The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-23

with the others. If Miss Betty Carewe
found them worth weeping for, they could
| afford to cry little for themselves. Yet
| they Joined the chorus nobly, and raised
the roof with the ringing song, sending
| the farnboyant proud old words thunder
| ously to heaven.
That was not the last song of the
| night. General Trumble and Mr.. Cheno-
weth had invited their young friends to
| attend after the ball, a collation. which
they chose to call n supper, but which,
| to accord with the hour, might more
| aptly have been designated a breakfast.
| 10 afford a private retreat for the scene
| of this celebration they had borrowed
the offices of Cry and Vanrevel. and
Crailey Hospitality announced that any
guest was wecome to stay for year or
two, since. probably. neither OF the firm
would have need of an Office for at least
that length OF time. Nine men gathered
about the table which replaced Toms
work-a-day old desk; the two Cheno-
weths. Eugene Madrillon. Marsh. Jeffer-
son Bareaud. the stout General, Tom
Vanrevel, Crailey, and Will Cummings
tho editor, coming in little late, but
rubbing his hands cheerfully over what
he declared was to be tho last column
from his pen to rear its length on tho
Journals front page for many long
dny-a description of the presentation OF
the flag, bit OF prose which he consid-
cred almost equal to his report OF tho
warehouse fire.
This cornwall party made merry and
tried to forget that most of them had
"been mighty tcary," as Marsh said, an
hour earliar; while Mr.. Chenoweth sat
with his hand on his sons shoulder, un-
consciously most OF the time, APOLOGIZE
cally removing 1t when he observed 1t.
lat. t,,xr &t,n
difference In rank henceforth to be OBJ
served between the young men, as Tom
was now major, Marsh n captain. VIII
Cummings second lieutenant and tho
rest mere privates, except Crailey, who
YEAS q corporal. Nevertheless. though the
board was festive, It was somewhat sub
dued and absent until they came to the
toasts
1t was Tappingham who proposed Miss
Betty Carewe. II know Tom Nanrevel
will understand--nay. know he's man
enough to join u.s. said Marsh as he
rose. why shouldn't say that we may
hail ourselves as partiots, indeed, since ut
the call of our country we depart from
the town which Is this ladys home. and
at the trumpet's sound resign the gra-
cious blessing of seeing her day by day,
and why shouldn't we admit Loyalty and
openly that it is her image alone which
shines In the hearts Of most of us here?'
And no man arose to contradict that
speech, which appears to have rung true.
seeing that four of those present he'd
proposed to her (again) that same eve
ming.
80 l give you" cried Tappingham.
CALAMITY, the health of Miss Betty Ca
rewe, the lovelest rose OF our bouquet!
May she remember US when we come
home!'
They rose and drank It with shout.
But Tom Vanre-vel, not sitting down his
cup. went to the window and threw wide
tho shutters, letting in ruddy shaft of
the morning sun, so that as he stood In
the strong glow he looked like a man
carved out Of red gold He lifted his
glass. not toward the table and his COM
panions. while they stared at him. sur
lrised. but towards the locusts Of CareWe
Street.
ITO Miss Betty carewe," he said, "the
finest flower of them ALI May she re-
member those who never come home!'
And. without pausing, he lifted his rich.
baritone in an old song that had been
Rouen ever since tho night Of Miss Bet
tvs debut: they had hummed 1t as they
went about their daily work; they had
whstled 1t on the streets; they had
drifted into dreams at night with the
sound of it still Ginning in their ears;
gathered together for tho last time in
Rouen, they Joined Tom Vanrevel and
sang it again. And the eyes of Crailey
Gray rested very gently upon his best
friend as they sang:
Believe me. II all those endearing young
charms,
Which gaze on so fondly to-day.
Were to change by tomorrow and fleet
from my arms,
Like fairy gifts fading away.
Thou wouldst still be adorcd as this
moment thou art,
Let thy loneliness fade MS It will,
And around the dear ruin. each wish of
my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly STILL