Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1881-11-26
WEEKLY FAMILY ouBAADEvo1ED TO rolTcs LITERATURE
MARTINsBURG, W. VA. SATURDAY, NOV. a6, 1881


want you boys to do better than that,
am going to lead you, and | want
YOU all to follow me-"
Another cheer was the snswer, as
the men fell into ranks.
"Chargew and down the slope
rode the gallant cold regiment
never faltering as the grape sweeps
through the serried ranks, closing
each gap as it was made by the dead
fire; on, on, following by the lead of
the tall figure at the head of the col
umn, till they rode right over the
death-dealing guns, sab'ring the
gunners there" and the woods gave
back the majestic echoes of the IA
nous "rebel yell'' as the victory was
won.
Won! Yes, but at a fearful cost.
That fatal slope was drenched with
the blood of the Southland's bravest
sons.
After the charge Colonel Terry
found himself face to face with
Charley Picton. "My God, how can
/ tell him ~ muttered the colonel to
himself as the gallant young fellow
rode toward him, holding out his
hand.
at takes the old regiment to do
up things in style p said he, grasp
ing the colonel's hand. "Say, Ter
ry, did you see Miss Alice! Cole
man has just got back from Mem
phis, and he told me she had gone
on visit to some friends in c."
But as he spoke he suddenly put
his hand to his side. 81 am shot,"
he gasped, family. 1t was true. A
stray bullet had struck him in the
side, and Col. Terry caught him as
he reeled in his saddle and rode
with him to the field hospital.
! When the surgeon examined the
wound, he shook his head doubt
fully.
II know a nurse worth twenty
doctors," whispered Picton with a
smile. "Terry, can't you fetch her
to me 20
/ Through the night the colonel
stayed with him. Once he weaken
ed and repeated the question he had
asked just before he was shot.
] III saw her, yes" the colonel an
swered, huskily. I" She sent you
some flowers.
1 The blue eyes lighted up with a
tender glow, and Picton held out his
hand.
Silently Col. Terry took from his
breast pocket the withered flowers,
a spray Of ivy and a halfopened
white rose, and laid them in the out
stretched hand.
The wounded man slept. But in a
couple Of hours he awoke, much
worse, and the surgeon in his round
told the bronzed watcher that the
end was very near.
TERRY y and the colonel bent his
head to catch the faintest accents
"Fm dying. | wouldn't mind-only
poor Alice Tell her gently
please-she loves me, you know
and /, oh, Terry y it is hard to leave
her. My poor darling.r
For a moment the colonel could
not answer. Then, choking back a
sob, he said, slowly and distinctly:
/ "Charley, Alice is waiting for you.
You are not leaving her but going to
her."
| A bewildered, troubled look came
into his wistful blue eyes.
"Don't you understand me, Char
leya She is dead. We buried her
there in c.. | couldn't tell YOU
before, dear old boy. But now you
will be with her before you have
time to grieve after her. She died
with your name on her lips, murmur-
ing of meeting you in the morning.
| He understood now, and smile
of relief fitted across his pale lips.
"Dear girl.n he murmured. II am
so glad she will not have this grief
to bear.
Then he slept again and the hours
passed on until the eastern sky
frightened with the solemn light of
dawn.
| "Terry !" The word was but the
faintest whisper, but the watcher
instantly bent his head to listen.
at is morning." came the faint,
gasping accents, and again the white
lids dropped over the blue eyes,
Five, ten minutes passed. Then
Col. Terry lifted the dead hands and
crossed them over the pulseless
breast, reverently covered the still,
white face, and turned away.
His two friends had met once
more" in the morning. of a fade
less day.--LoaisuiHe Courier Journal.
Archibald Forbes, the famous
British war correspondent, saw the
Connecticut troops parade at