Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-05-26

B8TftfWx{S feated from the sussex downs Gray
kAEHzHh and patient is Colonel Tilney Wesson
NaES6ty Uncle Tily of the old days-who
rules deity at the great house as the deputy OF
ordered and the land well stewarded till he shall
have done with his affairs in Africa and return TO
his pl-cv
1t was sour day when he was summoned to
CI..rtrSG Colonel Wesson was a. his club, wait
ing with others of his kind for the ampler evening
PAPERS These were the autumn days following the
ticking OF Pretoria. when the army was bushwhack-
tas IN tiny brigades and lean columns all over the
StI1l ~ Trsnsvasl The early cables spoke OF
\Sn. 60 ~ north OF the railway by Waterfall on
klly Q sharp and desperate struggle in which the
B|IjGG fs- ce had suffered heavily. gun had
go sos. It Wax stated. but az yet there were no
SSoeR, ia tbg smoking OF the club there
wsg3 > Sozcn . OF old soldiers, whose sons or
.2rlSS-Ey- woe 20 work II that part of the world
Do terrible old Stan han & grandson there.
wonder whoN sSen chuckng guns away this
time" remarked tbis veteran secure in the knowl-
Cnse that the youth who bore his Hus-
There was pause Wore in the line at any
rate" replied Crimean general with satisfaction.
Others reported TO the effect. old Colonel
Wesson cleared his throat
MY nephew's gunner he said.
"Ah" The grandfather turned cloudy eye on
him. Horse" he asked
Field" replied the Colonel gravey.
"lVm" the veteran grunted suspiciously;
eral OF them looked curously at the Colonel but
he sat unmoved. He had to wait for news, of
wOs not the gunlosng kind.
The papers had not yet when the page
came into the smoking room with a telegram on a
salver. He brought it over 10 Colonel Wesson at
once. The Colonel opened it, with a dozen oyes
hin, read it, and to his feet.
Got to go" he said boy, call me handsom"
Tee grandfather OF the Hussar scowed at him.
RanG it ALL Wesson," he said explosvely, this
isn't time for delicacy. Have you got any
there? II you have read 1t and be done with it.
We're all in this"
Colonel wesson smiled and spread the tcle-
'ufs net exactly news" he said But it sug-
costs there may be It's from Jack Charities
--geg brotNer-inlaw, you know. The gunner chaps
2 'y son 9
%"',l it says simply: Come dowr4 at once
Ce'i $50 Don't fail Looks if he'd heard
co-aetl Ing, chr
Il will" said the Colonel, and went to his cab.
He caught his train with no margin. II was
on the point Of moving as he scrambled into his
carriage Farther down the platform a newsboy
was calling his papers; Colonel Wesson leaned
from the window the train gathered way and
shouted to him.
Evening papers" ne cried. ANY Of en- quick"
The Colonel tossed a half crown into the basket
the boy goioping alongside the train, bundled his
papers together and took aim. They caught the
Colonel full in the face.
He adjusted his monocle and unfolded the first
OF them. Tho headlines barked from the page:
British Disaster; Defeat SwartdGal List OF Cas-
ualticS" The Colonols pulse quickened little as
he settled down the ten inches or so Of bald
prose that preceded the long list OF killed and
Wounded IT tod, very formally, OF a surprise at
GAVIN silent commando ringing an unsuspicOus
camp and Overwhelming # at a chosen moment.
paragraph related tersely how the little
force mad stood under a devastating fire. how an
artillery ofioer had drawn out a gun and opened
IRE at point-blank range on the ridge from which
the Beers commanded the camp And the gun had
been taken. They had got away with IT,
The Colonel folded the sheet the more conve
nienty 10 read the lists that followed Seven off,
GERS had been killed; some % them he knew; but
the name for which he looked among them
Nor was 1t among the names OF the wounded But
there was yet another heading The prirr was
blurred before his eyes as he read IT. Missing
Lieutenant John Charities RIA"
II was dark when he reached Chartres. The
grave butler received him deferentialiy
Sir Johns gone to his room, sir. lie desires TO
be excused till dinner"
he possessed himself OF the ColonoIs bag
NE old room, sir" he said and led the way uD
this wide staircase
The Colonel made his toilet pensiveIy II WIS
tie custom OF his h-other-n-l to send for him at
Cl seasons OF errs1gency, and generally he cane.
Sir JShn had been a widower for close on twenty
years and had never accustomed himself 70 be
alone When at length Colonel Wessr- went down,
Sir John met him IN the garden that gave on
the terrace.
"Ah, Tilnsyi" said sir John Feeling At. eh7
Seen the news, SUPPOSE"
-Yss" ssld the Colonel taking chair With
discrimination. Yes, II seems to have been a
ortsE Bttls buSinesE CAD Jack. what thing 81 IS
20 he young"
"Ths teQsgrsms say mes. g1issins," said The bar.
onet He spoke th0ug1flhs were laying a prob
lem bssors She Colonel
Wesson. Means they grkB50d hfr along With the
learnt sO5asAAkg."
''wSAs ayOu snesnf7 demanded SIR John. "IAerpt
OoloaSl wessoz smlIs8 frankly 'ThaCs it, ne
usiA Tseecs pTsc4seiy g. sho7ed Il at EN- kent
spcsssng tH Tbe others corad ptand 70 their
tsoTsss Hrees6iy sEvsd the lot At the cost OF one
Eaa. A dgyiis8 En1Tt 5itj - work call e."
The Cd SsTUHst, starsd ct him With parted tips
"Tbsp" Ne SAID weECiy, "Khen q isn't--er-''
"a rskEstt@Eas iEofGent7" 'suggsstsd the Colonel
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