The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-12-12
A COWARD AND A HERO.


hold a little grudge against him II is
always vexing 10 see these brats OF
twenty-five promoted alongside Of an
old trooper like me; but for that he Is
nice boy. and the men would 60
Through fire and water for hin.. he
well connected OF good family, and
often receives letters with the seal OF
Tho wnr department; but that is his
uusines-. not mine
N | watched him out OF the corner OF
my eye as he ran through his letter
Then saw him wipe away tear. a
Iiitlc leaf that glistened on The end OF
his eyolnsh.
! Pretended not 70 sec IL, even jolxod
q little to make him laugh.
What has she written to YOU.
JncQue? What says my lady fnlrpn
lie turned without n smile and
rravely said. II have no lady fair,
bertrand II is from my mother.
Il 'Ahs'' felt as II had made n fool
''~ef myself and said no more. but Jacquc
continued.
do you SEQ these 10 tiers. Bertrand
n would BIO better not 20 receive them
IN times like this
Thai was my opiaion. as had al.
rcndy SID Ii was not good TO allow
them TO break ranks the scamps;
they ask nothing letter. But through
poliieness TO Jaeque said; 1T Is al
ways Pleasant 20 receive good news
from home. no matter whore. | hope
you had nothing disagreeablo.
Jacluc SHOOK his head.
Oh 40; TO the contrary And
thnt was all Really Master Jacquo
wis not talkatlye this morning. His
cjes were fixed on the horizon far
nyay where there was nothing 10 be
s.fn but a bit OF blue sky. wonder
c1~wha' he could see over there
A. last Forward. march, / re-
peat Forward march, for my sec
tion. jacaue no doubt was still
dreaming and did not hear tho word OF
command for / heard the lieutenant
behind me say:
"Ah vel Serg't Jacque. tagging
4 bchind alrcadyg'
hoped 10 heur reply OF some
kind no matter what Whom an OF.
y ficer so lar forgcts himself as 10 speak
ia that way 10 "A subordinate like to
500 a little indignation. Parblen. you
daro not speak Out loud; that l. AGAINST
the rules; hut mutiorcd word under
Z Your breath Is a solacc 10 your self.
respect
But JacQuo said not a word; he
simply repeated Forward march,
in dragging tone. ms II no were
weary. That Is 10 say. II was not tho
tone a Frepeh sergeant uses when he
coYinmds FORWARD. mnrchm They
es--<ar humble those two words but
shout them with enthusiasm. What
Is tho matter with Sergeant Jacque
this morning. He is not Ike himself
All TINT WAS q rough day. | tell
"a you. Wien night came.we were still
In tho water bu. up 10 our waists this
I. time. And all around US little field
"A pieces were splitting fire like so many
4 demons But we marched steadily on
HuntIi we were within five hundred
fzme'ers of the walls OF tho citadel.
s.lAol u gun.shot- NOT Achievement: the
k.fsc,,s wcr1nt zA1iiclr powder until
~~r< ~rf5hid 70 myself Wait
llow, you will have something to
arm you up By and by; don't DO dis
|fournqed"
"A Wien, bchold. we werc ngain COM
Ua..aded 10 halt The captain steps In
'front.' OF the ranks. and demands In
low voice--all the same II was distinct
ly hearl--rA sub-o willing TO un-
aertalre a secret and dangerous mis-
,ionl"
Naturally stepped forward. Now
| i have tho misfortune 70 DO too well
appreciated by my captain. an old
/ torehskin like myself. who had been
my lieutenant in Africa
mot you. Bertrand. / know you
we'll and when want you ] will find
vou. Be kind enough 10 ROMAN quiet 2
Yon aeo some officers will not grant
Won tho least favor. Then ] said 10
mvself This Is just the thing for
jaccue.r The captain seemed TO be
81 the same opinion. for he stopped
exactlv in front OF him and repeated
under his nose "A sub.ofilccr willing
IL undertake a dangerous mission.
l,.wns plainly 10 be seen ho was max
4 f.enocs 20 Jacqpe and you VIII
I'M I nm mocking you when ! tell
al NV lne fellow lowered his eyes
ndrr the gaze OF bis captain ana said
'ot n word. You may be sure the
antain was angry. for you know II Is
Iot plcnsant 70 make advances 70 any
bnc and have them thrown BACK IN your
ecfh. / heard him snoer under me-
nm, che: We'll, he means 70 take
|ood dare 81 his skin"
III. Il was rough. Jacque turned
! ,ra "A n beet but said not wordi
rn,v whom the captain had passed he
,,s.a his eyes and fixed them on that
b,t - blue sky far away on the nori-
Inn whcre 1 could SEQ nothing AZ All
|1'h =. mia 10 myself We'll my hne
,1,ow vou are certainly coward. :
>rr.<A' brief, Bcrthelot OF inc ,hlra
;.lon WAS chosen for the exoe-
on: he returned without scratch
jocl<nnpos when my poor JAG
Well We set of again; there wa.
,vyinr behind this time About
meters from the walls tho scoun'
4. ~.<r'ns a brondsido full In the
3eprIsfi' how II rained the
M, " mo right 20 the LETT In
H. n.Id4 making q ''flic'noc' a'
n VA IA MrII