The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-02-28
COPYRIGHT. lS9A1

Ut. lse4l
walk, interrupted their quarrel go
ing to be battle, sure, is there, Jim?"
''Of course there is" said the tall
soldier.
Presently the youth asked: "How do
you think the regiment will do?'
ooh, they'll fight all right after they
once get into it," said the other with
cold Judgment There's been heaps
of fun poked at them because they are
new, but they'll fight all right, guess. !"
Think any of the boys'n run?" per-
sisted the youth.
''Oh, there may be few Of 'em run,
but there's them kind in every regi-
ment, especially when they first goes
under fire." said the tall soldier, in a
tolerant way. 1.-THE boys come of good
stock and they'll fight all right after
they once get dead into it,.
did you ever think you might run
yourself, Jim?' remarked the youth,
thoughtfully.
The tall private waved his hand.
WE'LL" said he, profoundly, I've
thought it might get too hot for Jim
Conklin in some of them scrimmages,
and if whole lot of the boys started
to run, why s'pose I'd start and run.
But if everybody was a-standing and
fighting, why then I'd stand and fight,
by jimmy"
'Shucks!' snorted the loud private,
scornfully. But the youth felt CRATE
full for these words of his tall comrade
He had feared that all of the untried
men felt great and correct confidence.
He was now in measure treasured.
CHAPTER Il
The next morning the youth discov-
cred that his tall comrade had been the
fast-hying messenger of a mistake.
There was much scofing at the latter
by those who had yesterday been firm
adherents of his views, and there was
even a little sneering by the men who
had never believed the rumor. The
tall soldier fought with a man from
Chatfeld Corners and beat him severely.
The youth felt, however, that his
problem was in no wise lifted from
him. There was on the contrary an
irritating prolongation. The tale had
created In him great concern for him
self. And now, with this newborn
question in his mind, he was compelled
to sink back into his old place as part
of a blue demonstration.
For days he made ceaseless calcula-
tions, but they were all wondrously
unsatisfactory. He found that he could
establish nothing. Finally he concluded
that the only way to prove himself
was to go into the blaze and then, fig
uratively, to watch his legs to discover
their merits and faults.
Meanwhile he continually tried to
measure himself by his comrades. The
tall soldier, for one, gave him some as
surance. This mans serene unconcern
dealt him a measure of confidence, for
he had known him from childhood, and
from his intimate knowledge he did
not see how this man could be capable
of anything that was beyond him.
The youth would have liked to have
discovered another who suspected him
self. A sympathetic comparison of men
tai notes would have been a great joy
to him He occasionally tried to fathom
comrade with seductive sentences.
He was afraid to make an open declar-
alton of his condition, because 1t might
place some INSCRIPTIONS confdant
upon the high plane of the unconfessed,
from which elevation he could be de-
rided.
In regard to his companions, his mind
wavered between two opinions, accord
ing to his mood. Sometimes he in
clined to believe them all heroes Then
in other moments he assured himself
that his fellows were all privately Won
dering and quaking.
In his great anxiety, his heart was
continuously clamoring at what he
considered to be the intolerable slow
ness of the generals They seemed
content to perch TRANQUILITY upon the
river bank and leave him bowed down
by the weight of his great problem.
One morning, however, he found him
self in the ranks of his prepared regi-
ment. The men were whispering spec
ulations and recounting the old rumors-
In the gloom before the break of day,
their uniforms glowed a deep purple
hue. From across the river the red
eyes were still peering. In the eastern
sky, there was a yellow patch like q
rug laid for the feet of the coming sun.
And against it, black and pattern-like,
doomed the gigantic figure of the
colonel on a gigantic horse
= From off in the darkness came the
trampling Of feet The youth could
occasionally see dark shadows that
moved like monsters The regiment
stood at rest for what seemed long
time The youth grew inpatient. It
was uncomfortable, the way these affairs
were managed. He wondered how long
they were to be kept waiting.
At last he heard from along the road
at the foot of the hill the clatter Of
horses galloping hoofs- It must be the
coming Of orders. He bent forward,
scarce breathing. The exciting clickety-
click as it grew louder and louder
seemed to be beating upon his soul. Pres
emily horseman with jangling equip
ment drew rein before the colonel of
the regiment The two held q short,
sharp-worded conversation. The men in
the foremost ranks craned their necks-
AS the horseman wheeled his animal
and galloped away, he turned to shout
over his shoulder: Don't forget that
box of cigars" The colonel mumbled
in reply. The youth wondered what
box of cigars had to do with war.
A moment later the regiment went
swinging off into the darkness twas
now like one of those moving monsters
vending with many feet The air was