Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-07-20
CHAPTER xxx.

1t is evening; the sun Is sinking
slowly behind the Wiltshire hills. and
crimsoning the latticed window OF
Marley schoolhouse, where, wrapped
In ;,aceful rep0se, May and Carrie
spcni their uneV2ntful DAVIS; 1t drops
also into the murky, smoky haze OF
Lonuon, glitieiing reilly on the car
riaecs as they roll homewari from the
4 pa, H., and tints the delicate. peachlike
face Of Rose Vavasour, as she leans
I back in I.adp Letchforda barouche
ITS rising. smiles beaming in respect.
full c:4d admir- ing adieuX.
It sets, too on a far different scene
on a somber, rocky pass far away in
mysterious ASIA. sinking slowly, not
tC ne hum of the school children. or
the rattle and luz Of fashionable
London life. but to the sound of the
huEle the cry of the sentinel, and the
dull boom Of cannon which belches
forth a flying shot across the crimson
plaIu.
Surely the sun can never get tired!
novelty-monger can scarcely envy old
Soils experience through one single
day.
Ice, snow, fiery sands, and fierce
siroccos, smiling English meadows,
voluptuous vineyards, vast rolling
prairies and wild, rugged passes, they
all fall to his days work; and his
beams, God-like, smile on fair and foul
alike, and even as he smiles down on
an English valley like Marley sinking
to it's peaceful repose, ne needs must
smile on the rocky pass. the grim and
sternly solemn fortrets far away in
Asia.
Yes, while the languid votaries of
fashion are trottins home from the
Row, while English villagers are wend-
ing homeward from their days toll,
the bugle winds through the howery
plain, and the hatchery Of the sentinel
rises to hush the sun to rest.
For the game which kings and en-
pcrors love is in full swing, and is be-
ing played out to the dire end.
The dogs of war have been let loose
over the land, and rapine and rayage
stalk hand in hand. with the black
vulturo % famine and disease hover.
ing over their heads.
1t IS hard to believe, out here in the
grim fortress in the east, hard to be
love, and while the bugle rings in
ones ears and cue watches the fiery
shot ana shell flying overhead; while
ones eyes rest only on armed men,
and all the paraRhernala Of war-that
smoky, gay ami pleasure-loving London
lies so near-a bare three days Jour
ney.
But so it is. brief as is the time
required to make the journey, the
great city might as well be at a years
space, SO far as the public is con-
ccrued for ii is surrounded by hostile
force, shut in by tightly.drawn cord
OF armed men, and as fully cut off from
the world as If raging seas divided 1t.
For months the HnGly game of war
has been going on. Blood and treas
ure beyond all human calculation has
been layished on the royal sport
Turkey lies bleeding at the feet of
Russla-all, say the wise men, is over,
and the great, all-powerful bear has
Won the game, and is already tear
ing its prey.
INT Trough the game Is won, there
are still some audacious players who
refuse to leave the fatal table, still
cling to their cards, and decline 10
acknowledge themselves beaten.
Russia may be at the very doors Of
Constantinople, may be at this mo-
ment debating terms-hard terms-of
peace Mt San Stcfano, but there is still
"a strong place here and there which
refuses to acknowledge itself beaten,
and Which, with the bravery of despair
holds it's own and dares the invader
The sun sets tonight on one of them
\ small, but hardy fortress, standing
between two edges of iron.lile rock,
land frowning defiance on the armed
host that stretches out on the plain be-
fore It.
Nothing can be game, by such re.
sistance; sooner or later the brave lit
tic place must fall but there are Ger.
tain spirits within the grim walls that
refuse tn know when they are beaten,
and chat have resolved to dare the foe
eYel TO the bitter end
That IS to say that. within this rock
hound fortress, are gathered together
a little hand of men snring,ng from a
certain isle of the Sea, whose children
apt enough in other lessons obstinate
Il refuse to know when they are
beaten
Russia may rage, beating herself