Oxford Democrat., 1877-10-16


ache returned, yiciousiy; 'and what's
more 10 my thinking, the cold
told him / didn't think / should crawl
out OF my warm bed on such an errand,
and that Jack Frost, tho very whitest
ghost he ever saw, was waiting for him
in that entry The little chap hared up
like rocket. do you think I'd let a
chap have a toothsche for oil the ghosts
in the world p he cried ont. passionately.
winding up with, oh, hate you big
boys; you no all SO selfish 7 tried TO
mollily him by offering to light him back,
but he snaiched the drops and banged
the door in my face; and l heard him
running down the dark corridor. gasping
every inch oil the way for fear OF the
ghosts. and all for Morty Richmond his
room-mste's toothache; and / know OF
this little mans lying awake tor hours
one night with his own tOOihache, which
he bore rather than brave the dark cor
ridors!
told this story, Just as | am telling il
now, to the fellows that night in the tent,
AS We all stood and watc he'd Melroe At
his oysters. knew very well that not
Il man in all the regiment was so little
understood KS Holland Melroe-perbsps
so little appreciated. His estimate there
that pight. with those who liked him
heartily too, was Of a gay, good humored
fellow, who took his soldiers lite as
easily 80 was consistent with good deal
ol iaz,ness, aud q lille shrinking from
any active service. | ieit sure that
read him better thsn this, and that be-
meath this exterior oi laziness and shrink
ing there lay NOBLE qualities OF CO urage
and yalor. A. finished my story that
night, Da'zell called ont, y cu ought to
have hal medal Tor oyercum ming your
dragon. Mel 'Of It GORDON Lle",' Cam
Browne suggested.
From that they nj Tell 10 taking oil the
foreign system u badges apd medals OF
honor, and one ol tht yuuoo men pulled
out oil h,- pocket, | rocollcci. CorthHl I
Naqa.iRC, and real to = rhaCSeray's
Roundabout paper 'Oa Rhtons.' The
final summing op ol he ta'a vas in great
agreement with rhaCseray, md the gem
ecal conclusion tha: We ough. % have a
ribbon ot honor no. sjnp' kearny
cross, bur a grand co]ti0E ticH or a medal
coming straight from n. hsr~; and hand
Of thai 1rand o.G fe.loS Arhham LIN
cJln,' Da.zeil burst out. U course We
are all 30 modest TO ever expect 10 be
decked IN that way, bat now many OF Us
would o!3dsin it Z? hu couciuded.
As tha lalk decponed, Melroe's face
had lost its gay ,,y, noticed. lie drew
u deep sigh As Dalze!i spoke. and wist-
lul look came into his eyes. | could
guess pretty well how II was with hlm.
What Vas be, beside them? Whist bril-
liant. or courageous. or so.dIeriy. or
spirited qualities had ne : These men
would 6: Sly win their cOrdo" Ctae. tvr
they were iCiLh0m fear. Without lear !
That Was what w,S IN his mind, as he
very shortly confessed. by biunderinS'
housst question bcarln. directly upon
the subject. How did il teel 10 90 with
oat iear2 Every msn oil them knew Oi
this little white ghost OF Moiroe's. yol
oyery ono OF them know that he mover
had iailod u do his duty. They had
laughed quietly together over 1t, and
said Mel Is q good fellow no neyel
will run away, Out he will never disiin-
guish himsell-thaL Is certain And now
suddenly with his question arose another
with them: How came he here into tins
voluntary service with this characteristic!
But before asking il they answered his
query, ono and another smiling, yet scri
Gus ana truthful.
\, their first battle? yes, it had been
shock, and then i; was was over. Nari-
Gus emotions assaiicd them now, but
none Of tear. Bat h1a was it with him ?
they asked. Taoy all knew something
how it was, rs have said, bu, not whol-
ly, until he burst out impujsivciy:
Wei, To tell the truth, boys, | will
oUn thai am ewfunY afraid every time,
10 his day. aad ! can't set over it,
But ho% came you hcrc, any way,
with that feeling; aud being here Why
do you say ? asked Cam Browne.
For a moment there was "a look OF
surprise on Meroses lace; look as ii
be doubted whether he had heard Alright.
How came ] ?" nc uttered slowly :;
how couid 1 stay nt home? A man
can't choose At such .im,. Il saw an
assassin enter my friends house. while
he lay sleeping, | migdt be very much
afraid oil ,no assassin, bat c]1ldn't very
well 90 Cr my wai II sNt'I, ana tell
some other man ID sc for" Nd TO the
rescue. 1 might recoii Irom The encoun-
ter, but ! should reooii teu lines moro
from the sAuikins away lrom It. No, he
went on, i thought This All over; | knew
il would hurt-this kind Of iile-bu! |
concluded it would hurt great deal
more 10 iarn my back upon il. Why,
believing as DO. you know a fellow
nnnlLn,, c,n aea HnYln and Dalzell.