The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-01-08

rop company, Boston, entitled The Whlrl-
wind written by Rupert Hughes, of Keo-
kuk Ia The story follows the career of
boy through the trials of a childhood of
poverty, the tests of early manhood, Gown
through a career as an officer in the fed
-eral armies and afterwards in political life
at Washington. With 1t is pretty ro-
.Knance, and the following chapter, repro
,duced from the story by permission of the
publishers, gives a little of that romance.
1t describes the parting Of the lovers as the
nero was to leave for the battlefield after
having been at home recuperating from
number of wounds and a severe illness:
MANY were the walks and talks
wi that John and Lucy had together,
after that first perfect understanding
Again the old gate grunted and whined
as both of them, well bundled up, but
rather snifHy with the chill November
evening air, leaned across 1t to each
other. But now there was no bar of
misund and Illustration be-
tween them, as there had been the last
evening they spent together before he
first went to the war.
Old Mrs Darr did not enjoy the idea
of Lucy taking up with the Mead boy,
even if he were colonel of distinction.
She could not forget the humbleness of
his origin, and she could not easily re-
sign her ambition to form splendid
family alliance with the Wainwright
estate.
Besides. Bob Wainwright had grad
Uated from West Point as second
lieutenant of the regular army, and
though he was not yet 80 he was al
ready a brigadier-general of volun-
feers, one of McClellan's most cher
ished officers.
But in spite of Mrs. Darr's garulous
fretting. nagging and protest, Lucy
went her own way as. serenely as the
very moon herself, whom clouds can
not ruffle or retard.
She sent her mother to bed early
and she and John sat together on the
horsehair sofa-which began to sag
perceptibly in one corner. Their con
versation was intensely interesting tc
each other though literal copy of il
would hardly make interesting read
ing. They had a signal by which they
knew that it was time for John to be
gone; when the Tampa portly ano
COmmodious matronly old lamp-be
gan to gasp and sputter in its. death
fhroes. John knew it was time to say
good might. or, at least, to begin to say
it. Their farewell was usually said OF
the installment plan.
Lucy filled that lamp in person. fol-
irI icht of in
every drop of oil the bowl would hold
And poor Bob-or rather Gen. Rober
Wainwright, of the army of the Poto
mac-was not there to play his hant
in the game of ''freeze-out." as of yore
DAYS and evenings went by in quie
rapture for the two lovers. And al
the while John felt himself growing
stronger and stronger-felt it almos
with regret. Eventually the next tt
Che last day of his leave of absenc,
swung around. 1t was busy day TO
John.
First he must visit the cemetery
and put flowers on the flag-market
xnounds that covered the dead bodie
that were once his schoolmates. Thel
ne called on old friends, and on a few
mothers. whom he had last seen wav
Eng flags of farewell in wet-eyet
Bravery to the sons they were lend
ing to the country. Last of all Johl
rode up to Elkanah's home. and scorn
ing to let down the bars, took the gat
with greyhound leap.
Old Elkanah was just coming iron
the stableyard and he fairly whinne'
with pleasure at the graceful preci
sion Of the feat. Rosalind came iron
round the corner of the house an
Joined the old mans delight. and, a
usual, without quite understanding it
cause
Afternoon. Uncle Elkanah an
Aunt Rosalind." roared John. ''Iv
brought back the clothes-horse yC1
loaned me-"
"What ails him?" asked Elkanat
anXiously: returned for repairs?"
"No. he's the finest fellow l eve
saw But leave tomorrow to retur.
TO the army" and John dismounted.
''Well. John. my boy''-and Elkana
hesitated-"I got a favor to ask yor
Z got no place to keep big horse lik
sOthello. He's too proud and high
steppn' to do much work. and he eat
a powerful lot. You'll have to have
horse to carry your colonelshi
through the war, and l kind O though
;mebbe you'd just take that nag sout
with you, and ride him-just as a favo
ITO me and Betsy"
= "Uncle Elkanah, you don't mean it ?
rsIf you don't mind the trouble. BE
sides. I'd feel terrible set up to thin
that the great Col. Mead was prancil
POUND the field of battle on a colt G
my own raising"
'I'm a sort of coltof your own raj:
ing, too" said John. land you're tn
best man that ever lived"
-"Then you'll take him along?" sal
Elkanah eagerly.
evil a gosling take whack at
millpond?'
Time permitted few more words, an
John planted a good-by on both {
Rosalnds cheeks, Rugged Elkana
hard. and leaping to the saddle with
fnew lightness, now that the horse Wa
his own. took the gateway handsomel
again. and waved long adieu as h