The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-05

III the QlrectlOn Ol tilc uBHt
Presently he proceeded again on his
forward way. The battle was like the
grinding Of an immense and terrible
machine to him. It's complexities and
powers, its grim processes, fascinated
him. He must so close and see it pro-
duce corpses.
He came finally to road from which
he could see in the distance dark and
agitated bodies of troops, smoke
| fringed. In the lane was a blood
stained crowd streaming to the rear.
The wounded men were cursing,
groaning and wailing. In the air, al
ways, was q mighty swell of sound
that it seemed could sway the earth.
| With the courageous words of the ar
tillery and the spiteful sentences of the
nlusketry were mingled red cheers. And
from this region of noises came the
steady current of the MANNED.
One of the wounded men had shoe
full of blood. He hoped like school
boy in a game. He was laughing hys-
terically.
One was swearing that he had been
shot in the arm through the command
ing generals mismanagement of the
| army.
Another had the gray seal of death
already upon his face. His lips were
curled in hard lines and Eis teeth were
clenched. His hands were bloody from
where he had pressed them upon his
wound. He seemed to be awaiting the
moment when he should pitch head
long. He stalked like the specter Of 4
soldier, his eyes burning with the power
of stare into the unknown.
There We're some who proceeded sui
lenly, full of anger at their wounds
and ready to turn upon anything as an
obscure cause. --
The youth joined the crowd and
marched along with it. The torn bodies
expressed the awful machinery in
which the men had been entangled.
Orderlies and couriers occasionally
broke through the throng in the road
way, scattering wounded men right and
left galloping on, followed by howls.
The melancholy march was continual
ly disturbed by the messengers and
sometimes by bustling batteries that
came swinging and humping down
upon them, the officers shouting orders
to clear the way 80
There was tattered man, fouled with
dust, blood and powder stain from hair
to shoes, who trudged quietly at the
youths side. He was listening with
eagerness and much humility to the
lurid descriptions of bearded SER
geant. His lean features wore an ex.
preston of awe and admiration. He
was like listener in a country store
to wondrous tales told among the sugar
barrels. He eyed the story-teller with
unspeal1able wonder. His mouth was
a-gap in yokel fashion.
The sergeant taking note of this gave
pause to his elaborate history while h.
administered sardonic comment. "Be
careful, honey, you'll be catching flies,
he said.
The tattered man shrank back
abashed. -
After time he began to sidle near
to the youth and in difident way
tried to make him friend. His voice
was gentle as a girls voice and his
eyes were pleading. The youth saw
with surprise that the soldier had two
wounds, one in the head, bound
with blood-soaked rag and the other
in the arm, making that member
dangle like broken bough
/" After they had walked together fol
some time, the tattered man mustered
sufficient courage to speak. "Was
pretty good fight, wasn't it?" he timidly
said The youth, deep in thought
glanced up at the bloody and grim
figure with its lamb like eyes. "What?'
WAS pretty good fight, wasn't it?'
YES" said the youth, shortly. He
quickened his pace.
But the other hobbled industriously
after him.
"Was pretty good fight, wasn't it?'
he persisted, in small voice. Ant
then he achieved the fortitude to con
tinue: "Dern INC, if ever see feller'
fight SO. Laws, how they did fight.
knew the boys would lick when they
once got square at it. The boys ain
had no fair chance up to now, but, thi
time, they showed what they was.
knew it would turn out this way. Yo,
can't lick them boys. No sir. They're
fighters, they be-"
He breathed deep breath of humble
admiration.
His homely face was suffused with I
light of love for the army which wa
to him all things beautiful and power
full.
After time, he turned to the youth
where you hit, old boy?" he asked il
q brotherly tone.
The youth felt instant panic at thi
question, although at first its full i'm
port was not borne in upon him.
r"What?" he asked.
Where you hit?o repeated the tat
tered man. E'$
"Why?" began the youth. Il
that is-Awhy-I-" ~ fiH
He turned away suddenly and silt
through the crowd. His brow was heay
lily flushed, and his fingers were pick
ing nervously at one of his buttons
He bended his head and fastened hi
eyes studiously upon the button as
it were little problem.
The tattered man looked after hin
in astonishment.
CHAPTER TX.
The youth fell back in the procession
until the tattered soldier was not il
Il -