Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-23

!
<NXEnx&U WIZ thuI, COOlly- Anu
ESNS@zM M then. in the same i'm
WXa8EMzW X movable tones, he
~ SSSSaM, asked some one to
fHE pass him a biscuit
MI XXX &c urse you"
ENW&D[6& k shouted the colonel,
EHHAAXX8ZMtB do you think /
SV4RAISHHkAT don't know that? Do
S1NIW&SfSg you imagine I fear
getting killed tomor-
row? do you suppose
! want to live on after what has happened7
It's the eternal disgrace of the thing that's
cutting me-"
once comfortably shot," remarked the
senior major in easy philosophy. at doesn't
much matter to me personally where. or for
why, l go down. Not a soul will be left
behind to care"
This last remark added finder to the
PLACE The major was a peasants son who
mad hacked and thrust his way I'D from the
ranks by sheer hard lighting. His COM
manding officer was a noble Of the old re-
gime. He had hoped, and reasonably expect
co. tnat the previous days engagement
woaid give him a brigade; and 50 the fiasco
haa fallen all the more bitterly.
IL seemed as though the very stars In
tnelr courses had been battling against us
everything had gone wrong The blams
was not ours; but this, In an army where
want OF luck was the greatest crime, told
nothing In our favor. Many men had fallen,
and panic had seized the heels of the rest.
which OF US initiated the run cannot be
SAID; out IN the rush Of some all mad been
carried along, few Except. perhaps. one or
two Of the older oisicers) RESISTING very
strenuously. The colonel, burning with
shame. had gone in to report. VIA. pre-
ciseiy had been said to him we did not
Know; but We guessed with some accuracy,
although he did not repeat the detail. The
g1st OF his interview was that the regiment
Wes 70 attack again on the morrow; and II
unsuccessful then. once more on the dsy
stter; and SO on till the bridge was taken.
Yesterday the thing had been barely DOS
sibie. Yet today 1t was far different. Dur
Ing the night the defenses had been more
than trebled. The Austrians swarmed.
enough artillery was mounted there now to
nave demolished an entire army corps adj
vanc1ng against 1t from the open.
The deduction was clear. The bravest
men VIII turn tail sometimes; and In our
there had. during the latter part Of the
campaign, been more than one case of
wavertng. An example accordingly was 10
pe made Our corps had been singled out
Tor the condign punishment. We were
doomed to march on the morrow to our an
Inhalation.
OF course. the matter had not been nut
w., a. nsaaquarters There the words ran:
MOST important strategic point. Must be
taken at Whatever cost. Your regiment will
again have the honor, colonel" and 40 on
But, summed up bluntly. it was neither
more nor less than have said We All nm.
derstood the order OF the letter. and there
was not man in the regiment who would
nesitate moment in carrying out his share.
march with firm determination to nnarch
shell ' ga noe-
But the secure knowledge that there would
De no skoikers along this road to execution
dld not pacify the colonel. II anything n
increased his bitterness 1t would make his
ungratefui memory last the longer He sat
at the table end of that inn room whore ~e
mad messed. with folded arms ana nervous
myers kneading at his muscles, By a
singular irony we were lodged I'm comfort
tnere-we. who had got to go out and die
on the morrow-and he must needs tannt
US with 1t. as though 1t were shame for
such as We to have so tolerable a billet
MY sell was stretched out on a sofa
away by the far wall and lay there mutely.
having but little taste for the worly saw
ageries which were being so freely ae.;t
about. And the night grew older without
my being disturbed. But the angry man
q. tne END OF the table singled me out at
last. perhaps beause my outward calm md
lstessness Jared upon him.
Tired. Eugene?" he asked
"A little, SIR
activity today. You have mistaken your
vocation, mon cher. You should not have
come INTO the army. You should have been
professional runner"
i
kept 1t there, gave a shrug and said 10th
Ing. What use could further wrangling bef
But the silence was an Ill move. 1t only
angered him further. and he threw at me
could endure.
. do you think you will again feel in
csined to use those powers of yours tomor-
row. Eugene? Or had I better have you
hand-cuffed to some steady old SOLDIER"
A dozen of the other officers Jprang to
their feet at this CHASTITY taunt, for when
such thing as this was said to one of
their number it touched all. The old major
was their spok esman.
Colonel, we make all allowances, but You
are going too far with the youngster."
The colonel scowled round tight-lipped
for q minute. and .hen:
II am quite capable Of commanding this
regiment of lost sheep, without unasked-
for advice from subordinates, major.
Lieut.. Ramard, you heard my question,
presume? Please have the civility to On
swer'
During the minutes respite had been
thinking and acting-that is, writing.
got up and handed the colonel slip of
paper. On 1t were the words:
II acknowledge that 1, E. Ramard lieu
tenant OF the twenty-second -. am q
coward. EUGENE RAaARD."
He read It.
There SIR" said, kindly add the date,
leave that behind with the baggage when
We march tomorrow. If do not do better
work for France than any man in the regt-
ment, 1t is my wish that this paper be pub
lished:" The colonel nodded griinly. and
then frowned.
Have your permission now. sir, to
withdraw from this roomT'
A refusal was framing ITSELF could see
It; but the lowering faces arolmd made
him curb his passion, and he nodded again.
but reluctantly.
II.
In the dark, wet air outside, and not be-
fore, did l realize fully what / had done.
The screed on the slip of paper had been
the spasm of the instant. 1t seemed to me
now the outcome Of a moments insanity.
! had had no plan, no trace Of scheme in
my head whilst l was scribbling The
words and the pledge were an empty boast,
made in the wild hope that l could hold
them good. But how could such a thing
be done? The most furious, desperate cour-
age. by itself, would avail nothing. There
would be thousand men around, each to
the full as brave as for no one can
march farther than death-and to do bet
ter work for France than any of them!
All, no, the thing was impossible With
them l should fall, and among all of them
/ alone would be branded infamous The
paper would be brought to light; the curt,
bald confession would be read with no ex-
nj of hnu univ r