Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-30

him another chance"
"You tell him I'll come out with the
company when he let's Kerr outp'
This was again the remarkable answer
given by Private Bill Just tattoo with
his heels grin on a not too clean face
and shrewd pair of eyes looking out UNI
der an army cap. For the rest, a blue clad
figure remaining placidly seated on the
provision box.
"Young Teller, you're too rapid. The
colonel's business. He says it's mutiny,
and it's Do you know what that meansp
II know what that means" rejoined
Private Bill from the box coolly.
"If you'll come along off from that box
and be sensible ande save that nerve of
yours for your first battle you'll come out
of it a general" and the orderly hesitated.
Private Bill laughed.
ut means-a court martial"
Private Bill leaned over and picked up
straw
ut means-death."
Private Bill nonchalantly chewed his
straw, made a wry face and said as he ex-
perforated its ehewed end:
HE won't shoot me-"
And the orderly turned away.
little town. A regiment drawn up to form
three sides of square A white and cruel
glitter of steel A breeze which waited
breathless, allowing the IL mental colors
to hang like wilted tulip on its stem, and
the only bit of scarlet in picture where
| all was blue-blue sky, blue river and the
blue of the army men. And little church
| strutting like bantam with shining comb
crowed out a hymn.
And facing it all alone indomitably, with
the spiteful look of cornered mouse in
his half shut eyes, stood Private Bill.
For it had indeed come to this.
He was to be shot for the most preposter-
Gus bit of unreasonable folly which had
ever entered into youngsters head. He
was a trifie whitehall was all. AS solemn
as young owl he stood, every freckle
showing plainly from his pallor but dis
playing the same ridiculous grit.
Then detachment of men were singled
from the rest, each whittier than the man
they faced.
And Private Kerr was still in the guard
| house.
| Ready
"Take-aiml"
"Firer'
The crash-the rattle of bullets followed.
And then the smoke cleared, disclosing
Private Bill with his freckles bit more In
relief, but still standing.
Each man had fired into the air,
They'll never shoot mel" called out
Private Bill.
Around behind the detachment of men
rode the colonel. He was CHASTITY and
hoarse with emotion. That small alert
figure was strangely imposing, but mutiny
is an ugly thing, and he was a colonel in
the United States army.
He drew his sword.
you level those guns OF I'll off with
your headsp' be beloved, beside himself
with rage.
"They won't do itp' piped up Private
Bill.
God have mercy on your soul, you
young foolp' responded the colonel, turn
ing his head away-for the fellow was but
a lad.
Now.
"Readyp
"Take--aimr'
"Firep'
But not a sound. Only deathlike 81
lence, followed by several deep drawn
breaths like the signs of the dying. Slowly
the colonel turned his head.
This is what he saw:
Three sides Of a square Of men in army
blue standing opposite bautamlike church
which was Growing out a hymn. A small
detachment of men, with puzzled foolish
faces, resting on their arms, as they looked
from one to another and then at him.
And facing IL all Private Bill, his face
crimsoned in a glorious blush which had
eclipsed its freckes, and whose hands had
torn open the top buttons of his army coat
exposing a throat and breast as white and
tender as the moonlight OF a Mexican
night.
Private Bill was right; the men did moi
fire. After one glance the colonel heard 8
sigh such as had already saluted his ears
and managed to calculate feebiy;
"Well, I'll be -V
He then added something presumably
less emphatic to the chaplain, after which
Private Kerr was produced from the guard
house looking very subdued-not to say
silly.
do you see that young manY asked th'
colonel of him savagely, pointing mean
while to Private Bill.
Eyes, SIR"
Gle was brought here to be shot"
"Yes, sir" But Private Kerr's color wa
sickly.
II have decided 10 do worse"
yes, sir" And Private Kerr grow
green.
HE shall not be shot; but-he shall be-
married."
And he-or she--was, then and there.
! And when the moon shone on the ban
tam church, which seemed to sleep wit
its head under ITS wing, a great bass voic
muttered forth from the black pit Of al
} adobe hut:
, ut takes a woman to muffin
| successfully"
Eyes, SIR" said the little orderly at Oh
L door.
Z Which goes to prove that the colon,
) speedily recovered the use Of his favorit
! language. II ohanna Stats in Truth.
r superb Workmanship.
r Captain Fremantle and Lieutenant %
ley, in 1891, at Bisley, while shooting f.
5 England in the Elcho challenge shiel
4 cosa paffffan aorb o,ors.,1 Hffaaf conaarr