People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-05-19

boyish, blonde and CHASTITY; the eyes
were set and CLASSY. 1t was Death itself
charging the gun.
Within a few feet of it the horse
swerved before a brandished rammer,
and striking the cheeks of a gun car
riage pitched his inanimate rider across
the gun. The hot blood of the dead
man smoked on the hotter brass with
the reek of the shambles, and bespat-
tered the hand of the gunner who still
mechanically served the vent. AS they
lifted the dead body down, the order
came to cease firing. For the yells
from below had ceased too; the rafting
and grinding was receding with the
smoke further to the left. The ominous
central cloud parted for brief moment
and showed the unexpected sun glitter
ing down the slope upon near and
geaceful river.
The handsome artillery officer had
dismounted and was gently examining
the dead man. His breast had been
crushed by a fragment Of shell. He
must have died instantly. The same
missile had cut the chain of a locket
which slipped from his opened coat
The officer picked it up with a strange
feeling-perhaps because he was con-
scious himself Of wearing similar one;
perhaps because it might give him some
clew to the mans identity. 1t contained
only the photograph of a pretty girl,
tendril of fair hair and the word
Sally" In the breast pocket was a
sealed letter with the inscription: For
Miss Sally Bows, to be delivered if |
fall by the hireling's hand" A faint
smile came over the officers face. He
was about to hand the articles to SER
geant, but changed his mind and put
them in his pocket.
Meantime the lane and woods be-
yond, and even the slope itself, were
crowding with reserves and waiting
troops. His own battery was still I'M
limbered awaiting orders. There was
slight commotion in the lane.
Very well done, captain. Smartly
taken and gallantly held"
1t was the voice of general officer
passing with his staff. There was a
note of pleasant relief in its tone and
the middle-aged, care-drawn face of its
owner was relaxed in a paternal smile.
The young captain flushed with
pleasure.
"And you seem to have had close
work, too" added the general, point
ing to the dead man.
The young officer hurriedly explained.
The general nodded, saluted and
passed on. But youthful aid airily
fingered.
THE old mans feeling good, Court
land" he said. "We've rolled EN- up
all along the line. It's all over now.
In point of fact reckon you've fred
the last gun in this particular fratri-
cidal engagement"
The last gun! CORTLAND remained
silent, looking abstractedly at the frag-
ment it had crushed and broken at his
feet.
And shouldn't wonder if you got
your gold leaf for to-day's work.
But who's your sunny southern friend
here?" he added, following his com.
panion's eyes.
CORTLAND repeated his story a little
more seriously, which, however, failed
to impress the young aids levity
$50 he concluded to stop over" he in.
terrupted, cheerfully. But" looking
at the letter and photograph, 81 say
look here! Sally DowsY Why, there
was another man picked up yesterday
with letter from the same grill Doe
Murphy has it And, by Jove! the
same picture, too, Ell? Look here
Courtyl you might get Doe Murphy's
letter and hunt her up when this crue
war is over. Say you're fulfilling /;
sacred trustr See? Good idea, ole
man! Ta-ta," and he trotted quickly
} after his superior.
CORTLAND remained with the lettel