The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-05-15

The youth tried TO observe every
thing He did not use care to avoid
trees and branches, and his forgotten
feet were constantly knocking against
stones or getting entangled in briars.
he was aware that these battalions
with their connections were woven red
and starting into the gentle fabric of
softened greens and browns. Itloolxed
to be wrong place for battlefield.
The skirmishers in advance fascinated
him. Their shots into thickets and at
distant and prominent trees spoke to
him of tragedies, hidden, mysterious,
solemn.
During this march, the ardor which
the youth had acquired when out of
view of the field rapidly faded to moth
ing. His curiosity was quite easily sat
isfied. If an intense scene had caught
him with its wild swing as he came to
the top of the bank he might have gone
roaring ON. This advance upon nature
was too calm. He had opportunity to
reflect. He had time in which to won
der about himself and to attempt to
probe his sensations.
Absurd ideas took hold upon him.
He thought that he did not relish the
landscape. 1t threatened him. A cold
ness swept over his back, and it is true
that his trousers felt to him that they
were no fit for his legs at all.
A house standing placidly in distant
fields had an ominous look. The shad-
ows of the woods were Formidable. He
was certain that In this vista there
lurked fierce-eyed hosts. The swift
thought came to him that the generals
did not know what they were about.
It was all trap. Suddenly those close
forests would bristle with rife barrels.
Iron-like brigades would appear in the
rear. They were all going to he sacri-
feed. The generals were stupids. The
enemy would presently swallow the
whole command. He glared about
him, expecting to see the stealthy APP
proach of his death.
He thought that he must break from
the ranks and harangue his comrades.
They must not all be killed like
pigs. And he was sure it would come
to pass unless they were informed of
JneSe OduSoES Lie BcHcFd1S "cIc
idiots to send them marching into
regular pen. There was but one pair
of eyes m the corps. He would step
forth and make speech. ShriII and
passionate words came to his lips.
The line, broken into moving frag-
ments by the ground, went calmly on
through fields and woods. The youth
locked at the men nearest him and
saw, for the most part, expressions of
deep interest as if they were investi-
eating something that had fascinated
them. One or two stepped with over
valiant airs as if they were aheady
plunged into war. Others walked as
upon thin ice. The greater part of the
untested men appeared quiet and alb
sorbed. They were going to look at
war, the red animal, war, the blood
swollen god. And they were deeply
engrossed in this march.
As he looked, the youth gripped his
cutlery at his throat. He saw that
even If the men were tottering with
fear, they would laugh at his warning.
They would jeer-him, and If practicable
pe1t him with missiles. Admitting that
he might be wrong, frenzied decla-
nation of the kind would tarn him into
a worm.
He assumed, then, the demeanor of
one who knows that he is doomed,
alone, to unwritten responsibilities.
He Jagged, with tragic chances at the.
sky.