The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-04-10
N 1894 BY TIE AurHonl

~
~ 81 THE AuTHoR1
head turned toward the men. '+Come
on" he was shouting. The men stared
with blank and yokel-ike eyes at him.
He was obliged to halt and retrace his
steps. He stood then with his back to
the enemy and delivered gigantic
curses into the faces Of the men. His
body vibrated from the weight and
force of his Impressions And he
could string oaths with the facility of
O maiden who strings beads.
The friend of the youth aroused.
Lurching suddenly forward and drop
ping to his knees, he fred an angry
! shot at the persistent woods This
action awakened the men. They hud-
died no more like sheep. They seemed
suddenly to bethink them of their
| weapons and at once commenced firing.
Belabored by their officers they began
to move forward. The regiment, in
| volved like q cart In mud and muddle,
sta tied unevenly with many jolts and
jerks The men stopped now every
few PAGES to fire and load, and in this
manner moved slowly on from trees to
| trees.
The flaming opposition In their front
grew with their advance until it seemed
that all forward ways were barred by
the thin leaping tongues and off to the
right an ominous demonstration could
sometimes be dimly discerned The
smoke, lately generated. was in confus-
ing clouds that made it difficult for
the regiment to proceed with intelli-
gence. AS he passed through each
curling mass, the youth wondered what
would confront him on the further side.
The command went painfully for
ward until an open space interposed
between them and the lurid lines.
Here, crouching and covering behind
some trees, the men chung with des-
peration as if threatened by wave.
They looked wild-eyed, and amazed at
this furious disturbance they had
stirred. In the storm, there was
an ironical expression of their impor-
lance. The faces Of the men, too,
showed a lack Of q certain feeling Of
responsibility for being there. It was
as if they had been drinking. 1t was
the dominant animal failing to remem-
Der in the supreme moments, the force
full causes Of various superficial quail
ties. The whole affair seemed incom-
prehensible to many of them.
As they halted thus, the lieutenant
again began to below profanely. Re-
CARELESS Of the vindictive threats Of
the bullets, he went about coaxing, be-
rating and bedamning. His lips, that
were habitually in soft and child-like
curve, now writhed into unholy contor-
tions. He swore by all possible deities.
Once, he grabbed the youth by the
arm Come on, yeh lunk-head," he
roared. 'Come on. Well all git killed
if we stay here. We've only got t go
across that lot. An then"
| The remainder of his idea disap-
peared in a blue haze of curses.
The youth stretched forth his arm.
"cross there?" His mouth was puckered
in doubt and owe.
"Cerly. Jest cross tn lot We can't
stay here" screamed the lieutenant.
He poled his face close to the youth
and waved his bandaged hand. "Come
on" Presently he grappled with him
as If for wrestling bout It was as if
he planned to drag the youth by the
ear on to the assault.
The private felt a sudden unspeak-
able indignation against his officer.
He wrenched fercely and shook him
off.
Come on yerself, then" he. yelled
There was bitter challenge in his
voice
They galloped together down the
regimental front The friend scram-
bled after them. In front Of the col
ors the three men began to bawl:
Come on! Come orr They danced
and gyrated like tortured savages-
The flag, obedient to these appeals
Bonded its glittering form and swept
toward them. The men wavered in In
decision for moment and then with a
long, wailful cry, the dilapidated regi.
ment surged forward and began Its
new journey.
Over the field went the scurryfna
mass. It was handful of men splat.
tered into the faces of the enemy. To
ward it instantly sprang the yellow
tongues A vast quantity of the blue
smoke hung before them A mighty
banging made ears valueless-
The youth ran like a madms-n tc
reach the woods before q bullet could
discover him. He ducked his head low
like a football player. In his haste his
eyes almost closed and the scene was q
wild blur. Pulsating saliva stood a,
the corners Of his mouth.
Within him, as he hurled himself
forward, was born q love, despairing
fondness for this flag which was nea,
him It was q creation of beauty and
invulnerability. It was a goddess
radiant, that Bonded it's form with az
imperious gesture to him It was q
woman, red and white, hating and low.
ing, that called him with the voice Of
his hopes. Because no harm could
come to It. he endowed it with power
He kept near as II 1t could be o save,
OF lives, and an imploring cry wen,
from his mind.
In the mad scramble he was aware
that the color sergeant 1inched sud.
denly as Il struck by bludgeon- BE
faltcred and then became motionless
save for his quivering knees
} Then he made a spring and clutch
at the pole. At the same instant hi.
friend grabbed It from the other side.
/ r. They jerked a,
IL sfOl1t and Fl.