The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-06-22
THE COLOR BEARER;
Or, True Unto Death.
BY MARY A. KEABLES.

BY MARY A. kEAB1.ES.
"Good-by, Kathleen Mavourneen It's for you
and the ould flag that I'd lay Inc life down--and
the ould flag needs defenders, and it's not Patrick
OConner that would shirk his duty. Good-by,
kathie swate! I'll always remember you; and
you'll know you'll pray for me that the Holy
Virgin will bring me safe back to you again"
Sweet Kathie raised her fearful blue eyes to
the face of the honest young Hibernian She
tried to be very brave, and not cast shadow over
the spirits of her patriotic lover and yet-ah, it
was hard work Patrick was leaving her per-
haps forever, and in a week they We're to have
been married. Patrick was going perhaps to his
death; she would look no more into his clear,
loving eyes, or feel the clasp of his strong arms
or rest her sunny head upon his broad BOSOM
Perhaps that brave generous heart that beat for
her so fondly would be torn by the bullet of the
enemy, or those fair. curling locks be dabbled by
his life-blood upon the relentless remorseless field
of carnage. Poor little Kathie her heart was
too full. She put her round sun-browned arms
around his neck, and buried her face in his bosom,
and cried like very child, as she was.
"Pat,' she said at length, "tisn't our country,
why should We go and fight Cor another? If it
was the mither country i'll danger, I'd say go,
with all my heart, but
"Now it's not yersilf that's spakin', me own
Kathleen" broke in the young man, raising the
fearful face, and looking down tenderly yet half
responsibility, into the blue eyes. "When we
were starving and dying, who fed us !--when we
were homeless, who took us in when we were
naked, who clothed us Americans, Kathie;
they gave us work, they made us welcome, and
gave us room in their hearts and their land. We
have shared the prosperity of the dear country,
shall we desart her in her trouble? If was that
base coward to the land we love, so base trail
TOR kafhl
me to be thrue to you? wouldn't We be afeared
I'd desart We when yer trouble came? No, no, |
can die, but death only comes but once, when one
does his duty. Did l play the coward, mesf
would die thousand times here at home think
ing o me baseness. The ould flag has been thrue
TO me, and I'll be thrue to it unto deathw
"Fall in, men !" shouted the captain the band
struck up lively march, and the company of
hundred, manly looking fellows took their places
in the ranks. All the villagers, young and old,
men, woman and Children, had gathered upon the
common to witness the departure of the dear ones
who were going forth in their pure manhood to
obey their countrys call Firm was the footstep
of every soldier, and tears diramed their eyes;
though while no doubt pride held them back,
great Chickering'S came up in Threats that would
not give utterance to sobs; tears were not for
soldiers. God bless them, God guard them, they
were gone
$50 Company E is the color company
So | heard"
"And Pat is color-sergeant, so, of course he
carries the flag. / wouldn't be in his place"
why " questioned Kathie's white lips
swell, in my opinion" said John Hutches,
who Toasted upon the despairing looks of
kathie, 'in my opinion, color-bearcr is in great
er danger than any other; the enemy always en-
deavors to shoot down the color bearers-didnt
YOU know It'll"
"No," faltered Kathleen
You never need expect to see him again." said
Hutches; shes gone up for good, so you'd better
give him up, and hear to reason little. You
remember what told you once, Kathic:" The
dark, evil eyes of the young man looked search
ingly irto the girls face
And remember what told you John Hutch
eS. that was after hatin' you and despsin' We?
Yes coward, John Hutohes, that We talk so
ihuch about other folks goin' to war, and niver
goin' yersilf.
Tvs well you're woman" Missed the bad man.
IL wouldn be well for man to say that to me.
as you arc so glib with your tongue, III tell We
piece OF news. am going to war"
"Yout"
"Yes, me, but not as private, You may bet
your ne! Ny fathers an ould acquaintance of
the governors and il it will be any satisfaction
to you to know it, l have quartor,naster's cem-
mission IN the very regiment to which your de-
voted Pat belongs"
Kathleen raised her eyes and fixed them for an
instant upon her companions face. He knew
that she was comparing him with the handsome,
noble-hearted lover who had left her side n few
days before and he knew that he himself lost by
the comparison
''Of course" said he, chatting me as YOU do
shall be very kind to your Pat.-of course
you'll not dare to harm him !" she exclaimed
her face blanching, her lips quivering.
"We'll see who dares"
The bold, bad eyes looked threatening and
vengeful John Hutcnes did go to the war.
x Il 4 .
Sergeant O'Conner degraded for what"
Cant say; some spite work at Headquarters
The charge was of cowardly abandoning his
colors in the engagemont ut West Mills. Don't
believe it; not particle of cowardice in OCon.
ner: ! know he would have shielded the dag with
his heart"
Strange"
$50 it is; good many strange things. II is
certain that the colors were seen on the ground