The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-05-02

BY ROYCE BRIER

three bf1ef years since-there lived n Doy. NOT
greatly different from you | was this boy. He
was east in no heroic mold, had the current
of his life departed from the commonplace. lie held
petty clerkshp, or some such thing. In great
office There he toied as do you and l. humble.
unimpressive. yet ever dreaming dreams His name
was Smith. What name with less magic than that
name-Smith?
Smith was an American: thru and thru he was an
American, and he loved the things that Americans
love. Even as write the day is blue and gold on
Puget Sound Such days this one, Smith loved
with all of his heart and with all of his SOUL They
made him to dream that upon some day such as this
the greater things of life would to him; that
wealth. or fame or happiness. or whatever phantom
il IL that chase would some such blue and gold
day be his So IL is with blue and gold days Pause
for moment and consider Smith--humble unim-
prcssive, bending desk and dreaming of
wealth, or fame. or happiness.
You see, Smith like you and me- and. ah,
but he loved the days Of blue and gold
There came great war.
The major whrled abruptly, at the break of dawn
We've got to hold this village till the division
moves up!" he snapped. And we've got to get that
enemy machine gun in the ruined farmhouse. Who'll
get it,"
The corporal spoke to Smith as the little squad
skirted the stone fence
Company G holds the fork in the road. We turn
to the left and cross the open field.
I'VE can never make IT," said Smith.
Hell! Do you want to live forever" snared the
corporal.
Smith made no answer
skirmish. The captain lay at the fork in the roads,
on his back, his extended the of a cross.
his sightess eyes staring at the sky Smiths squad
crossed the open field--all but two. who lie in that
field to this day-and they took the ruined farm
house and the enemy machine gun. Directly big
gun got their range and soon came the tram-car
sound Of big shells. One burst close. and the next
nearly buried them with dirt II seemed to Smith
that one world could not endure appalling a sound.
From out nearby wood came gray line, like
gray SNAKE writhing writhng. Smith
a sfi1 1xxor
down but four. Then something entered the soul
of Smth-who had held a petty cerkship in great
office=which never before had been there. Gone
were his dreams. gone all but the thought of that
gray ne like gray snake. writhing. writhing. K"
Send 'em to hell!' screamed Smith, swinging his
machine gun.
ing writhing closing up as Smiths ma
chine gun barked. Two men of Smiths squad slipped
to the floor of the old farmhouse and then another
The boy at the machine gun with Smith started to
speakand rolled over on his face. his words for all
time unspoken. Smith clung to his machine gun
He knew that it was the end-that for him the days
of blue and gold were forever gone.
Smiths machine gun jammed In the swirling
chaos he drew his automatic Gray figures were all
about. countless and without With the butt
end OF his automatic. Smith dubbed of the gray
figures to Inconsistencies. He whirled to meet an
other and another, and another. He smiled
Suddenly he sensed a savage pain. The
smile went from his eyes. The breast of
his uniform was crimson. His throat was
hot With blood. He gasped.
choking.
Smith had thought that there was battle-at
dawn. But this chill hush
This serene thread of ght-dimmer DINNER
He was tired, and he wanted everlasting
rest triion years triion =
tril. A. Silence and dark
ness engulfed him for all the ages.
And overhead the day was blue and gold
Nevernore will Smith dream thru DAYS of blue
and gold. That you may dream such dreams he
died. And what of you? Does the spirit of Smith
who held petty clerkship in great office live in
Nevermore will Smith dream thru days of blue
and gold
What of you?