The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-09-18
CHAPTER w.
rlmes Have chanued.

Times Have Changed.
The SD Of the Browns had started
for La Tir on the same day that the
12Sth of the Grays had started for
South La Tir. While the 128th was
going to new scenes, the SD was re.
turning to familiar ground. 1t had de.
trained In the capital of the province
from which its ranks had been recruit
ed. After a steep incline, there was a
welcome bugle note and with shouts
Of delight the centipede's legs broke
apart! Bankers, laborers', doctors,
Wallets, butchers, manufacturers and
judges sons threw themselves down
on the greensward Of the embankment
to rest. With their talk Of home, of
relatives whom they had met at the
station, and Of the changes in the town
was mingled talk Of the crisis.
Meanwhile, an aged man was ap-
preaching. At times he would break
into a kind Of trot that ended, after a
few steps, in shortness of breath. He
was quite withered, his bright eyes
twinkling out Of an area of moth
patches. and he wore frayed uniform
coat with medal on the breast.
''Is this the 53d?" he Quavered to
the nearest soldier.
1T certainly Isl" some one answered.
Come and join US. veteran!"
"Is Tom-Tom Fragini here"
The answer came from a big soldier.
who sprang to his feet and leaped to-
ward the old man.
TITS grandfather, as / live!" he
called out, kissing the veteran on both
cheeks. Il saw sister In town, and
she said you'd be at the gate as we |
marched by"
Didn't wait at no gate! Marched |
right up to you!" said grandfather. !
Marched up with my uniform and |
medal on! Stand off there, Tom, SO /,
/ can see you. My word! You're big !
germ your father, but not bigger'n I
was! No, sir, not bigger'n l was in
my day before that wound sort o. bent |
me over. They say it's the lead in the
blood. I've still got the bullet!"
The old mans trousers were thread
bare but well darned, and the holes in
the uppers Of his shoes were carefully
patched. He had a merry air of op- /
timism, which his grandson had in
herited. ','-
well, Tom, how much longer you
got to server" asked grandfather.
six months" answered Tom.
zone, two, three, four" GRANDPA
ther counted the numbers off on his
fingers. That's good. You'll be in
time for the spring ploughing. My,
how you have filed out! But, some
how, can't get used to this kind of
uniform. Why, don't see how grid
be attracted to you fellows, at ALL"
"They have to, for we're the only
kind Of soldiers there are nowadays.
Not as gay as In your day, that's sure,
when you were in the Hussars, eh"
yes, was in the Hussars-in the
Hussars! tell you with our sabres
R-gleaming, our horses bits a,jingling,
our pennons a-fying, and all the color
of our uniform--I tell you, the girls
used to open their eyes at u.s. And we
went into the charge like that-yes,
sir, just that gay and grand. Colonel
Galland leading!"
Military history said that It had
been rather foolish charge, a fine
example Of the vainglory of unreason.
ing bravery that accomplishes nothing,
but no one would suggest such skepti-
cism Of an immortal event in popular
imagination In hearing of the old man
as he lived over that intoxicated rush
of horses and men into a battery of
the Grays.
well, didn't you find what | said
was true about the lowlanders% asked
grandfather after he had finished the
charge, referring to the people Of the
southern frontier Of the Browns, where
the SD had Just been garrisoned.
mo, kind Of liked them. made
lot Of friends" admitted Tom. They're
very progressive"
"Eh. ehi You're joking!" To like
The people cf the southern frontier WaS
Dnly less CCnceivable than liking the
people Of the Cfays. That's because
Eou didn't sss deep under them.
They're ~ On ne outsids-ra 6ighty
Dtl WY 4 they.A done their part