Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-11

Within a fortnight along came Royal,
conducted in all dignity by-yOu would
never guess-by Judge Phipps, Full of
patriotism and of cheer was the judge.
Both Of We are thoroughbreds," said
he. "Iell come in under the wire first
every time, l know We will"
The judge also brought me a saddle
blanket which Susie had ornamented
with wOndrOus and tender art.
So ROYAL and l went into the war to-
gether. There were times of priyation
and of danger; neither of use ever COM
planned. / am proud TO bear witness
that in every emergency mY horse bore
himself with a patience and a valor that
seemed actually human My comrades
envied me my gentle. stanch. Obedient
servant Indeed Royal and became IA
nous as inseparable and loyal friends
We were in five battles and neither
Of us got even so much as a scratch. But
one afternoon in a skirmish with the
rebels near Potomac Mills a bullet
struck me in the thigh and from the
mere shock 1 fell from Royals back in
to the tangIe of the thicket. The fall
must have stunned me, for the next
thing l knew / was alone deserted of
all except my faithful horse. Royal
stood over me, and when / opened my
eyes he gave a faint whinny. ! hardly
knew what to do. My leg panied me
eXcruciatingly I sWmised that [
would never be able to make my way
back to camp under The fire Of the rebel
picketers. FOR | discovered that they
were closing in. Then it occurred to me
to pin a note to Royals saddle blanket
and to send Royal back to camp tell
ing he boys OF the trouble l was in. The
horse understood it all: OFF he galloped,
conscious of the import Of the mission
upon which he had been dispatched.
Bang bang-bang. went the guns over
Wonder. rs if the revengeful creatures in
the far-Off brush guessed the meaning
of our maneuvering and sought to STAY
my loya, friend. But not a bullet
touched him-leastWjse he galloped on
and on till lost sight of him.
They came for me at last the boys
did: they were q formidable detach-
ment. and how the earth shook as they
swept along.
Eve thought you were goner, sure,
said Hi Bixby
"I guess I would have been if 1t
hadn't been for Royal said l.
Il guess so, myself said he. When
we saw him stumblin' along all bloody
we allowed for sure YOU was dead
"AI blood o." ! cried. rs Royal hurt?'
CAS- bad as a boss can be, said he.
In camp we found them doing the
best they could for him. But it was
clearly of no avail. There was q gap
ing. ragged hole in his side; seeking
succOr for me- Royal had met his death
wound. I forgot my own hurt; l thrust
the others aside and hObbled where he
lay.
Poor old Royr I cried, as I threw
myself beside my dying friend and put
my arms about his neck. Then patted
and stroked him and called him again
and again by name, and there was
look in his eyes that told me he knew
ME and was glad that l was there.
How strange. and yet how beautiful,
Fl was that i'm that far-off country with
my brave. patient. loyal friends fiutter-
ing heart close unto mine, ! neither saw
nor thought of the scene around me.
But before my eyes came back the old
familiar places-the pasture lot, the
lane. the narrow road up the hill, the
river winding along between great
stretches of brown corn. the aisle of
maple trees and the fountain where we
drank so many, many times together
and 1 smeled the fragrance of the flow
ers and trees abloom. and / heard the
dear voices and the sweet sounds Of my
boyh0od days.
Then presently a mighty shudder
awakened me from this dreaming. And
I cried out with alright and grief for
l felt that 1 was alone.-Chicago Rec
ord.