The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-04
be decked in that way, but how many of
rs would disdain itp he concluded.

US would disdain itp he concluded.
GAS the talk deepened, Melroe's face
had 4ost its gayety, l noticed. He drew
a deep sigh as Dalzell spoke, and a wistful
look came into his eyes. could guess
pretty well how it was with him. What
was he beside them? What brilliant, or
or soldierly, or spirited quail
tiles, had he7 These men would easily
win their Gordon bleu, for they were
without fear Without fear! That was
what was in his mind, as he very shortly
by a laundering, honest ques-
ton bearing directly upon the subject.
How did it feel to be without fear. Every
man of them knew of this little white ghost
of Melroe's, yet every one of them knew
that he never failed to do his duty. They
had laughed quietly over it and said:
Mel, is a good fellow, he never will run
away; but he never will distinguish him
self-that is certain. And now suddenly
with his question rose another with
them: How came he here into this vol
untary service with this characteristic2
But before asking it they answered his
query, one and another, smiling yet seri-
Gus and truthful.
CAT their first battle? Yes, it had been
shock, and then it was over. Various
emotions assailed them now, but none of
fear. But how was it with him? They
asked. They all knew something how it
was, as l have said, but not wholly, until
he burst out impulsively:
well, to tell the truth, boys, l will
own that I am awfully afraid every
time, to this day, and can't get over
it," r,
"But how came you here anyway,
with that feeling, and being here, why
do you stay?' asked c. Browne.
"For a moment there was look OF
surprise on Melroe's face, look rs if he
doubted whether he had heard Alright.
"'How came I?' he uttered, slowly:
'how could / stay at homer A man
can't choose at such time. If | saw an
assassin enter my friends house while he
lay sleeping, I might be verv much
afraid of the assassin, but Icouldn't very
we'll go on my way in safety, and tell
some other man to 60 forward to the
rescue. l might recoil from the enconn-
ter but I should recoil ten times more
from the skulking away from it. No,
he went on, Il thought this all over;
knew it would hurt--this kind of life
but | concluded it would hurt great
deal more to turn my back upon
it. Why, believing as do. you know, a
fellow couldn't Icould see Hoyle and
Dalzell, and the two Brownies exchange
glances here. They two, aye, and every
one of them there, l knew-thought of
the story of the boy at school, even then
manfully fighting his ghosts for his prin-
ciple. Those of us who had smiled at his
ghost and said, Mel is good fellow; h.
never will run away, but he never will
distinguish himself-that is certain,
now, in contemplation of this courageous
cowardice, felt inclined to doff our hats
to the simple, manly fellow we had un-
derrated, and to ask his pardon. But
there WAS little said in acknowledgment
or praise; it was tender subject, involv-
ing this foregone lighter estimate; but
there WAS warmth and frendiness in the
good nights which conveyed to him Il
sense of sympathy. an assurance to his
modest mind that he had not spoken too
freely. | remember, Cam Browne said
laughingly, a he left the tent, After all,
Captain, you may win your Gordon bleu
before any Of us yet
''They were light words, spoken hastily
out Of the warm, kind heart of the
young officer, as q belief in that moral
courage which he admired. Light words
and even while they were being spoken
perhaps fate was weaving that destiny
which should make them light worls no
longer in the memory of us who listened
to them.
"The next day we fought the battle OF
Charlottesville. Toward the latter p ri
of the day, when defeat was beginning tc
stare us in the face, after the earlier
promise of victory, which combined and
splendid action and the most untirins
gallantry had given, received mess ,gt
from Major Dalzell to send reinforce
ment to the left wing, where Captain
Melroe and himself were endeavoring to
hold their ground and save their colors
l had only a handful of men, whom
l could i'll spare. but 1 sent them
Immediately, for l knew that Dalzel
would not have applied for help unless h,
had great need. Immediate action bein!
suspended for time on my right, hac
Il brief opportunity to observe the move
ments of the left. As / looked through
my glass l saw Dalzell advance with hi
column, not large body of men, bu
compact and in order. A heavy roar, O
musketrv met them. Still they kept on
though cou d see that the raking fir
had told. The next charge was more ia
tai. AS the smoke cleared the lamente(
effect was obvious. More than one gal
liant fellow had fallen; among them wa
their leader, Dalzell. The column begal
to wave. The consequence, at this par
tIcular point, of panic and rout
would be especially disastrous. I rose il
my saddle in nay excitement. 'Ah.'
thought, IF could only dash forward t,
the rescued ..
"At that moment / saw that ney
leader had arisen. / saw him rush for
ward; saw him glance back to the bro
ken, wavering ranks; l saw him beckol