The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-05-10
a FACE PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN READERS


up like the man on top Of the Con.
federate Monument in Libby Hill
Park and glare at everything as
though he were getting ready to de-
fy Grants victorious army.
Il was just thinking. DR.. Smith"
the Major began gravely as Oliver
settled down 10 work. Eyes. was
just thinking"
The Major twisted his goatee with
hand that only had three finger.
and lifted his strong blue ewes To the
morning sun. Oliver worked auiet.
~ on, and waited. He knew that
Major Calhoun was going TO discuss
some question of vital Importance
with MIN this morning. The bow was
proud OF the honor Of being able 70
chat current and past events with a
southern gentleman that in every
way was an IF. F. "" but who.
strange to say, failed to tell about /,
during the first 20 minutes Of CONVEX
sation. 1t never occurred to Oliver
that no one else would listen to his
quaint old friend
"Ycs; was just thinking. sah'' h..
began once more, just as though
there had been no pause, that Miss
Beatrice was Il mighty lovely child
Hugh Oliver gasped, aud for
the first time he saw something in the
Majors face tina; he had not seen be-
lore. He was unable To say what IT
was, but the look in his friends dim
eyes was very strange and sad. And
the Major had his full dress uniform
on, sword and all, and IA nosegay in
his button holel
My Betsy Ann. had she liyed.r
the Major said dfeamily, would have
celebrated her birthday this lovely
morning"
lie very carefully knocked speck
OF dust from his sleeve. oliver. ia
eyes big with sudden interest. uncon-
sciously let his wedding tool fall from
ms hand. lie loved stories OF the
past, OF the Civil War OF the sweet
hearts Of the boys in gray. There
was something in the Majors voice
this morning that made him think of
the bluebird's call at mating time; il
was soft and rich. fun Of the tender
ness morn OF memory. The Major
had never married, no one knew why.
and Oliver wondered il it could b.
possible that he was on the verge of
telling Oliver Underwood Remington
Smith all about it.
I'M bet she was pretty. sir" he
encouraged the old veteran. II bet
she was beautiful with hoop skir,
that had roses all over It, and a little
straw ha, with long pink ribbons and
cherry blossoms"
His unfailiug imagination stared
TIE ancient warrior to speech.
she was the most beautiful NO
man, sab. that ever danced at Il can
itol ball, but she was a.
His voice trailed gently away as he
titled his tine gray head to listen to
the soft persuasive warble OF car
dinai. The boy at his feet hardly
breathed as he waited for the story
OF Betsy Ann. The Major rose main
fully to his feet, steadied himself and
saluted
Good morning to you, sab"
Oliver watched the retrenting form
of his mysterious friend in amaze.
ment. lie suddenly remembered
that most everybody said that Major
Calhoun was crazy. Ana surely his
actions were strange this morning.
To him the old gentleman was the
most remarkable OF men. and the
spiteful insinuations Of those who
did not know him filled him with
anger. Crazy Just because the
Major lived in big house By himself
he was crazy! Because he never al
lowed any one to enter the big room
with the French window he was
crazy. Because he was a rebel and
hung Grants picture by Lees he was
crazy, What if he did love every
Yankee in the world but the Yankee
keeper Of the National Cemetery at
Seven Pines? He might have rea.
son; besides that man led strangers
over the old grave yard and told them
how we-the Federals. mind you won
the battle OF Seven Pines.
With his mind full OF the Major and
his troubles he returned to work.
As he worked he came upon a great
Dansv thar n1nJ. bi.. h.nr. ;,,,,,,. ,.t