Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-12-24

Why, there was Major Elliott, man
that had buried three wives. ana mao
twelve pitched battles TO his name
Edie could have turned him ronnd her
finger like a damp rag--she. only ne"
from the boarding school. | met nm
hobbling from West Inch, the nrst
time after she came. with pink In MS
cheeks and shine in his eye thal
took ten years from him. He was
cooking up his gray mustaches at Ell
Their end, and curling them into MS
eyes and strutting out with his sounu
leg as proud as a piper. what she
had said to him the Lord knows, but
it was like old wine in his veins.
l saw the corner of newspaper
thrusting out of his pocket. and ]
knew that he had come over. as was
his way. to give me some news TOT
we heard little enough at West linen.
"What Is fresh, major?" l asked.
He pulled the paper out with -four
ish "The allies have won a great
battle, my lad" says he. Il don
think Nap, can stand up long against
this. The Saxons have thrown him
over, and he's been badly beat al
Leipzig. Wellington is past the Pyr-
enees and Graham's folk will be AT
Bayonne before long"
/ chucked up my hat. "Then the
war will come to an end at last, l
cried.
ave, and time, too" said he, shak-
ing his head gravely. ITS been
bloody business. But 1t is hardly
worth while for me to say now what
was in my mind about you"
"What was that?"
"Well. laddie, you are doing no
good here and now that my knee Is
getting more timber was hoping that
I might get on active service again. l
wondered whether. maybe, you might
like to do little soldering under me-"
My heart jumped at the thought.
AYE, would I'' cried.
But it'll be clear six months before
I'll be fit to pass board, and it's long
odds that Boney will be under lock
and key before that"
"And there's my mother" said i.
81 doubt she'd never let me co.
"Ah well, she'll never be asked to
now" he answered, and hobbled on
upon his way.
sat down among the heather, with
my chin on my hand, turning the thing
over in mind, and watching him in his
old brown clothes, with the end of a
gray plaid Tapping over his shoulder
as he picked his way up the swell OF
the hill. 1t was poor life this at
West Inch. waiting TO fill my fathers
shoes, with the same heath and the
same gray house forever before me.
But over there-over the blue sea-
ah, there was a life fit for man.
For two days turned it over in my
mind, and on the third there came
something which first brought my res,
clutions to head and then blew them
all to nothing, like puff Of smoke
in the wind.
had strolled out In the afternoon
with Cousin Eide and Rob, until we
| found ourselves on the brow Of the
slope which dips away down to the
beach. l pulled an armful Of brackel
| to make couch for Edie, and there
she lay in her listless fashion, happy
and contented. for Of all folk that
have ever met she had the most JOY
from warmth and light.
| There was a ship coming up with
the wind-a black, sedate old mer'
| chantman-bound for Leith as likely
as not. Her yards were square and
| she was running with all sail set. On
the other tack, coming from the north.
east, were two great, ugly, lugger-like
| craft, with one high mast each, and a
big, square, brown sail. A prettiei
sight one would not wish than to see
the three craft dipping along upon SC
fair day, but of sudden there came
squirt of flame and whirl Of blue
smoke from one lugger, then the same
| from the second, and rap-rap-raE
from the ship. In a twinkling hell had
elbowed out heaven, and there on the
water was hatred and savagery and
the lust for blood.
We had sprung to our feet at the
outburst and Edie put her hand, all in
tremble, upon my arm.
"They are fighting, Jack" she cried
what are they? Who are they?"
My heart was thudding with the
guns, and 1t was all that I could d.
to answer her for the catch of my
breath.
ITS two French privateers, Edie,
said /. "Chasse-marees, they cal
them, and yon's one of our merchant
ships, and they'll take her as sure a.
death, for the major says that they've
always got heavy guns, and are as full
Of men as an eggs full of meat. VIII!
doesn't the fool make back for Tweed
mouth barr"