Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
The Thirteen
Continued from page s

IOW page Q
away when Bobby gave it shove with his
foot Everywhere were reminders, even IN
the giant tree in whose sides they had all carved
their initials. 1t was as if everything was there
to stay, save them, and rendered doubly dear
because this was to be their last visit.
"Hey!' a voice called in country accents,
we've come to carry that old Teller back to
the landing again, just you told us to do
They peered through tangle of bushes and
saw, standing beside the open door of the cabin,
the carriers with their chair, while Blllys man
stood near with his masters gun in hand and
their grips at his feet. They were all going to
New York together, and it was time to go.
You fellows walk down to the edge of the
woods" Billy commanded as they came out
toward the cabin. Here, Jenkins; take that gun
back and hang it on the hooks marked one
He led the way, and Bob and Tom followed.
They stood inside and were silent for time.
They looked at one another and at the big
yawning fireplace in which the logs were still
ablaze and the kettle still singing; at the
ranged seats above each of which was limerick
and numbered pegs for guns and rods. Some
of the latter were still in place where they had
been left by men who went cheerily away
never to return. Graves grotesque charcoal
drawings exaggerating the characteristics Oh
their young manhood laughed at them from
the walls. Though the sun with vivid light
shown through the eastern paneS, the sum-
moned ghosts of the night before seemed hover
ing over them,-the ghosts of the other ten who
smiled through NOTES of sunshine and waited
for them to join the ranks of immortality; the
ghosts of those good fellows who had so often
assembled in this very room to enllven 1t while
living and halow it when dead.
ROYS," Billy said, and his voice broke with
- emotion and trembled,- boys, | can't
come again. I'm too old. It's too hard work
Not that | mind that either; but-but they
aren't here"
And Tom. smiling and without fear added,
"Nor l. My physician says I've less than two
months to live. l took this trip against his
advice and because if had to die from the
effects, l thought it might as well be here where
they all were.''
Bob looked at them and his lip quivered.
He stared at his nervous white fingers and
fought to control himself. 1T seems pity,
he said softly, that all our memories should
be desecrated that others should sit in the
seats they knew, laugh at our cartoons. and try
to improve our limericks sleep in the hunks
in which they slept. Others may hear the wind
sing through the trees as it sang to us, catch the
fish with which we stocked the streams and
lake and curiouslv read the initials we carved i,
but for our intimate things
He paused for moment, and knew that he
had voiced their thoughts. He leaned over on
his knuckles and looked down at the table on
which lay the pack of scattered cards over
burned ring in the pine where the loving cup
had once been set. He spoke again, but in
Whispers while they from time to time nodded
sadly. And then IN turn, bravery, they passed
through the door and out into the open, each
pausing as he went for last look.
Billy, in strange silence, crawled into his
chair The bearers picked it up, and, led by
Tom, started away. The servant followed
with the little grips and wondered why the old
gun had been left on the hooks Bobby loitered
behind, and neither Tom nor Billy seemed to
miss him. He caught up with them at last and
crashed ahead, until coming to a broader
stretch of the trail, he took Toms arm and
walked abreast.
Jenkins who was behind, gave startled
shout The carriers with heads over shoulders
saw him pointing to the rear, where a broad.
dull column of smoke sweeping straight
upward in the frosty air and the forest was
stilled as if watching tragedy.
1t must be on fire, sir!" he walled. and
/ took such pains to"
60 on! Go ahead!" Billy ordered savagely,
and his wondering carriers reluctantly resumed
their burden and forged onward. Tom and
Bob had neither hesitated nor halted but were
steadily tramping forward with hanging heads,
and Billy in his chair kept his eyes fixed down.
ward while his lips moved as though saying a
prayer for the dead. They never looked back;
for in that pyre was their farewell.
I'D nOuJcVAc JEpDnID