Sharp County record., 1903-07-17

What do | care about wealth? have
not the love of brown-eyed girl.
whose smile is the light OF heaven, and
for whose sake l would scale your
sOmbre old walls in the face OF all your
cannon IL | thought II would give me
the hope OF winning her.
"You talk OF battles. It's easier 10
storm up in the wild craze Of battle
and wrest victory and possession
against long odds than 10 dswdle
through life and see the thing you
srdently crave beyond your reach. To
realize that you may have Dead Sc"
fruit in abundance, but never the only
Joy which would make life worth hay
ing. You talk of ancient battles and
forgotten struggles. Mine is a battle
of to-day for my life's happiness, and
I've lost it. I'll go out west and look
after my mines. or III go cruising, and
III play the same old bluff society
game. But, rain or shine. what do |
care?"
Tut! tut" said the old fort con.
temp,uously. you should have been
born 40 years ago. You have all the
capabilities OF the soldier who led his
men in brea,hless rush up these
walls, and you look like him. But his
wns a courage which would not admit
Of defeat. lourx-?'
Again the breeze swept over the
fort. ilinging out the tag, which had
,een dropping NJ its stan. waiting for
sunset, the turn of the tide and wind
from over the seas.
You look like him." continued the
Did fort. "Ile was dnuntless fellow.
He made superb charge, leading his
men up to xcnle these walls. lie fell
just where you sit, and yon tuft OF
primroses blossoms above his head.
The difference between you and Col.
Nclver is that he was product OF the
:empes,uOus times in which he lived
ANA you have spent your years after
the manner Of the wealthy idlcr. You
accept defeat where he would have
struggled TO the end, whatever the end
may have been"
Hugh Mclver glanced up at the
slanting wall Of the big earthwork. at
the tnf,ed grass covering It's sides
and the sentinel passing TO and from.
Eyes, Mclyer MAS great soldier.
He fell leading on his men just where
you are lounging, young man." said
the old fort.
To-day this is very peaceful spot.
Life among the spiall garrison is a
luiet routine Of easy laborS, and only
the officers wives quarrel over small
matters or play card. and have music
some of them are pretty. The children
augh and romp On the sunny side Of
the parade ground, and the nurses sit
together and talk of " hat 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 eIDbrasures 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 bugie call and the sen.
try's step are the only sounds which
disturb the quietude Of evening and
night."
ut Goes seem as II we are smaller
men than our fathers" unused the
young man sire toned on the grass.
This old fort has seen hcroic times
-men dying for their convictions,
"Well, man to-day Is not called on
to storm forts.
"I!l SO out to those silver mines and
look after them. Not bad idea to Go
= little mining myself. Perhaps she'll
think little better of me if she thinks
at all."
why, heilo!" called a gay voice i'm.
periously, incoming up at the stars.
Or at the walls of 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 Inc last night how the
Fortieth Pennsy ylvania 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 sen.
try pacing slowl, along, while Hugh
Mcker stood looking At the hDe spir-
tied face and graceful figure by his
side.
''Phe Fortieth. That was my fa-
TIERS regiment, Then il WAS here he
lost his life" Hugh said slowly.
A pause followed, theh she turned
and held out both hands.
Forgive mo, / did not know. How
heroic."
They turned silently from the grsss.
grown rampant.
- ~.