The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-07-26
By Robert w. Chambers
Copyright, 1885, by Robert W. Chambers
Illustrated by DAN SAYRE GROESBECK

the 1t was scarcely moment; she bent over
her flour pam wistful, saddened by the summer
silence, thinking of her brother; then again she
raised her eyes to the window.
1t was too sudden she did not scream. Had they
dropped from the sky, these men in blue-these
tramplng, crowding creatures? The corn was full of
them, the pasture, the road they in the garden
tearing tendrils from the vines, their great shoes,
plodding across the potato hills, and eveng it to
waste of beaten mould and green stuff. They passed
hundreds, thOusands-she could not tell-she heard
harmony subtle, vast as winds at nameless
murmur that sweeps through brains of marching
men-the voiceess prophecy of battle.
Breathless spellbound, she moved on tiptoe to the
porch, one hand pressed trembling her lips
The men in blue covered the earth, the world her
world, which stretched from the orchard to Bensons
Hill.
There was something on Benson's Hill that she
had never before 1t looked like brook in the
sunshine; 1t column of infantry rifles slanting
in the s;,n.
Somebody had been speaking to her minute or
two, and now she looked down and saw a boy, slim,
sunbu1nt. His dusty uniform glittered with yellow
brald he touched his cap and fingered his sword ht
She looked at him, lstess her hand still pressed her
lips.
us there well near the house?" he asked
Something tugged gently at her apron, and, 'show
me the WE'LL please repeated the boy beside her.
She started and turned, trembling to him. but he
gravely motlOned her on and she went passing
swiftly under the trees to the uncovered welcurb
He thanked her; she pointed at the dpper and
rope but already blue-clad, redfaced soldiers were
lowering the bucket.
Soldiers passed in the sunshine. She began to re-
member that her brother, too, was soldier, some
where out in the world; he had been soldier for
nearly week, since Jim Bems had taken him
to Willow Corners to enlist. She remembered that
first night, how she had been afraid to sleep in the
house. how at dusk she had gone into the paror to be
near her mother Her mother was dead but her pic
ture hung in the parlor.
She began to watch the flags; she saw a regiment
plunge into the tramped corn, but she knew it was
not her brothers because the trousers of the men
were scarlet and the caps hung to the shoulders tas
selled and crimson. AS she looked belt of flame
encircled the forest and through the outrushing
smoke, the crash! crash! crash! of rifles echoed
across the valley.
In the orchard the rattle of the well bucket never
ceased. very young officer sat on his horse. eat
ing an unrlpe apple and watching the men around
the WELL
The girl went into the Kitchen reached ND for her
sun-bonnet, dangling peg, tied it under her chin
and walked gravey into the orchard The very
young officer wheeled in his saddle and leaned to-
ward her deferentially as she came up
Before she spoke she saw that it was the same Of
fcer who had asked her about the WE'LL she had not
noticed he was young.
am sorry" he said-and he spoke he re-
moved his CAPT am very sorry that we have tram
pied your garden. If you are loyal the government
will indemnify yOu-"
She spoke, scarcely hearing her own voices eft is
not that am loyal-it is only wish to ask you
Maryland isl
= 1.-The Goth Maryland oh-why, it's in Kings
Brigade, Wocott's Division; think it's yonder. ~
He pointed toward the beechwoods.
Yonder? Where they are fringe"
AGAIN the cannon Numbered and the ground shook
under her. She saw him nod, smiling family
But around the house the last of the troops had
passed; she could see them not yet far away moving
up among the fields toward the ridges where the san
burned on the bronzing scruboak thickets
She stood a moment watching the yellow dust
hanging motioness in the rear of the disappearing
column. Beyond Benson s Hill bugle blew family:
distant rifle shots sounded along the ridge; then
silence crept through the sunt meadows, across the
levelled corn across dead stalks and STEMS silence
that spread like shadow.
On the hair-cloth sofa in the parlor she lay flung
face down, hands pressed to her ears. But silence
entered with her, sitting the sob in her throat
When she raised her head it was dusk She sat up
peering fearfuly into the darkness, and she heard
the clock ticking in the kitchen and rustic of vines
the porch
When she had sat silent little while dreaming