The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-06-26

But, of sudden, the coloners man
ner changed from that of deacon t.
that of Frenchman. He shrugged his
shoulders. ''oh, well, general, we wen;
as far as we could" he said, calmly.
LAS far as you could? Did you,
b'Gawd?" snorted the other. well
that wasn't very far, was it9' he added.
with a glance of cold contempt into tie
others eyes. Not very far, l think.
You were intended to make diversion
in favor of Whiterside. How well you
succeeded, your own ears can tell you
now" lie wheeled his horse and rode
stifly away.
The colonel, hidden to hear the jar
ring noises of an engagement in the
woods to the left, broke out in vague
Examinations.
The lieutenant, who had listened with
an air of impotent rage to the inter
view, spoke suddenly in firm and IN
daunted tones: II don't care what a
man is-whether he is a general, or
what-if he says tn boys didn't put Up
a good fight out there, he's damned
fool"
Lieutenant" began the colonel. Sc
verely, this is my own affair, and III
trouble you"
The lieutenant made an obedient
gesture Albright, colonel; all right,
he said. He sat down, with an air OF
being content with himself
The news that the regiment had been
reproached went along the line. For a
time the men were bewildered by it.
'&ood thunder" they calculated, star
ing at the vanishing form of the gen.
eral. They conceived it to be huge
mistake.
Presently, however, they began to be
lieve that in truth their efforts had beer
called light. The youth could see thi!
conviction weigh upon the entire regi
ment until the men were like cuffec
and cursed animals, but, withal, rebel
ious.
The friend, with a grievance in hi.
eye, went to the youth. II wonder
what he does want" he said. HE
must think we went out there an
played marbles. never see sech 6
man."
The youth developed tranquil phil
osophy for these moments of irritation
'Oh, WELL" he rejoined. ''he probably
didn't see nothing of it at all and got
mad as blazes and concluded we were
a lot of sheep just because we didn't
do what he wanted done. It's a pity
old Grandpa Henderson got killed yes.
terday. He would have known that
we did our best and fought good. It's
just our awful luck, that's what"
~ should say So" replied the friend.
He seemed to be deeply wounded at an
injustice. 81 should say we did have
awful luck. There's no fun in fightin'
fer people when everything yeh do-no
matter what-ain't done right have
a notion t. stay behind next time and
let 'em take their oil charge an go t
tn devil with it."
The youth spoke soothingly to his
comrade. well, we both did good. I'd
like TO see the fool what'd say we
didn't do as good as we could"
"Of course we did" declared the
friend stoutly. AN I'd break the fell
ler's neck if he was as big as a church.
But we're all right, anyhow, fer
heard one teller say that We two fit tn
best in tn regiment an they had a
great argument bout it Another fell
Ter, course he had e up an say it was
lie-he seen all what was goin' on an
he never seen US from tn beginnin' e
tn end. An a lot more struck in an
ses it wasn't a lie-we did fight like
thunder, an they gave US quite a send
off. But this is what I can't stand
these everlastin' OF soldiers, litter
in an laughin', an then that general,
he's crazy"
The y outh exclaimed with sudden
evaporation: Hes a lunkhead. He
makes me mad. | wish he'd come
along next time. We'd show i'm what"
He ceased because several men had
come hurrying up. Their faces ex-
pressed bringing of great news.
"Oh, Elem, yeh jest oughta heard"
cried one, eagerly.
Heard what?" said the youth.
''Yeh jest oughta heard" repeated
the other, as he arranged himself to