Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-08-13
YEARS. MYSTERY.
BY GEORGE A. WADE.

rLSIE BENNETT put down the
newspaper she had just been read
40 aloud to her father, and turned to-
wards the old man with beaming face,
and hands that fairly trembled with
emotion.
isn't it splendid, father?" she said
"non't YOU think this Robert Connell
must be indeed q brave man? Oh,
should so like to shake his hand.
Yes" she continued, after a moments
pause, and with her eyes kindling with
bright light, II am proud of being a
soldiers daughter, father, when read
of such deeds as this being done by your
comrades-your old comrades, perhaps,
7 ought to say, seeing that it is at least
20 wears since you left the -th Lam
GERS"
AYE, aye, Elsie," said the old vet
eran. fright you are there, my girl!
1t does make me proud of the profess
sion, and prouder still of having been
one of the dear old Lancers which con-
tains such a noble fellow as this Con-
nell you've read of. And so they're 60
ing to give him the Cross, are they?
All, well, well, he ought to have it, FL
sic. Shall ever forget when the grand
old queen-though she wasn't old then!
herself pinned the V. C. on my own
breast after the glorious struggle in the
Crimea? Do you remember,' said he,
after pause, ''how Barlow used to be
so fond of looking at the Cross, and how
often he used to say it was pity he was
only a grocer's assistant, instead of
soldier, since there is no decoration for
valor for grocers' assistants, or any
other business folks, for that matter?
And yet, Elsie, I've known some civil
ians who did very heroic things, more
than once"
Elsie sat silent. Her father, I'M
thinkingly, had touched a very tender
chord in her heart. She had been car
ried away for the moment, so to speak,
by reading the long Geographic ac-
count in that mornings paper of the
gallantry of the -th Lancers in one
of the fierce fights in Burmah against
the hill tribes, and especially of the
heroic deed Of one, Private Robert Con-
nell.
The til Lancers was her fathers old
v
took the greatest pride and interest in
all it's doings. Her father would be
kept up-to-date in all that concerned it;
its present station, it's officers, it's stand
ing in the army; and all the news about
it he eagerly listened to. This morn
ing's paper had given an account in
full Of what had yesterday been a mere
telegraphic dispatch, but the bare news
Of which had made shout of triumph
ring through the whole length and
breadth of the old country, with in
Vulnerable blessings on the head of the
brave soldier of the gallant Lancers
who had done such deed.
1t appeared that, a few days before,
two squadrons of the regiment, com
handed by captain, had gone for
ward to attack a hill-fort of the Bur-
mese. Contrary to their expectations,
they had found the place almost de-
serted, or, at least, SO it seemed on their
approach. But this was only ruse of
the enemy, as they found shortly aft
erwards, when, having landed inside
the fort after a slight struggle with
handful of defenders, they found them
selves surrounded on every side by thou
sands OF the natives, and so hemmed in
mat escape. except with very great loss
OF life, appeared practically impossible.
There was, however, no other method
OF regaining their liberty. They had
ocen trapped, and must make dash for
IT, Calling upon his men to follow him,
1he captain, stung by the knowledge of
having been so easily "gulled,' rode
OUT, and boldly made a dash through
the opposing hordes. The Lancers came
Dravely after their leader, and, despite
the tremendous odds, at last succeeded
IN getting free, but only after loss of
nearly half their force, though some
oozens OF the enemy lay dead and dy-
Ing between them and the fort.
1t was whilst thus taking stock"
mat Robert Cornell, who was a private
soldier, noticed that, in the late dash
ing attack, the brave soldier who had
oorne the regimental standard had
gone down, and that the flag was
missing. Scarcely had he observed this
tnan he also saw that flag being waved
'rlu1nphantly by Burmese soldier, |
VINO was close to the fatal spot. To
make dash for the standard, through
tnat troop of sbrieking Burmans,
meant almost certain death, but Rob
cru Connell never thought Of that. 1t
was sufficient for him that he was one
VI the til Lancers, and that the !
IN Lancers' standard was in the
hands OF the enemy! With a wild rush
nc urged his horse along, and, brand
.1mng his weapon, advanced on the
ioe' towards where the flag had last
waved. He threw down man after man
VINO opposed his progress; no bullet or
sword seemed to injure him. Truly
ne bore charmed life. At last he
reached the sacred standard. almost
pe1ore the Burmese had really gath
sred what was his object, and in a trice
ne had run the bearer of it clean
through the body with his lance. Sciz-
ing the dear old flag, he set off back on
WI n