Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-29

fire, set forth the magnifcence of the coming
exhibition, assuring her that it to be con-
Quoted with the most perfect order, and, more
over. that sill the boys would be there, she felt
her objections overpowered ana gave rather
reluctanl consent.
But you musn't stay too long, Jack, she
said, when little later he started from the
house. You know l shall be watching for you
20 don't wait to see the last rocket go up. -
sure to come nome early and then, with as
light heart as beat under any jacket in all the
land. he darted off in the direction of the square
The place was already packed with people
when he reached it, but being an adapt at wrfg-
Cling his way through crowd, Jack managed
10 secure place for himself somewhere near the
grand stand.
That he stopped short of the very front rank
was not due to any failure of his energy but to
the fact that in his onward progress he sud
denly found himself side by side with Grand
Army uniform. The sight of such a uniform
always held Jack like a magnet, and he at once
decided that here was just the point of observa--
tion he wanted.
The wearer of the blue, an old fellow with
deep lines in his face, greeted the new conner
with good-natured laugh.
'Hullo, boy, how in the world did you get in
here?', he demanded. II thought were
packed about tight we could be up in this
corner. But boys in crowd are good deal
like peas in 3 bushel OF potatoes. You may put
IN the potatoes as close you We mind to. but
there'n always be room for the peas in be-
tween"
Jack liked this. He felt himself on a footing
of acquaintance at once. well, l did do some
pretty good squeezing 10 get here he ad-
nitted. putting, but l was bound to get up
toward the front wanted to be where I
could hear things whizz and smell the POWDER
Maybe You wouldn't care about that if
you'd smelled as much Of it as 1 have,'' said
the soldier
Jacks face klndled Ibid you go all through
the war; he asked eagerly.
Not all through said the soldier, ''but
that was because I didn't have two legs to 90
on He gave significant glance downward
and added: ''You see it's wooden on that side
l lost the one that belonged there twenty-five !
years ago to-day
Twenty five years ago to-day!'' repeated
Jack. why, that must have been at Gettys- |
bnrg.
The soldier nodded with a pleasant look, |
You We hit 1T, my boy. 'Taint every chap of |
your size could have told rs quick as that Yes,
lost IT at Getty in = skirmlsh with some of
Ewell's men after the wors: of the fighting was /
over
Jack.
II was with Hancock on Cemetery HILL ="
said the soldier. simply.
JACK drew long breath. at must have been /
grand to be at Gettysburg - he said, with his
face all aglow.''
1T was terrible to be there - said the soldier
solemnly- THANK God that fight Will never
need to be made again. We're all on SIDE
Yes said Jack. half awed by the soldiers
tone, and then he could not help adding with
great swelling of mis- boyiSh heart, s'But il
there ever should be another war and the coun-
try needed men TO fight for heI. / d be one. I'd |
never stay at home when the flag was in dam
ger, never!'
ine SOiOler MADE no reply to this, but he !
looked down at Jack with tender sort ofsmile |
which seemed to have in it how little bow
Knew what going to war really meant.
But now it time for the show to begin
The band struck mp Hail Columbia - and in
smother minute balls of fire shot in quick snc-
cession from the grand stand. Stars of blue
crimson and gold filled the air: rockets like |
comets, with long, fiery tails, flashed across the
Sky: mines exploded, firing showers of glitter |
ing gold to right ana left; Washington appeared |
Tor an instant on fiery steed, and ''E pluribus
mum was blazoned upon the clouds in letters --
OF gold
Jacks delight knew no bounds He shouted |
himself hoarse and waved his straw hat until |
there was nothing left to wave but the disabled
crown.
But suddenly a dreadful thing happened
What causec il no one could tell. a boquet OF
rockets, which had just been sent up with a ,
grand whizz. paused in mid-air, then yeeriur
downward, fell ablaze amid the crowd
There were many persons who talked after :
yards OF marvellous escapes. There was one for '
whom there was no escape, and he had hut little
o tell. Ali Jack Belden knew was that flash
II light smote him suddenly like the edge of a
To rd. Then al the stars went out together
md he knew nothing more.
There were screams from the people who stood !
round him, but there was no sound from the :
10Y. He lay as still if thunderbolt had :
Id soldier. n
I've seen men drop like that in battle, he z
aid under his breath. q
He knelt on the ground beside .Iaak, muir Q
nnring, my poor lad, my poor ladl'' but there n
he set face. There was a streak of smoke ann I.
lood across one brow and cheek. The rocket, II
till. b
There was sob in the mans breath as he h
aised himself up. ''Stand back!'' he said al s.
lost nercely to the crowd, which was pressing d
pom the boy. ''Give him air; and If there's W
ny man OF that can get out Of this place. bring u
The terror of the crowd changed instantly to X;
vmpathy and frantic effort. Several acted Mt g
nee upon the soldiers word and urged their q!
ay out OF the pleis. Somebody moistened The ~
ny g lips with a little brandy He reused al &C
myth and made faint effort to lift his head.
Where am i?'' he gasped -.gzaSEss
Right here on the ground by the oltifs7fs2 II
Ter, T" replied the man eagerly. nCssf3t Won m
e met Don't you remember?'' ~ ca
oh. yes, remember now sMd Jack. u
but can't see anybody. Seems aSfiI every.
ling was all ablaze before me - Hsflifted his
ind with an uncertain motion toward his head. a
I'd added, sit was that rocket that did it, Isst4Si
emit right across this left eye. shall .S,ssff tn
e out o!it again. spasm of shook ri
IN and he seemed 70 be slipping OFF again. y
The voice OF the old soldier brought him banl ~
Couragel Couragei'' he was saying close At lssy