The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-14

of several months, and as Toms company
was among those which were to go, the
colonel had been heard to say that
patience in his case had reached its limit,
for drunken sentry could endanger an
army, and nobody could possibly rely
upon TOMS sobriety from one hour to
another. Punishment and warnings had
alike failed hundred times and Tom
must be left behind and discharged. |
think the good colonel, under whose bluff
aspect was hidden very kindly heart,
was quite conscious that he was in dis
favor with all the ladies, and many of the
officers, that day, and it was even whis-
pered that he had been repulsed with
great disorder, in an attempt to prove to
Mrs. Colonel that he was right in his reso-
lutions. At all events, he carried rather
gloomy countenance about his duties, and
it was with tagging footsteps that toward
evening he entered the little hospital.
There was only one patient at present, but
he was one who would never leave it alive,
man who had been good soldier, and
the colonel's orderly for years.
A little old woman with white apron
and quaint cap rose from beside the bed
where poor Butler lay-a pale little
woman, with look of patient trouble in
her soft eyes that touched the colonel
more than vehement reproaches, for this
was Mrs. O'Hslloran, and to him, as to
most of the officers, she was the old and
tried friend of many an illness and anx-
iety, rather than merely the mother of
private soldier who was in scrape. The
room was as neat and pleasant, the bed
and patient as we'll cared for, as though his
nurse had no thought but for his welfare !;
and the sight of this also touched the
colonel, who would have done his duty
under any circumstances, and who re-
spected the evidence of such character
in others.
"Butler must not talk much, If you
please, colonel" Mrs. O'Halloran said, as
she left the room and sat down on the low
est step of the hall stairs, for she was
trembling so that she could scarcely stand.
After few moments the colonel came
slowly out. He was surprised that Butler
had not interceded for Tom, because he
knew the mans liking for the nurse, who,
as a special favor, had been allowed in.
stead of the usual hospital steward, and
that he might reasonably expect to be
heard by his old master.
"You know what would say, colonel"
Mrs. O'Halloran began, rising and clasp
ing her wrinkled hands. "My heart has
been breaking to say it this long day, but
could not leave Butler"
"Does Butler know anything of this
affair ?"
"No, sir. Sure 1 could not trouble a
dying man who has been good friend to
OF 20
many day."
81 wish Tom had your sense of duty,
Mrs. O'Halloran /" cried the colonel, with
a sudden dimness in his keen eyes, as he
thought of the mothers agony of suspense
that she had concealed for the good of her
patient.
81 knew that could see you when you
came to see Butler, as you always do,
colonel" she said, simply and then, while
the slow tears OF age crept down her pale
face, Colonel, it is good and kind you
have been to my poor boy many and MAN,
time, and sorely he has tried your kind
ness But his heart is set on going 10
this fighting, and if you turn him out of
the regiment now. the regiment that has
been his home since he was little lad,
sure. sir, you will ruin his life en-
tirely, and he so young. He is brave
| boy, too, is my Tom, colonel, and l have
feeling here (pressing trembling hand
against her heart) that if you take him
with you he will do something to make
you and his regiment proud of him."
1t was weak logic, but the brave, pa
thetic old eyes, the passionate pleading of
the falterirg voice, made it very eloquent,
and though the colonel told himself that
he was fool, he knew that he was yield
ing.
Take him with you this once Give
him this one more chance she implored.
"Sure, colonel, the God of the widow will
not let any harm come to you, because
you heard the widows prayer"
"Very we'll, Mrs. O'Halloran, for your
sake Tom shall have another trial; but
shall keep my eye on him, and if he does
any harm, it shall only be to himself y
cried the colonel, with sense of apologize.
ing to his conscience. The son of such
mother as you ought to be better stuff
than hopeless drunkards are made Of"
| God bless you, sir, for ever and ever u
catching his hand and kissing it. ellis
mother knows Tom O'Halloran better
than himself does, and you will be glad OF
this days mercy as long as you live,
colonel"
The sun had risen on such hopes and
such confidence, such light hearts and
such gay laughter, on well.ordered, we'll.
appointed regiment that scorned it's foes
and believed in its own invincibleness
The sun was sinking, at the June days
close, on couple of hundred exhausted
men, huddled together within rampant Of
saddles and dead horses on the bare crown
of steep hill, whose base was surrounded
by bowling savages, who stretched in
| dusky hordes, 1t seemed to the tired eyes
that watched them, endlessly through the
valley beyond the little river. They had
been surrounded and slaughtered by over.
whelming numbers, and the remnant still
alive were worn out with fatigue, heat,
hunger, encouragement, but most of all,
by thirst. The steep sides of the hill
were strewn with bodies for the Indians,
with the recklessness of triumph, had
charged almost up to the rifles several
times, and none Af that weary band could
| say but what the next charge would be
successful, though each man vowed silently
to himself that his own weapon should
prevent his becoming a prisoner if he sur.
| vived his comrades.
They were not quite hopeless, however,
for they knew that within twenty.four
| hours march OF them were reinforce
b. E L