The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-27
THE TWO VANREVELS
Bv BOOTH HARRINGTON.
Copyright, by Mcclure. Phillips & Co.

you, by the Almighty, who attack your
native land in this, her hour Of peril =,
Peril TO my native landi" laughed
Crailey. From Santa Anna?"
The Generals right, sir" exclaimed
the elder Chenoweth. Indignantly, and
most of the listeners appeared to agree
with him. Its a poor time to abuse
the President when he's called for vol
unteers and our country is in danger,
sir"
"Who is in danger" answered Graf
ley. lifting his hand to still the clamor
of appreciation that arose. rs Polk in
danger? Or Congress? But that would
be too much to hope. DO you expect to
see the Greasers in Washington? No,
you idiots, you don't! Yet therell be
plenty of men to suffer and die; and
the first should be those who thrust this
war on US and poor little Mexico; but
it won't be they; the men who'll do the
fighting and dying will be the country
boys and the like of us from the towns,
while Mr.. Polk sits planning at the
White House how he can get elected
again. ! wish Tom were her, confound
you You listen to him because he al
ways has the facts and I'm Just an
embroiderer, you think. What's be-
come of the gaudy campaign cry you
We're all wearing your lungs out with
few months ago? 'Fifty-four-forty or
fight Bah, Polk twisted the lions tail
with that until after election. Then he
saw he had to make you forget it, or
fight England and be ruined, so he
forces war on Mexico, and the country
does forget it. That's it; he asks three
regiments of volunteers from this state
to die of fevers and get shot, so that
he can steal another country and make
his own elect him again. And you ask
me to drink the health of the politician
ttyhO 81 Of hoV1o aud GanhG his follow
men to die to fix his rotten jobs for
him." Crailey had persuaded himself
into such earnestness, that the depth
of his own feeling almost choked him,
but he finished roundly in his beautiful,
strong voice: IN drink for the good
punch's sake-but that health ?-Ill see
Gen. Trumbe in heaven before I'll
drink it,"
There arose at once roar of anger
and disapproval, and Crailey became a
mere storm center amid the appraised
hands gesticulating madly at him as
he stood, smiling again, upon his chair.
This comes of living with Tom Van
revel!' shouted the General furlously.
This is his damned abolition teaching.
You're only his echo; you spend half
your life playing at being NanreVel!"
Where is Vanrevel?" said Tapping
ham Marsh.
"Ay, where is he!" ragged Trumble,
hammering the table till the glasses
rang. Let him come and answer for
his own teachings; it's wasted time to
talk to this one; he's only the pupil.
Where is the traitor?'
Here" answered a voice from the
doorway; and though the word was
spoken quietly it was nevertheless, at
that juncture, silencing. Every one
turned toward the door as Vanrevel
entered. But the apOplectic General,
whom Crailey's speech had stirred to a
fury behond control, almost leaped at
Toms throat.
Here's the tea-sipping old granny
he beloved hoarsely. Gle was ordinar-
lily very fond of Tom). Here's the
master! Here's the man whose example
teaches Crailey Gray to throw mud at
the flag. He'll stay here at home with
Crailey of course, and throw more,
while the other boys march out to die
under it."
ION the contrary, General" answered
! Tom, raising his voice. Il think you'll
| find Crailey Gray the first to enlist, and
| as for myself, I've raised sixty men i'm
the country, and | want forty more
! from Ronen, in order to offer the gov
ernor a full company. So it's come to
the King, not the man. Polk is a pitt
full trickster, but the country needs her
sons; that's enough for us to know; and
while | won't drink to James Polk
he plunged a cup in the bowl and drew
it out brimmingly-"I'l empty this to
the President"
1t was then that from fifty Threats
the long wild shout went up that stir
red Rouen, and woke the people from
their midnight beds for half a mile
| around.