The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-06-30
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might henceforth echo along the
shores whereon it beat. 1t had out.
lasted those sturdy bulls of oak and
steel that once had dared its force.
High above swept the invaders of
that new territory to 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 fluttering
in the breeze CT fight 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 instant's 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 a vital part,
watched her in silence. Almost at
their feet squatted Fort Hancock,
whose guns were to below for the
last time. It too, like its fellow forts,
was of the dying. Like them its has.
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 of a
nations defense, and rotting uniforms
relegated to garrets, would be all that
were left-armies recognized 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 rustins
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
sea came monotonously
at their feet. In silence
they watched the relics of cruel war
sail out, saw their hulls disappear,
saw the trails of smoke diverge as
each squadron sought its own course,
and then looked into each others
eyes, reading therein nothing but q
promise of love and serenity. Their
had vanished as had those
fleets of the sea, and life with all its |
possibilities of accomplishment and
was before them. They |
turned from the great silent ocean
and walked into the golden radiance Of |
the sunset toward their home.
THE END.