The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-06-05

y
the road. 1t came swiftly on. Avoid
ing the distractions gave it the sinuous
movement of serpent. The men at
the head butted mules with their
muslset stocks They proddcd team
sters, Indifferent to all bowls. The
men forced their way through parts CT
the dense mass by strength. The blunt
head of the column pushed. The raw
ing transfers swore many strange
oaths.
AS the youth looked at the regi-
ments. the black weight of his woe re-
turned to him. lie felt that he was re-
carding a procession of chosen beings.
The separation was as great to him as
if they had marched with weapons OF
fame and banners of sunlight. lie
could never be like them. He could
have wept in his longings.
He discovered that he had scorch-
ing thirst. His face was so dry and
griIny that he thought he could feel
his ska crackle. Each bone of his
body had an ache in 1t and seemingly
threatened to break with each moment
lis feet were like two sores. Also. his
body was calling for food. 1t was more
powerful than direct hunger. There
was a dull, weight-like feeling in his
stomach. and when he tried to walk
| his head swayed and he tOttered. lie
could not see with distinctpess- Small
patches of crimson mist hoated before
his vision. While he had been tossed
by many emotions he had not been
aware of ailments. Now they beset
him and made clemor.
A certain moth-like quality within
him kept him in the vicinity of the bat
ties. He had great desire to see, and
to get news He wished to know who
was winning.
The column that had butted stoutly
at the obstacles in the roadway was
barely out of the youths sight before
he saw dark waves of men come sweep
ing out of the woods and down through
the fields. He knew at once that the
steel fibcrs had been was.ed from their
hearts They were bursting from their
coats and their equipments as from en-
tanglcments. They charged down upon
him like terrified buffaloes.
Behind them blue smoke curled and
clouded above the tree-tops and through
the thickets he could sometimes see a
distant pink glare. The voices of the
cannon were clamoring in interminable
chorus.
The youth was horrOr-stricken. He
stared in agony and amazement.
The fight was lost. The dragons
were coming with invincible strides
The army, helpless in the matted
thickets, and blinded by the overhang-
ing night, was going to be swallowed.
War. the red animal, war, the blood
swollen god, would have bloated fill.
Within him, something bade to cry
out. He had the impulse to make a
rallying speech. to sing battle hymn
but he could only get his tongue tn
call into the air: 'Wby-why-what-
what's tn matter?"
Soon he was in the midst of them.
They were leaping and scampering all
about him. Their blanched faces shone
in the dusk.
The youth turned from one to
another of them as they galloped
, along. His incoherent questions were
lost. They were needless of his APP
peals They did not seem to see him.
, They sometimes gabbled insanely. One
huge man was asking of the sky: Say,
, where de plank road? Where de plank
[ road?" twas as if he had lost child.
: He wept in his pain and dismay.
l Presently, men were running hither
; and thither in all ways. The artillery
, booming, forward, rearward, and on
the TANKS made tumble of ideas of di-
rection. Landmarks had vanished into
the gathered gloom. The youth began
to imagine that he had gotten into the
center of the tremendous quarrel and
he could perceive no way out OF it.
From the mouths of the fleeing men
, came thousand wild questions, but nc
: one made answers.
, The youth after rushing about and
throwing interrogations at the heed,
less bands of retreating infantry
finally clutched a man by the arm
They swung around face to face.
"Whv-why-" stammered the youth
struggling with his balky tongue.
r The man screamed: Let go me
! Let go me-" His face was livid and his
D eyes were rOlllnB uncOHtTOllcu- liz
was heaving and painting. He still
I grasped his rife. perhaps having for
l.. gotten to release his hold upon it. He
tugged frantically and the youth being
r compelled to lean forward was dragged
several PAGES.
LET go me! Let go me-"
t "Why-why-" suffered the youth
= "Well, then" bawled the man in {
S lurid rage. He adroitly and tiercely
e swung his rifle. 1t crushed upon tht
s youths head. The man ran on.
}, The youths fingers had turned t.
a paste upon the others arm. The en-
T ergy was smit- n
!. ten from his II
= muscles. He saw Moo 4"
!. the flaming ESN -
e wings of light /S&W NS1H&
f ming flash be- OS9M(A
t fore his vision. ~ R
There was ~ 6p
e deafening rum A0@
d bic of thunder w NG
N within his head 40 "a