Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-03-08
g. BRET HARTE.=
COPYRIGHT. 1892. BY DAs AUTHOR.

hSarcSt piece suddenly dropped his
swab and seized carbine For out of
the whirling confusion before them a
single rider was seen galloping furi-
ously towards the gun.
The red-capped young officer rode for
ward and knocked upward the gunner's
weapon with his sword. For in that
rapid glance he had seen that the riders
reins were hanging loosely on the neck
of his horse. who was still dashinV for
ward with the acquired impetus OF the
charge, and that the youthful figure of
the rider, wearing the stripes of lieu
tenant, although still erect, exercised no
control over the animal. The face was
boyish, blonde and CHASTITY; the eyes
were set and CLASSY. II was Death itself
charging the gun.
Within a few feet of il the horse
swerved before n brandished rammer.
and striking the cheeks of 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 SHAMELESS, and bespat-
tered the hand of the gunner who still
mechanically served the vent As they
lifted the dead body down, the order
came 10 cease firing. For the yells
from below had ceased too: the rafting
and grinding was receding with the
smoke further 10 the left. The ominous
central cloud parted for n brief moment
and showed the unexpected sun glitter
ing down the slope upon n 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 loclket
which slipped from his opened coat.
The officer picked it up with a strange
feeing-perhaps because he was con-
scious himself Of wearing a similar one:
perhaps because il might give him some
clew TO the mans identity. 1t contained
only the photograph of pretty girl, n
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 10 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 un-
limbered awaiting orders. There was
slight commotion in the lane.
Very well done, captain. Smartlv
taken and CALAMITY held"
1t was the voice of a general officer
passing with his staff. There was n
note of pleasant relief in its tone and
the middle-aged, care-drawn face of its
owner was relaxed in 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- ND
all along the line It's all over now.
In point of fact | reckon you've fired
the last gun in this particular fratri-
cidal engagement"
The last gun! CORTLAND remained
silent, looking abstractedly at the frag-
meut it had crushed and broken at his
feet.
And shouldn't wonder il You got
your gold leaf for to-day's work.
But who's your sunny southern friend
here?' he added, following his com
pauion's eyes.
CORTLAND repeated his story n little
more seriously, which, however. failed
70 impress the young aids levitv.
$50 he concluded TO stop over" he in
terrupted, cheerfully. 'But," looking
at the letter and photograph, II say
look here. sally Dows?' Why. there
was another man picked up yesterday
with letter from the same girl, Doe
Murphy has it. And, by .Jovc. the
same picture, too, Ell? Look here.
County. you might get Doe Mu-phv's
letter and hunt her up when this cruel
war is over. say you're fulfilling "a
sacred trust' See? Good idea. old
man! Ta-ta," and ne trotted quickly
after his superior.
CORTLAND remained with the letter
and photograph in his hand gazing abb
stractcdly after him. The smoke had
rolled quiteaway from the fields ON the
left. but still hung heavily down the
south on the heels of the flying cavalry.
long bugl6 call swolled up unsteady
from below. The freed sun caught the
white flags Of two field hospitals in tho
woods and glanced TRANQUILITY ON the
broad, cyprcss-fringed, lazy flowing
and cruel but beautiful Southern river.
which had an unseen crcpt so smilinrly
that morning through tine very heart Of
The battle