The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-08-26
Long Life
To Death
l.,--...LLl. Inn =.


ing in upon what promised to be the
colonels hand-hour homily to the no,
blood of youth. NO crown of years
and honors for me, please"
"A short death and a merry one is
good enough for Latimer." Burke i'll
tsrrupted.
"with a quick death and sure
one" some one else supplied.
"And a large cold bottle and an
other one" Burke continued, running
the toast down to a finish.
Above this uproar Of protest and ap.
plause a clear soprano lifted.
For he's a jolly good fellow
and the colonel having gotten only so
far as the battle OF Gettysburg in his
remarks, joined with a will in the
chorus and forgot to finish the rest Of
his one, time-honored speech.
Whether the drawn lips framed the
words or the cry Of her soul thrilled
the question TO his own. Latimer could
not have said, but against his will his
eyes turned to those OF the woman be-
side him.
For a send-off." he explained with
overdone nonchalance. Il got my or
dsrs yesterday"
Other than an all but imperceptible
straightening of her shoulders the
girl gave no sign she had heard.
"Azalie is more radiant than ever
tonight" plump matron leaned
across the colonel to say to red-hair-
"a girl, noting the effect Of the un-
veated pallor and burning eyes.
why shouldn't she be?" the red
haired girl snapped in answer, with
. two-million-dollar count for hus-
bandi"
rs II announced" the plump WON.
sa gasped. IL had heard nothing OF
Il She has decided then between the
caunt and General Espendola?"
The mere fact Of the colonel's
ssading her in to dinner with a no.
hedy-in-particular like Lieutenant
EAtimsr points to the fact that she
hAa decided upon one OF them but is
nst going to announce 1t yet" the red
haared announced with an air OF su-
psrior wisdom.
-Ah. yes" agreed her fat friend
&A oo"cIhihS 4lhN q SA6A' cup
pess even Azalie could not stand out
l0g against two millions
Here a sudden outburst of laughter
sA the other end of the table gave
Latimer the further chance to add:
'of course. this is sudden. A SOL
f1er's movements are bound to be,
yan know
The shadow of the waving, inter
aGing vines fell in do.-cate tracery
he the meshes OF net upon tho
nan and the wo~..l at his side, and
n heavy fra~-lnce of the air drug
ysd 1t with bitter-sweet memories
hat would not down.
"But you are ordered back to the
-nited States-not to Mindanao?"
The voice of the questoner and the
erms of the question brought Lau-
Ter up with a pride in the sportin:
lood of the Dons. He could not see
ae wicked little half-moons her nails
sere cutting into her palms.
Noting their apparent lack of inter
81 in each other, a man leaned across
1e table with a story meant TO stim--
tie conversation, at which Azaiip
arted her lips in a smile that seemed
pass for mirth. 4 scarlet camelia
ad fallen from it's high estate in the
lue-black masses Of her hair and
ung rakishly over her ear, but she
id not care.
"Latimer IS at It again, making hay
18th the last ray left" the colonel
ent toward the plump uatron 10 say,
-ho, seeing farther than the happy
,ces and the cleaning shoulder
impling into the fluffy whiteness
yainst the uniforms Of the men, nod
ed, adding: THE days of our youth
re the days Of our glory" and the
70 gray heads leaned closer to mourn
2sether their lost paradise.
"This is On exchange of your own
2eking?" a lifeless voice at his e.
ow aroused Latuer.
Tam acting unde- orders" Latiuo-
epeated. reaching for the tray in
ont of him, but the hand that rolled
s. cigarette was not now the hand
the man who held medals for MARI
anship.
The redhairod girl, spriEEiug cat
re upon LatlLar's unguarded mo-
emit. caught, too, Azaiies futile ei-
'rt to raise her fork TO her lips
"Why, what's the matter with you,
sane?" she asked, directing the 9th
s. attention to the girls neryeless
nd; your ring positively clatters
ainst your plate trying TO hate her
Fher beauty and great luck,
And Azalie, darling Of the gods,
,king into the glitter Of light and
Tor before her, saw only swirling
,ckness. The night was sultry to
Vocation, but the erect, white fig
shiyered. Twirling the heavy seal
ig on her finger, this is a most
:eresting ring" she said quietly,
ming the point of contact from her
nd to the heavy ring upon it. at
sa history"
And that is-T' Burke Questioned
rrying on an animated conversation
tn his neighbor and hearing every.
alqa that eoi1