Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-01-21

caused himf No; your conoueror {,
generous. Save for the miserable
olots on humanity new profaning the !
holy calm with their dead carcas.es
you all shall live. But remember. vow
owe your lives to the poor boy Won
thrust in jail and then drove in dis
grace from town. That is all I have
to say; you can now go to your
homes
The dream worked on Teddy during
all his waking hours. Day by day he
added trills to it BY and by he
framed 1t UP for the minister's blue
eyed golden-haired daughter, Agnes.
who had treated him like all the rest.
but whom he secretly admired spite
OF that, to come to his tent, all fus-
tered and excited, but still wonder
fully beautiful. and beg him to spare
the city. Then he would walk back
wards and forwards, his brow fur
rowed and wrinhed, as he fought out
the problem twixt his righteous ven
| geance and
DO this for my sake. Teddy" she
would plead. in q spasm Of agony, and
l will love you forever and ever
He would hesitate awhile and sigh,
and then
For you, Agnes, ! would give my
life. You are asking a great deal,
but l will do it-after hang the con-
stable and the Judge and the mer-
chant"
Then Agnes would obligingly say
she didn't care much about them, any
how, SOS he didn't kill her dad and
mamma, and the neighbors, and would
throw her lovely white arms about
his neck in gratitude and love.
He liked that version best, and so as
not to fogret how to act when the
time came. he carefully wrote It out
Students Of humanity tell us that
boys of ambition are the makers of
their own future. Fate gave Teddy
lift when the great civil war broke
out He soon got together bunch of
untamed spirits and they began set
Ting the issues of slavery and state
rights by stealing horses, robbing trav-
elers and holding up railroad trains
AS the success of Teddy's crowd in
creased 1t grew in numbers until he
had nearly 300 murderous guerrillas
at his back. 1t was time to strike.
He held a consultation with his lieu
tenants out on the green sward and
bound them with terrible oaths to fol-
low him on his deed of retribution.
They waved their plumed hats and
powder pistols on high.
Beaver Run. or die!" they cried.
Thank you. gentlemen" said Teddy,
much affected. Il knew you were
faithful"
So they took up the march to Beav-
er Run. some 80 miles away. Teddy
rode at the head Of the legions, Just as
he had written 1t down. There was a
long black chicken plume in his hat,
and his belt glittered with deadly re-
Volvers. The morning before setting
out on the last march before reach
Ing the doomed city, the general had
carefully groomed his black charger,
and busted of his clothes. In the
days when he had to go to church such
matters were inconsequential. but to-
day 1t was important Toward twi-
light they reached the crest of a line
OF hills overlooking the quiet city.
which lay nesting in the valley. 1t
seemed a place for lovers to wander
hand In hand. for children to run and
play and for the hallo%ed chimes of
the church to call the faithful to their
devotions. But war is hell. and the
soldier has no time to be sentimental.
Besides, Beaver Run had earned her
fate. The attack was planned to &C.
cur at midnight, after the villagers
had become sound asleep. 1t would be
moonlight then, and the surprising
party could maneuver easily. Two
scouts were sent out, with instructions
to get into the town, If possible.
Capt. Teddy marched somberly to
and fro under the cottonwoods, silent
and studious. His mind ran back to
the old days when he was treated SO
harshly by the people he had tried to
live among in peace. He thought of
the disgraceful months in Jail, and
how the faint had always chung to
him. He was the town scapegoat,
the outcast." the 'Ishmaelite," the
young hoodlum," but now
He gritted his teeth as he
observed a form approaching down
the road which the moonlight had
begun to sweep with its silvery
glow. Perhaps it was-his brow soft
ened, and tender look crept into his
eyes.
For her sake" he murmured, as he
turned his head.
Stealthily steps came near. Teddy
slowly turned. Disappointedly, he rec
ognized his scout.
Back Already, Bil?" he said.
] "Yep-got news"