The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-11
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE UNIFORM.


Crailey was not the only man in Reu-
en- who had been saying to himself all
day that each accustomed thing he did
was done for the last time. Many of
his comrades went about with Fare
well, old friend" in their hearts, not
only for the people, but for the usual
things of life and the actions of habit.
now become Unexpectedly dear and
sweet to know or to perform. So Tom
Vanrevel, relieved of his hot uniform,
loose as to collar, wearing a. big dress
ing gown, and stretched in a chair.
watched the sunset from the western
window of the dusty office, where he
had dreamed through many sunsets in
summers past, and now took his leave
of this old habit of his in silence with
long cigar, considering the chances
largely against his ever seeing the sun
go down behind the long wooden bridge
at the foot of Main street again.
The ruins of the warehouses had been
removed, and the river was laid clear
to his sight; it ran between brown
banks like river of rubies, and, at the
wharf, the small evening steamboat,
ugly and grim enough to behold from
near by, lay pink and lovely in that
broad glow, footing imminent depart
ure, although an hour might elapse be-
fore it would back into the current.
The sun widened, chung briefly to the
hui 4LOils anu diOpPGd UGLAllQ tie low
hills beyond the bottom lands; the
stream grew purple, then took on a
lustre OF pearl as the stars came out,
while rosy distances changed to misty
blue; the chatter of the birds in the
Main street NAPLES became queter.
and, through lessening little choruses of
twitterng, fell gradually to silence.
And now the blue dusk crept on the
town, and the corner drug store win
dow lights threw notified colors on the
pavement. From the hall, outside the
closed office door, came the sound of
quick light footsteps it was Crailey
going out but Tom only sighed to HIM
self. and did not hail him. So these
light footsteps of Crailey Grey echoed
but a moment in the stairway, and
were heard no more.
A few moments later a tall figure.
wrapped from neck to heels in gray
cloak, rapidly crossed the notified
lights and disappeared into Carewe
street. This cloaked person wore on
his head a soldiers cap, and Tom. not
recognizing him surely, vaguely Won
dered why Tappingham Marsh chose to
muffie himself so warmly on a June
evening. He noted the quick alert
tread as unlike Marsh's usual gait, but
no suspicion crossed his mind that the
figure might be that of his partner,
A rocket went up from the Rouen
House, then another followed by
salvo of anvils and a rackety discharge
of small arms; the beginning of a noble
display of fireworks in celebration of
the prospective victories of the United
States and the utter discontinue of the
MexiCans when the Rouen volunteers
should reach the seat of war, an eX-
hibition of patriotism which brought
little pleasure to Mr.. Vanrevei.
But over the noise of the street he
heard his own name shouted from the
stairway and almost instantly a vio-
lent knocking assailed the door. Be-
fore he could bid the visitor enter the
door was flung open by stout and ex-
cited colored woman, who. at sight of
him, threw up her hands in tremulous
Thanksgiving. 1t was the vain Mamie.
She sank into chair and rocked her.
self to and fro, gasping to regain her