Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-08-15
Death and the Soldier.

Death and the Soldier.
The name Of the hero of this pathetic story
not given, bu! every reader Will know who
meant. We regret that we cannot give IL
writer's name. We found the story IN q cOuntr
paper credited to En-
4 soldier who had won imperishabl
fame on the battlefields of his country
was confronted by gaunt stranger, ella,
all in black and wearing an impenetra
BILE mask.
"Who are you that you dare to blocl
my way?' demanded the soldier.
Then the stranger drew aside hi
mask and the soldier knew that he Wa
Death.
Have you come for me?" asked thu
soldier. 'If so 1 will not 60 with you; SC
20 your way alone"
But Death held out his bony hand anG
beckoned to the soldier.
"No," cried the soldier, resolutely; "my
time is not come. See, here are the
histories l am writing-no hand bu,
mine can finish them-I will not 60 till
they are donew
81 have hidden By your side day and
night" said Death; Il have lowered
about you on hundred battlefields, b II
no sight of me could chill your heart till
now, and now hold you in my power
Gomez
And with these words Death seized
upon the soldier and strove to bear him
hence, but the soldier struggled so des.
perately that he prevailed against Death
and the strange phantom departed
alone. Then when he had gone the SOL
der found upon his throat the imprint
of Deaths cruel ingers-so fierce had
been the struggle. And nothing could
wash away the marks-nay, not all the
skill of the world could wash them away,
for they were disease, lingering, agoniz-
ing, fatal disease. But with quiet yalor
the soldier returned to his histories, and
for many days thereafter he toiled upon
them as the last and best work of his
noble life.
How pale and thin the soldier is get
ting" said the people. His hair whiten-
ing and his eyes are weary. He should
not have undertaken the histories
labor is killing him"
They did Mt know of his struggle with
Death, nor had they seen the marks up
on the soldiers throat. But the physi-
clans who came to him and saw the
marks of Death 8 cruel fingers, shook
their heads and said the soldier could
not live to complete the work upon
which his whole heart was set. And
the soldier knew it, too, and many q
time he paused in his writing and laid
his pen aside and bowed his head upon
his hands, and strove for consolation in
the thought of the great fame he had
already won. But there was no consola-
ton in all this. So when Death came a
second time he found the soldier weak
and trembling and emaciated.
1T would be vain Of you to struggle
with NE now" said Death. MY poison
is in your vein, and see, my dew is on
your brow. But you are brave man
and / will not bear you with me till you
have asked one favor, which l will
grant"
Give me an hour to ask the favor"
said the soldier. There are 80 many
things-my history and all-give me an
hour thatI may decide what l shall
ask?"
And as Death tarried the soldier com.
municated with himself. Before he
closed his eyes forever what boon should
he ask of Death. And the soldiers
thoughts sped back over the years and
his whole life came to him like q light
ming tissh-the companionship and smiles
of kings, the glories of government and
political power, the honor of peace, and
Joy of conquest, the din of battle, the
sweets of quiet home life upon the west
ern prairie, the gentle devotion of q wife,
the clsmor of q noisy boy and the face
of q little girl-ah, there his thoughts
fingered and chung.
Lime to complete our work-our
books-eur histories" counciled Ambi-
ton. ASK Death for time to do this
last and crowning act of our great life.'
But the soldiers ears were deaf to the
cries of Ambition; they heard another
voice Of the soldiers heart
and the voice whispered "Nellie-Nellie
Nellie" That was all-no other words
but those, and the soldier struggled to
his feet, and stretched forth his hands
and called to Death, and hearing him
calling, Death came and stood before
him.
II have made my choice" said the
solder
The books?" asked Death with
cvrEful smile.
mo, not them" said the soldie-, "but
my little girl-my Neliiel Give me
lease of life till I have held her in my
arms, and then come for me and l will
gow
ss.Then Deaths hideous aspect was
changed; his stern features relaxed and
q look of pity came upon them. And
Death said 1T shall be So" and saying
that he went his way.
Nov the so dier's child Was far away
many, many leagues from where the SOL
der lived, beyond Q broad tempestuous
ocean. She Was not as you might sup
pose, . little child, although the soldier
spoke of her a. such. She was wife and
. mother; yet even in her womanhood
she was to the soldiers heart the same