The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-07-16

tOlltd NnioAN0ttNs n ANotoNAAe~ NAANf stN~
rage that had been done while still in
life, As the men diaangagsd the stiff
cned hand. somethisss slipped from ;he
waistrat TO this groaad The c0sFDs.
picked il up and handed ii tohis offs,
it was il sealed packet. The ofiueri
ceiyed it with the carelessness whic
llnr experience of those pathetic his
sives from the dying to their living "
lStinHs had induced, and dropped il
me pocket of his tunic. with tine h..
dozen others t!sat he had picked uptii
ieorning. and moved on with the fe
;ai,, 4 little further on they halted Il
.na attitude OF attention as moun;2s.
liiicer appeared riding slowly down the
line.
There was something more than the
habitual respect of their superior in
tbeif ages as he came forward For it
was the general who had commanded
The brigade the day hcfore-the man
vino leaped with one bound into the
forward rank of military leaders. Il
was MS invincihle spirit that had led
ihe atiyence. held back defeat against
Overwhelming numbers, sustained the
gaiiy. impressed his subordinate officers
with his own undertaking purpose, and
eson impressed among them an almost
superstitiouS belief in his destiny of
success. 1t was this man who had done
what was deemed impossible to do
what even at this time it was thought
nnwise and mstrategic to do-whO had
held weak position, of apparently r.
Importance, under the mandate OF "A
incomprehensible order from his SUP,
rior-which at best only asked for
sacrifice and was rewarded with Vi
tory. He had decimated his hrieRdr,
but the wounded and dying had cheer5d
him as he passed, and the survive,
had pursued the enemy until the hugt
called them back. For such record IL
looked still too young and even efeui-
nate, albeit his handsome face was
dark and serious and his manner taci-
tnrn.
His quick eye had alrs.dy caught
sight of the rihed body Of the officer and
contracted. AS the captain of the de
tail saluted him he said curtly:
Il thought the orders were TO fire
upon anyone desecrating the tlead?"
They are, general, but the hyenas
don't give us chance. That's all Won
der poor fellow saved from their claws
replied the officer as he held up Ill
sealed packet. 1T has no address
The general took it, examined the ca
velope, thrust it into his belt and said
Il will take charge of it."
The sound Of horses hoofs eau
from the rocky roadside beyond the
bush. Both men turned. A numlle
Of field officers were approaching
''The division staff" said the captain
in lower voice, falling back.
They came slowly forward, centrai
figure on gray horse leading here, q
in history. A short, tfici.-set NJ
with grizzled beard closely cropp
around an inscrutable mouth. and L.
serious formality of respectable eour
try deacon in his aspect, which even th
single star on the shoulder-strap of his
loose tunic and his soldierly seat in th,
saddle could not entirely obliteratc
He had evidently perceived the general
of the brigade and quickened his horse
as the latter drew up. The staff fol
lowed leisureIy, butstill with some
curiosity TO witness the meeting of the
first generalof thearmy with the latest
The division general saluted, but al
most instantly withdrew his leather
gauntlet, and offered his barred hand to
the brigadier. The words of the heroes
are scant. The drawn-up detail, the
waiting staff listened. This was all
they heard.
''HulIock tells me you're from Cali
formal"
"Yes. general"
"Ah! / lived there too in the earl
days. Wonderful country. Develop
greatly since my time, / suppose"
Great resources. Finest whea.
growing country in the world, sir. Yop
don't happen to know what the actua
crop was this year,"
Hardly. general, but something
enormous"
'Yes. l always said it would be. Hayf
cigar?"
He handed his cigar case TO the brig
adler. Then he took one himself, ligla
ed it at the smouldering end of the o.
he had taken from his mouth, va
about TO throw the stump carelessl
down, but suddenly recollecting him
self leaned over his horse and dropped
it carefully few inches from the face
of dead soldier. Then Strengthening
himself in the saddle he showed his
horse against the brigadier, moving
him little farther on, while slight
movement of his hand kept the staff
from following.
"a heavy loss herel"
"I'm afraid 80, general"
ut couldn't be helped. We had to
rush in your brigade to gain time, and
occupy the enemy until we could
change front"
The young general looked at the
shrewd, cold eyes Of his chief. "Change
'front.'" he echoed.