Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-07

at it with parted lips and wide-open eyes.
My hand. though. was held by Aunt Es-
Their, and she kept steadily and swiftly
on. When we reached the big portico
with the high pillars we went In with the
crowd ! found myself in a hall stretch
Aunt Esther looking about helplessly
Soon we entered a great room. I think
Aunt Esther. bent on her purpose. was
startled and daunted by such magnifl-
cence. The walls vert white with little
gold figures on them. All the furniture
was gold, with blue and white silk COW
ering. In the center was grand gold
table with a marble top. We strayed
away, lost and frightened. Next we came
to a greater apartment even, where ALI
was gold, too. only the colors were white
and green. ] had never dreamed of such
splendor. The most gorgeous palace of
the greatest fairy prince which had
managed to imagine could not compare
with 1t, and I stood and stared.
Aunt Esther. though. after the first
pause of amazement, did not look again
She behaved like one who is searching for
something and who is not to be turned
aside. Carried aimessly along, reach
ed narrower hall and stairway. up
which many people were pressing. At the
top was another hall. with more people.
Then a room. where the throng was
thickest. Huddled together. men and
women, they stood waiting outside d
closed door toward which all gazed fix
eddy.
Watchers and walters they were there.
of all stations and ages. Uneasiiy they
moved about. Indeed for any one of them
to remain quiet seemed impossible. Al
ways they stirred reStlessly. The conSe-
quence was that the confusion was bewil-
dering. All that was said, though, was
spoken in a low tone so that there was
little noise a dull nurmur, however. con-
a,o1 in,
the low. monotonous sound spoke of sad
ness and apprehension. for the voices
were the voices of people too moved to
speak aloud. who must whisper under
their breath. as before something solemn
and sacred.
With the coming and going-the move
ment hing so great could not see any
thing very clearly, but stood looking
hither and thither At first did not make
out very much. ] was dimly conscious OF
"A ceaseless mingling of dark figures and
white faces They kept shifting and
changing. and through the midst of the
moving throng others kept passing. |
saw men hurry in with papers, and. as
they made their way a,ong, others darted
at them, and caught muttered questions
and answers. Something seemed to be go
ing on somewhere about which every one
was greatly interested and about which
every one was asking The words came
quickly and cOnfusedly. I could get only
broken bits. I merely heard names and
expressions which meant nothing to me-
"I.ee--The Wheat Field !-Meade.-I.it
tie Round Top!'
What was the reason for all this sub
dued excitement l could not make out In
spite of the matter which held their
strained attention, the interest Of the
date incident. Sometimes a man entered
at whom every one would stare. a MUIR
muir marked his passing as one told an
other who he was. slight man-not
very tall-stepped in alertly, thought with
certain calm. He wore a long dark
colored coat and lighter trousers AS he
advanced he drew forth a large red silk
handkerchief and blew his nose violently.
1.-The Secretary of State / heard a
voice say.
Shortly afterward the closed door was
opened for moment and a rather small.
clumsy little person came out who was re-
ceived with great consideration. He had
on spectacles, through which he looked
fiercely. His big. black. grizzly-g gray
whiskers seemed to bristle little. like a
large cat. Altogether he was very busy,
active individual and not at all dignified.
=
him.
Busy messengers and Fastening soldiers
came and went. With intent eyes l tried
to watch everything. The people. how
ever. got in front of me or crowded me
back. Often l could not see anything ex-
cept the nounces of some lady's dress or
the buttons on some gentlemans coat.
But even then, when l could not observe
more of those who were coming and go
ing. / found plenty to occupy my atten-
No., a.
worthy and interesting enough A thin.
pale little woman in black stood very
close 10 me.
''Oh. will he see me?' she kept repeat
ing in "A broken voice. ''He must right
this wrong, for II is a wrong. The boy
never meant to desert. He is only sixteen.
He did not know, and he Is to die tomor-
row. He is my son. my only child. / know
that he was going back. The boy was
only coming to see me. I will explain. l