bayonets as the men gave the marching salute. A great roar of cheers burst from the men and women surrounding the soldiers and then the troops themselves joined in the acclaim. Above 1t all rang the shrill notes of the fife playing the "Mocking Bird" break ing into the night with its passionate cadence.
 Annan Quickly she tore the shawl from her shoulders and Haunted 1t to- ward the passing soldiers And Bob Darrow caught her glance as he rode and thought it greeting for him. At MaryIs feet small figure clad in white nightdress, who had at that mo- ment appeared on the scene, chung to her, and Tempe, raising her voice to win attention, called out:
 "I heard the drums sister. an I came Are they going to shoot against the Nunited States"
 The judge, with singular contrac- tion at his heart, caught up his young est daughter and stilled her prophecy. And the regiment swept on.
 Oh, if he lived for thousand years, time could never erase from Boyd Pey- toms memory the picture of that ra- diant figure standing on the edge of the balcony, that uplifted bare arm catching the shawl that he had thrown upon her shoulders and waving 1t in tho air liIyo honnv hIyn Aau