The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-04-23

Reached Major Brennan It Would
lnjure You"
where the sun pointed the way with
streams Of fire. | was to take up life
anew Life! What was there left TO
me in that word? 4 deserted. despoil-
ed farm alone awaited my coming;
hardly II remembered lace. scarcely n
future hope. The glitter of a passing
troop of cavalry drew my mind for an
instant TO Edith Brennan but l
crushed the thought Even were she
free, what had l now TO place at her
proud feet,-I. a penniless, defeated,
homeless man? At a crossroads
Federal picket halted me, md | arous-
ed sufficiently to hand him the paper
which entitled me to safe passage
through the lines. He handed me
back the paper and motioned me to
pass on. l had gone hundred yards
or more when l became aware that
he was calling after me.
Hey, there, you gray-back!" he
shouted, hold on Bit"
AS I came to a pause and glanced
back, wondering if there could be any
thing wrong with my parole, he swung
his cap and pointed.
That officer coming yonder wants
10 speak with you
Across the open field at my right
hidden until then by a slight rise Of
ground a mounted cavalryman was
riding rapidly toward me. For the
moment his lowered head prevented
recognition, but as lie cleared the
ditch and came UP smiling, l saw it
was Cation.
by Jove, Wayne but this Is
lucky" he exclaimed, springing to
the ground beside me- I've actually
been praying for a week past that l
might see you. Holmes, of your serv.
ice, told me you had pulled through,
but everything is in such confusion
that to hunt for you would have been
the proverbial quest after a needle
in haystack. You have been
paroled them"
Yes, I'm completely out of it at
last | answered, feeling to the full
the deep sympathy expressed by his
face. 1T was a bitter pill, but one
which had to be taken"
Il know It, old fellow" and his
handgrasp on mine frightened warm
~. IF you have been beaten there
is no disgrace in it, for no other ma.
tion in this world could ever have
accomplished it, But this was case
of Greek meeting Greek, and we had
the money, the resources, and the
men. But, Wayne, l tell you, do
not believe there Is today a spark Of
bitterness In the heart of a fighting
Federal soldier"
81 know Cation" l said-and the
| words came hard-"your fighting men
respect us, even as we do them 1t
has been a sheer game of which could
stand the most punishment, and the
weaker had to go down. l know all
that, but, nevertheless, it is a terrible
ending to so much OF hope, suffering,
and sacrifice"
Yes" he admitted soberly. you
have given your all. But those who
survive have wonderful work be-
fore them. They must lay anew the
foundations; they are to be the re-
builders Of states. You were going
homc?"
smiled bitterly at this designation
Of my journeys end.
yes, if you can so name a few
weed-grown fields and a vacant negro
cabin. / certainly shall have TO lay
the foundation anew most literally"
win you not let me aid your" he
questioned eagerly. II possess some
means. and surely our friendship is
sufficiently established to warrant me
in making the offer. You Will not re-
fuse?"
81 must" / answered firmly. yet
/ do not value the offer the less.
Sometime / may even remind you Of
IT, but now I prefer to dig. as the
others must / shall be the stronger
for fl, and shall thus sooner forget the
total wreck"
For a few moments we walked on
together I'm silence. each leading his
horse
Wayne" no asked at length, CLAN
cling furuvoly at me, as If to mark
the effect Of his words, did you know
that Mrs. Brennan was again with
us2"
II was not even aware she had boen
away"
Dt'f f'"r oitt ItAhIutu NDIIN iUIIN1.
diately after your last parting. and
came back only last week So many
wives and relatives OF tho officers
have come down of late, knowing the
war TO bc practically at an end. chat
our camp has become like q huge pie
mic pavilion 10 is quite the fashion.
able fed Just now to visit the front
Mrs Brennan accompanied the wife
of ono of the division commanders
from her Connecticut. you
know"
There was much I longed to ash,
reEardins her. but would not venture
TO fan his suspicious In hope that I
might turn his thought asked. and
you; are you yet married?"
TIE laughed Roodhumoredly. 'l-o.
that happy day win not occur until
after we are mustered out Miss
Minor Is Gar too loyal q virglnian cyor
TO become my wife while i continue