The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-02

ham Lincoln Dalzell burst out. sOf
course we are all too modest to ever ex-
pect to be picked out in that way, but
how many of us would disdain iti' he
concluded. Ni
As the talk deepened, Melroe's face
bad lostits gayety, Inoticed. lie drew
"a deep sigh as Dslzeil spoke, and a
wishful look came into his eyes. ]
could guess pretty well how it was
with him. What was he beside them
What brilliant, or courageous or sol
dierly or spirited qualities had hel
These men would easily win their cor
don blcu, for they were without fear.
Without fearl That was what was in
his mind, as he very shortly confessed
bv blundering, honest question bear
ing directly upon the subject. How
does it feel to be " ithout fear2' Ev-
cry 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 ii and said, Mel is a good fellow,
he will never run away, but he never
will distinguish himself--that is certain.
And now suddenly with his question
rose another with them: How came he
here into this voluntary service With
this characteristic? But before asking
it they answered his query, one and an
other, smiling, yet serious and truthful.
"At their first battle2 Yes, it had
been a shock, and then it was over.
| Various emotions assailed them now,
but none of fear. But how was it
with him p they asked. They all knew
something how it was as he had said,
but not wholly, until he burst out i'm
pulsively:- ,..- .,ic-j
ace Well, to tell the truth, boys, | viii
own that l am awfully afraid every
time, to this day, and can't get over
it, ., ynL 9ti
80 But how came you hero anyway,
with that feeling, and, being here, why
do you stay?' asked Cam Browne.
4" For moment there was look of
surprise on Melroe's face, a look as if
he doubted whether he had heard Alright.
"' How came L here?' he uttered,
slowly; how could l stay at home? A
man can't choose ut such time. If |
saw an assassin enter my friends house
while he lay sleeping,1 might be very
much afraid of the assassin, but |
couldn't very well go on my way in
safety and tell some other man TO go
forward to the rescue. l might recoil
from the encounter, but should re-
coil ten times more from the skulking
away from it. No. he went on, Il
thought this all over; j knew it would
hurt 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.''
could see Hoyle and Dalzell, and the
two Brownies exchange glances here.
They, too AYE, and every one of them
there, | knew, thought of the story of
the boy at school, even then manfully
fighting his ghosts for his principle.
Those Of us who had smiled at his
ghost and said, Mel is good fellow !;
he never will run away, but he never
will distinguish himself THAT is certain
now, in contemplation of his courageous
cowardice, felt inclined to doff our hats
tn the simple, lnanly follow we had un-
derratcd, and to ask his pardon. But
| there was little said in acknowledge
ment on praise, il was n tender subject,
involving this foregone lighter estimate +;
but there was warmth aud iriendliness
in the good nights which conveyed
To him a sense of sympathy, an assur-
ance To his modest mind that he had
not spoken TOO freely. l remember
Cam Browne said laug ghingly, as he left
the tent, after all, Captain, you may
win your Gordon bleu before any of us
lyet.'
"They were light words, spoken
hastily out of the warm, kind heart OF
the young officer, as 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 words no longer in
the memory of lis who listened to them
"The next day we fought the battle
If Chancelorville. Toward the latter
part OF the day, when defeat was be
ginning TO stare us in the face, after tlit
earlier promise of victory which com
bined and splendid action and the mos
unliring gallantry had given, receive {
message from Major Dalzell to sent
reinforcements to the left wing. whcr,
Captain Melroe and he were endeavor
/, ing TO hold their ground and save theil
colors. L had only handful of men
/ whom | could ill spare, but | sent then
, Immediately, for l knew that Dalzel
, would not have applied for help anles
! he had great need. Immediate actiol
, being suspended for time Oh my right
|, had n brief opportunity to observ
the movements of the left. AS | lookeI
through my glass Law Dalzell ad
nj vance with his column, not larg
: body OF men, but compact and in order
q A heavy roar of muskeiry met them
o Still they kept on, thongh l could sc
+, that the raking fire had told. The neS
o charge was more fatal. AS the smok
!. cleared the lamented effect was obvious
- More than one gallant fellow had fallen
: among them was their leader, DHlzel
Il The column began to waver. The col
sequence at this particular point, of
Il pauic and rout, would be especial
# disastrous. l rose in NY saddle III m
;. excitement. 'Ah,' J. thought, il
~ could only dash forward to the rescue
~ "At that moment | saw that Il ne
= leader had arisen. | SAW him rush TO
\, ward; saw him. GLANCE back TO Il
m broken, wuvcring ranks; | saw hi
re bcckon them on with his sword, an
M more I au all, by a look of commar
40 that imprcs ed me even then, At Il
No sight ul him the wayering ranks close
H. IN, ana itsncu iolWaIu Win eHo
,g that reached me where | watched, al
he which knew meant victory or deaf
,s A few moments later the 10th came I
I to reinforce .he right wing, and ! HI
,e the liberty to ride forward. Melroe
h. for YOU have guessed that he was &
90 leader who took Dalzells placc--M,
~ roe, by magnetic leadership, his da
a. and spirit, had saved his colors, al
All won, for his men, at least, famo
rs victory, one of these side issues OF ST
cess which go far to ameliorate
.ll greater defeat. i...l l,..t ...
od . But il was victory I didn't f
lie much like rejoicing in, as saw Melr
1at himself lying on u little hllloek, 81
lv through the heart. The color-serges
w little Irish fellow-had dragged h
as to the upland where he lay, aud a
vi. approached he took of his cap, M