The Dolores star., 1903-10-09

of desperate effort and the mutabil-
ity of human Affairs"
A breeze swept over the walls of the
fort and ruffied the short grass grow,
ing mick and rank this lafe summer
month and sent an aromatic odor of
field flowers in the face OF the detected
Tourist sitting on the edge u the side
walk
SIT was rot useless, young man. No
lesson of struggle and immortal
prowess is useless" said the walls,
frowning down in disapproval on the
athletic, good-looking young fellow
idly smoking a choice Havana, his
neatly turned-up trousers. patent
leather shoes, polka-dotted socks,
well-cared-for hands and handsome
seal ring plainly showing that his were
lines running smoothly along the easy
road of prosperity, where bitter
struggles, disappointments and de-
feats are not usual.
What have you to complain of,
young man?" asked the old fort.
What are you detected and spiritless
about? I've noted you often passing
along here with clever-lookinp.
bright-eyed girl--a spirited girl with
handsome face and erect carriage.
What are you so moody about?"
Il have not what want. old fort
What do | care about wealth? l have
not the love of a brown-eyed girl,
whose smile is the light of heaven, and
for whose sake / would scale your
sombre old walls in the face of all your
cannon if | thought it would give me
the hope OF winning her.
You talk of battles. It's easier to
storm up in the wild craze of battle
and wrest victory and possession
against long odds than to dawdle
through life and see the thing you
ardently crave beyond your reach. TO
realize that you may have Dead sea
fruit in abundance. but never the only
joy which would make life worth hav-
ing. lou 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 I'll go cruising, and
I'll play the same old bluff society
game. But, rain or shine, what do
care ?"
Tut. tut!" said the old fort con-
temptuously. you should have been
born 10 years ago. You have all the
capabilities of the soldier who led his
men iii a breathiess rush up these
walls, and you look like him. But his
was a courage which would not admit
of defeat. Yours--?"
Again the breeze swept over the
fort. fiinging out the flag which had
been dropping at its staff. waiting for
sunset, the turn OF the tide and a wind
from over the seas.
You look like him." continued the
old fort. He was a dauntless fellow.
He made a superb charge, leading his
men up TO scale these walls. He fell
just where you sit, and yon tuft OF
primroses blossoms above his head.
The difference between you and Col
Nclver is thai he was product of the
tempestnous 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 10 the end, whatever the end
may have BEEN
Hugh McIyer glanced up at the
slantlng wall of the big earthwork, at
the tufted grass covering its sides
and the sentinel passing TO and from.
Yes hclver was great soldier.
He fell leading on his men just where
you slre lounging, young man. said
the old fort
To-day this is u 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 ana have music.
Some of them are pretty. The children
laugh and romp on the sunny side of
the 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 bugie 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 arc smaller
men t,:2n GU. fat.ogs, E.useG the
young man stretched ON the grass.
This old fort has een heroic tin. IS
men dying for their convictions.
We'll, man to-day is not called on
to storm forts.
IN go out to those silver mines a nd
look after them. Not bad idea to do
little mining myself. Perhaps she'll
think a little better of me if she thinks
at ALL"
why, hello!" called gay voice i'm
periously, incoming up at the stars,
or at the walls of the fort? Aren't
they formidable? Imagine your cotil-
lon leaders of to-day leading u storm
| inU ma rty hat II Al