Evening star., 1934-07-22

lent tailoring, topped by cap OF
Federal blue. His brother, Sammy
Hartford, was a seraggly man in
Confederate gray. They walked
through the blue-fair sunlight from the two
storied log house near where the Battle OF
Stones River opened along the Mansen pike
to the battle-ground National Park. 1t was
typical Tennessee pre- Christmas weather.
i've been telling my son Billy maybe you'll
help us out, now you've come home to stay,
Oliver" Sammy painted. "A little money Wood
fix the farm up good"
yes" Oliver Hartford sadssnon- -committally.
The farm, of rolling redlands and gray humps
of outcropping limestone, cornertng on the ma
tional park wore, he thought, an air of run
down desolation.
THE mortgage is S4 500. Me n you, Oliver,
can't take nothing to the grave"
oliver commented dryly, But I notice the
Hartfords have a habit of lasting good span
of time
what about the Hartfords that come after
us?"
They might try worrying along as we havei"
The ancient veterans turned into the battle
ground, and Oliver paused only when they
y reached stone fence. He fumbled at the
stones and said musingly:
1T was here somewhere, 10 years ago.
Sammy" He found a hole in the rocks and
stopped and peered through it.
This is the place, Sammy. The battle comes
clear to my mind You Rebs had driven us
Yanks back upon the Nashville and Murfrees-
boro turnpike. The line had to be held till the
shattered forces could be rallied
"I was one of squad of sharpshooters sent
behind this wall to pick of the enemy in the
cedars of Round Forest. For hours I knelt
here firing steadily through this hole Seventy
years ago, Sammy. We are at the twilight of
= our years"
when rheumatism gripes my iInts, bub,"
Sammy said Il feel like it's about two hours
past sundown!
oliver laughed in genial melancholy. his
~ face at once tender and hard Sammy,
young men dream; mature men achieve; old
men remember
''Au they got is what they remember" Sammy
snorted
"See those rocks?" Oliver pointed to a mass
of stones resembling humps of sleeping camels.
"A nest of Reb sharpshooters there made things
hot for us One Reb annoyed me terribly.
could have clipped him through the brain sew
eral times. guess, bur it's different, Sammy.
= killing men in the wrath Of open battle and
lying behind a stone wall and picking them of
with cold accuracy
Anyway, once drew bead on this rascaIs
hat and let him have it" Oliver chuckled
gieefully Thought I'd got him, but hadn't
Just stunned him. But I stopped him!"
Sammy stared. If remembering something
long forgotten. oliver. was that you back of
this here stone wall?"
why. yes"
"Good Lord!" Sammy removed his gray hat
and ran finger along q groove in his
white hair. That in the rocks This
Is where you shaved my brainS!"
Oliver stood motionleSs, looking, and finally
said, "Well-well-well-"
"Tn be dadburned!' Sammy Qusvered. "a
little closer buddy, and I'd been dead with the
rest of 'em these TO yeari"
7 A.tF a.
at you two hours. trying to miss you But it's
done-it's done. declared You remember
Just before the great battle I'd taken pretty
sally Ann Reedy to dance at Peter Roods.
Sammy, you were cunning rascal in those
days. You beat my time with Sally Ann and
took her back home that night; and when I
passed the Reedy gate you were kissing my