Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-01-24

the main facts long before Rhett and
the wounded got home. Every
body mourned for Schultz, a
veteran Of nearly twenty years
service In the regiment, and re-
joiced for Schramm, who had COW
cred himself with glory. Everybody
was proud of Thornton's spirited be-
havior in his maiden fight, and full Of
genuine distress over his wounds. Ed
wards, badly shot and veteran OF
many tough cavalry campaign, wasn't
the object Of one-tenth the sympathy
that was lavished on "Pretty Perry"
one of whose hurts-that slit along his
neck-was mere scratch, that would
be an ornament to him all the rest Of
his life, while the hole bored by the
little Winchester In his side was some
thing that would soon heal and seldom
hurt him. But who can paint the SEN
sation at the Thorntons' happy home?
Delight and dismay intermingled! Tel
egram followed telegram, that which
came from the general late in the day
binding Col. Thornton's eyes: 1.-THE
regiment glories in your gallant boy.
Wen send him east on leave at once.
Full report by mail"
Then with what eagerness they waited
the coming Of letters and particulars!
with what emotion did they read Perry's
modest pencil scrawl bidding them
ascribe all credit to letters and give all
gratitude to Schramm! with what flut-
tering hearts, what fearful eyes, did
they strive to read Fenton's letter tell
ing the story Of Perry's dash to the
rescue Of the imperilled troopers, of
his heroic effort to save poor Schultz's
body, of the daring and devotion of
Trooper Schramm, of the enthusiastic
praise the little detachment lavished
on their young lieutenant! Here at
least was Perry the hero of the Indian
campaign, the future leader in many
another. Stopping only long enough
to drop in upon little coterie of old
campaigners, receive their hearty con-
gratulations, and read them the dis
patches from the seat of war, the vet
eran colonel left by first train for the
far west to meet his boy and to bear to
that brave and devoted Prussian troop
er the blessings the gratitude and the
assurance Of the fervent prayers Of
mother and sisters for his own happi-
ness and prosperity for all the years Of
his life-and beyond.
Four days and nights Of ceaseless
travel it took the colonel to reach Paw
nee. BY that time the general with
Tintop and the regiment was far to the
northeast, Strengthening out another
squabble, the army as usual acting as
buffer between the Indians and the
people and getting hard knocks on both
sides. By that time Rhett with his
was back at Ransom, and
Fenton with the wounded from
Slaughter cove was on the homeward
march. They were breaking camp in
Pawnee gorge, thirty miles north OF
the station, just about the time that
No. went whistling down the grade,
shooting sharp curves Of Antelope
Fork after leaving the colonel to be re-
,eived by the quartermaster at Pawnee
station. His first question was for
news OF his boy, who was doing splen-
idly, said the officer, when they passed
Ska Bridge yesterday. ''Fenton's go
ing to send him with one or two Others
ahead in the ambulances this morning.
They'll be here before noon. Schramm
comes in at the same time, poor fellow.
He's got an ugly touch of fever, DR..
French wires, and they want to get
him to the hospital as soon as possible.
The death of his friend Schultz seems
70 have been a hard blow"
81 wish they'd let me take him home
With us" said Col. Thornton, with glis-
iening eyes, 81 know little woman
who followed the drum many long
year with me, and two pretty girls as
,ver were born under the flag-if it is
heir father who says it-who would
De only too happy to spend nights and
lays for weeks to come nursing that
young gentleman back to life. Do you
xnow him at alp"
"Only by sight, sir. He was quite q
character at the post, owing to his de-
lotion to Capt. Morgan, who helped
Tim out of close call last year just
lfter he enlisted. They all agree that
lie is gentleman by birth and breed
ng, whom some freak of fortune has
anded on our shores. He'd get the
ron Cross at home for this exploit"
'sWell, we'll show him here that IT
We have no decorations to offer, we
americans know how to appreciate he
oism and reward it. There's nothing
much too good for such fellow, in our
yes"
An hour later, the sun just peeping
ID over the eastern verge of the plateau
md his host being comforted with
arly coffee, the quartermaster could
lot help but note how wistfully the old {
oldier's eyes kept turning to the north !
IN road. An inspiration seized him.
"Look here, colonel, it's going to be
hot day, and those fellows would be
lad Of little ice. Suppose we take
Nv blackboard and drive out and
aeet them?' And Thornton, after the ,,
roper amount of hesitancy as to TAX
ng an officer away from his duties,
lady assented. So the quartermaster
rdered out his team, and by six o'clock
hey were bowling over the magnificent
rairie road, with the sun clambering /.
u -. .,vox,, v,,;prto ord with a cOI1Dle =