Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-02-19
Of defeat. Yours-?"


sunset, the turn of the tide and wind
from over the seas.
You look like him." continued the
old fort. Gle was a dauntless fellow
He made a superb charge, leading his
men up to scale these walls. lie fell
just where you sit, and yon tuft Oh
/ primrOses blossoms above his head
The difference between you and Col
McIver is that he was product Of the
I tempestuous times in which he lived
and you have spent your years after
the manner of the wealthy idler. You
accept defeat where he would have
struggled to the end, whatever the end
may have been"
Hugh McIver glanced up at the
slanting wall of the big earthwork, at
the tufted grass covering its sides
and the sentinel passing to and from.
Yes, Mclver was great soldier
He fell leading on his men Just where
you are Longing, young man. said
the old fort.
To-day this is very peaceful spot.
Life among the small garrison is a
quiet routine Of easy labors, and only
the officers wives quarrel over small
matters or play cards and have music.
some OF them are pretty. The children
laugh and romp on the sunny side of
tie parade ground, and the nurses sit
together and talk Of what they see and
hear.
But can't forget those other days,
when cannon roared from these para
pets and flame and smoke swept
through the embrasures now closed
up; when the sound Of the clash of war
rang out and assaulting columns
dashed up against my walls, and the
din of battle covered-the groans of the
wounded and dying.
To-day the bugle call and the SEN
try's step are the only sounds which
disturb the quietude of evening and
night" /
1T does seem as if we are smaller
men than our fathers" unused the
young man stretched on the grass.
"This old fort has seen heroic times
men dying for their convictions.
well, a man to-day is not called on
to storm forts.
''I'll go out to those silver mines and
look after them. Not bad idea to DO
a little mining myself. Perhaps she'll
think little better of me if she thinks
at all"
"Why, hello!" called a gay voice inn
periously, incoming up at the stars,
or at the walls offs the fort? Aren't
they formidable? Imagine your cotil-
Ion leaders Of to-day leading a storm
ing party up that slope. Maj. Thomp-
son was telling me last night how the
Fortieth Pennsylvania stormed up and
nearly took the work. The colonel and
nearly all the officers fell. Perhaps
we are standing on their graves now
this minute. They were buried with
military honors at the foot Of the fort,
so he said"
She had stopped and stood gazing up
at the great slope of the wall, the flag
staff overhead and the indistinct sem
try pacing slowly along, while Hugh
McIver stood looking at the fine spir-
tied face and graceful figure by his
side
The Fortieth. That was my IA
theirs regiment. Then it was here he
lost his life" Hugh said slowly.
A pause followed then she turned
and held out both hands.
Forgive me. l did not know. How
heroic!"
/ They turned silently from the grass
grown rampant.
81 am going to the post office. Walk
with me-" she said, with a radiant
smile, and letus forget hostilities."
1t was slow and rather silent ram
bic to the queer little post office in
the center of the village.
"A last fascinating recollection to
take away with me-" Hugh said with
lingering regret.
Going? Where and when are you
going, and to do what?" she asked
breathlessly. .-
"To Colorado-to-morrow-to look
after some Mines" he answered, look
ing steadily at the lovely face before
him.
"To Colorado? When will you get
back?"
Never" Hugh said, unless"
"Unless-?" she repeated softly,
turning toward him.
Hugh McIver stretched out his hand
impulsively.
"Who is hep" said the old fort re-
flectiyely, as they sauntered slowly by
later on. THAT young man reminds
me strongly Of Col McIver when he
stormed these walls and the battle
ragged around He was buried just
where those yellow primroses are
blooming. IN. 0. Times-Democrat.
"The Biography of n Snowflake"
Under this title Mr.. Arthur H. Bell