Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-01-19
90 BRET HARTE
COPYRIGHT. 1892. BY me AUTHOR

struggling mass became plain ana ar
ticulate Then n gunner serving the
nearest piece suddenly dropped his
swnb and seized a cnrbine. For out Of
the whlrling confusion before them a
single rider was seen galloping furi.
ously towards the gun.
The rcd-capped young officer rode for
ward and knocked upward the gunncr's
weapon with his sword For In tina.
rapid glance he had seen that the riders
rcins were hanging loosely on the neck
of his horse. who was still dashing for.
ward with the acquired impetus 81 the
charge, and that the youthful figure of
the rider, wearing the stripes Of licu-
tenant, although still erect, exercised no
control over the animal The face was
boyish. blonde and ghastly; the eyes
were set and CLASSY IL was Death Itself
charging the gun.
Within few feet Of II the horse
swervcd before brandished rammcr,
aud striking the checks OF n gun car
rage 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 bcspat-
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 yclls
from below had ceased too; the rattling
and grinding was rcceding with the
/ smoke further 10 the left The ominous
central cloud parted for brief moment
and showed the unexpected sun glitter
ing down the slope upon near and
peaceful river
The handsome artillery officer had
dsmounted and was gently examining
the dead man Ills breast had been
crushed by n fragment o. shell lie
must have died instantly The same
missile had cut the chain Of lockct
which slipped from his opened coat
The officer picked 1t up with a strange
feeling perhaps because he was con-
scious himself OF wearing n similar one;
perhaps because II might give him some
clcw to the mans identity II contained
only the photograph of pretty girl, n
tcndril Of fair hair and the word
sally" In the breast pocket was a
scaled letter with the inscription: For
Miss Sally Bows. to he delivered II !
fall by the hireling's hand" A faint
smile came over the officers face. lie
was about to hand the articles TO n SER
gcant, but changed his mind and put
them In his pc ckct.
Meantime the lane and woods be-
yond and even the slope itself, were
crowding with reserves and waiting
troops, His own battery was still un
limbcrcd awaiting orders. There was
II slight commotion in the lane.
very well done, captain. Smartly
taken and gallantly held"
II was the voice of general officer
passing with his staff There was I
note OF pleasant relief In It's tone and
the middlc-agcd, carc-drawn face Of VI
owner was relaxed in Il patcrnal smile
Tho young captain flushed will
pleasure.
And YOU seem 10 have had clos,
work, too" added the general, point
ing TO the dead man.
The young officer hurricdly explained
The general nodded, salutcd am
passed on But a youthful aid airil
, fingered.
''rhe old mans feeling good, Court
land" he said. "Wc've rolled EN- II
nll along the line It's all over nov
In point Of fact reckon you've fire
the last gun In this particular fratr
cidnl engagement"
The last gunl CORTLAND RENAME
silent, looking abstractcdly at the fral
ment II had crushed and broken ut h
feet
4 II. .I..Hs 4 srg
your gold leaf for to.day's worl
But who's your sunny southern frien
here?" he added. following his con
panions eyes.
CORTLAND repeated his story a lit
more seriously. which, however, failc
TO impress the young aids Levitt.
80 he concluded to stop over he Il
tcrruptcd, cheerfully But" loolSir
at the letter and photograph. II say
look hercl Sally DowsY Why, the
was another man picked up yosterdt
with n letter from the same girl d.
Murphy has IT, And, by Jovel Il
same picture, too, ehp Look her
n Courty' you might get Doe Murphy
70 letter and hunt her up when this cru
Il war is over Say you're fulfilling
n sacred trustV See? GOOD idea
II mani Ta.ta." and he trotted quick
Ie after his superior.
" CORTLAND remained with the lett
x and photograph in his hand, gazing n
D. stractedly after him The smoke HI
N rolled quite away from the fields on I
ir left, but still hung heavily down 1
lt south ON the heels Of the dying cnvalI
p long bugle call swclled up musical
n from below The freed sun caught t
n, white flags of two field hospitals in I
ne woods and glanced TRANQUILITY on
N. broad, cyprcss-fringed, la2y-nowi
% aud cruel but beautiful Southern riv
d. which had all unseen crcpt SO smiling
or that morning through the very heart
ly the battle.
IN CHAPTER l.
M Gxx,NNegA n II ,,,,. ,,,io