The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-10-08
XLNS7R4 TED
RT s.


the last time. No more would its
wastes echo to his passing salute or
witness his trivial strainings for a
flag. Only the song of the fisherman
might hencefOrth echo along the
shores wherein it beat. II had out
lasted those sturdy hulls Of oak and
steel that once had dared its force.
High above swept the invaders Of
that new territory 10 which man had
at last laid claim and was to hold in
domination for his use. Blue as the
skies above them, the radioplaneS
lowered over and babe farewell to the
vanishing fleets. In the vanguard
flew the Norma. her cOlors futterine
in the breeze Of flight as they had
done on that day when she swoOped
down through screaming shells to
wrest power from the enemy. Float.
ing after her moved the huge Roberts
its metal sides throwing back the
rays Of the western sun. Close be
hind in stately pursuit was Seven
teen, whose plates had felt the biting
force of the dead Yakumo's guns
And so they came, bidding farewell
to the ships of an abandoned sea
Small wonder that the soul of the girl
who watched felt one instants regret
that she was never again to know the
eXhilaratiOn of the fray, A half smile
of tenderness parted her lips as she
thought that there in the air above
her were her friends and companions
in arms-grim old fighting Bevins
with his prayerful oaths, good-natured
Brockton whose kindness she knew
and studious little Jenkins whose i'm.
perturbability eQualed his steadfast
bravery.
Guy, understanding and respecting
the storm Of feeling which must be
hers at sight of this pageantry OF
which she had been such vital part
watched her in silence. Almost at
their feet squatted Fort Hancock
whose guns were to below for the
last time. 1t too, like its fellow forts
was of the dying. Like them its bas
tons would be abandoned and the
men within driven to ways of peace
Fortress and ship, garrison and crew,
would be no more. Crumbling, un
tenanted walls left as records ola
nations defense, and rotting uniforms
relegated to garrets, would he all that
were left-armies reorganized and re-
duced for police force only, and sail
ors become fishermen or passing their
lives in other occupations and rem
iniscensing of the sea; swords rusting
in scabbards and guns corroding in
embrasures, nothing more!
The last salute had doomed out
Lower and lower few the radioplanes.
till they were close above the outgoing
ships. The ports of the peacemakers
opened, and from them fell garlands
OF flowers, which fluttered down
through the air Unfortunately upon
the doomed craft and the waves them
selves-a tribute of peace from the
living and wreaths for the dying
gladiators of war.
Hand in hand Norma and Guy stood
upon the headland beneath the gray
beacon lights that would welcome
strange travellers from foreign ports
no more. Into the darkening skies OF
the east the fleets of the nations were
speeding to dissolution and death
The long. steady swell OF the free and
unburdened sea came monotonousl,
hammering at their feet. In silence
they watched the relics of cruel wa,
sail out, saw their hulls disappear
saw the trails of smoke diverge az
each squadron sought its own course
and then looked into each others
eyes, reading therein nothing but a
promise of love and serenity. Their
troubles had vanished as had those
fleets Of the sea, and life with all It,
possibilities of accomplishment and
contentment was before them. They
turned from the great silent ocean
and walked into the golden radiance Of
the sunset toward their home.
THE END.