Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-04-16

heart has been breaking to say 1t 'hi'
long day, but could not leave but
ler.'
Does Butler know anything about
this affair p
No. sir. Sure couldn't trouble a
diving mau; who has been a good lriend
10 Tom, and his father before him. thi'
many dav.'
I wish Tom had your sense OF duty
Mrs. O'Hallnran y cried the colonel
with q sudd, n dimness in bis keen eyes
az he thought of the mothers agonv O
suspense that she had concealed ior
the good of her patient.
Il knew that could see you whom
you came to see Butler, as you always
40. colonel she said, simply; and
then. while the slow tears OF age crepi
down her pale face, Colonel, it is good
and kind you have been to nav poor
hoy many and many time. and sore!v
he has tried your kindness! But his
heart IS set on going TO 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, cir,
YOU will ruin bis life entirely, and he so
Young. He Is a brave boy, too, is nv
Tom. Colonel. and l have a feeling
here (pressiug a trembling hand
against her beart) that if you take him
With you. be will do somelhlng to
make you and his regiment proud OF
him.
It was weak logic, but The brave,
pathetic old eyes. the passionate plead
ing of the faliering voice. made it very
eloquent, and though the colonel told
hlmselt that he was fool, he knew
that ne was yielding.
Take him With YOU this once !
Give him this one more chance J! she
implored. Sure, Colonel, the God OF
the widow will not let any harm come
to you, because YOU heard The widows
prayer
Very well, Mrs. O'lIallo;an, TOR
your sake Tom shall have another trial,
but l shall keep my eye On him aud II
he does any harm. it shall only be to
himself,' cried The colonel with a sense
Of spologizing to his conscieoc'. The
son of such a mother as you are ought
to be better stuff than hopeless drunk
ards are made Of
God bless you, sir, for ever aud
ever!' catching his hand and kissing it,.
His mother knows Tom O'HalloraO
better than himself d)es; and you will
be glad of this days mercy as long as
you live, Colonel
Toe sun had risen on such hopes and
such col idepce, such light he Iris and
such gay laughter. on a wel'-0rdered,
well.appouted regiment that scorned
its foes and believed IN lis own lnyinci-
bl.ucss. The sun was sinking, at the
June days close. on couple OF hum
dred exhausted men huddled together
within a rampant of saddles aud dead
horses on the bare crown OF steep
bill, whose base was surrounded BY
bowling savages, who stretched 10 dusk
hordes, ii seemed 10 the tired eyes that
watched them, endlessly through the
valley beyond the little river. They
had been surrounded and slaughtered
by overwhelming numbers, and the
r mnant still alive were worn out with
fatigue. heat, hunger, discOuragement.
but most OF all by thirst. Tie sleep
sides of The Hill were strewn with
bodies; for the Iudlans, with the reck-
lessDess OF triumph. had charged al
most up 10 tie rifles several times, aud
and uone of that weary baud could say
but what the next charge might be sue
cessiul, though each man vow ed silent
ly TO himself that his own weapon
should prevent his becoming prisoner
If he survived his comrades.
They we're not quite hopeless, how
ever, for they knew that within twenty
four hours march of them we're rein
forcements of such extent that al their
approach the Indians would vanish,
aud That If they could but maintain
their position, by sunset tomorrow
lthey would be safe. But in .hc mean
time, th ough hunger and fatigue could
I be endured, thirst was maddening, and
1he wounded, who lay in the center OF
The little circle, would not live uhtil
morning wi lhout water, the surgeon
SAID. The colonel and two or three OF
iue ulNiNluk OihOciN, "uO udN pVSb
holding coun Gil (if such conld be call
ed an yhng so unanimous as the opin-
ion that they must defend themselves
while there Was hf, }, looked hopelesslv
at zach other when the surgeon made
his report. and then, with the energy
of desp ration. the colonel sprang 10
bis feet. They were all lying fiat be-
bind their r,mpart 10 protect them
selves against occasional volleys fired
BY the Indiins from an opposite bu'
less high Hill.
'Boy p said the colonel, aud between
fatigue and the sorrow (lor had he not
seen his best friends die that day p the
! strong, kindly voice was sorely shaken,
'you have done to-day all that brave
men could. You are tired aud hungry
and grleyed. Your colonel will not
order you 10 do bin an extra service.
but the surgeon has told Us that our
wounded viii die of tbirsl before morn
ling unless they, have waller. Boys.
there is little stream at the foot of
this hill. Will any of you volunteer to
ib- M some for comrades?,