The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-09-08
ONLY A PRIVATE.

| 'ect "aotsf VIII
only green, oasislike grove of trees il
which had hastily been thrown up 9
rude breastwork of sand and stone; /;
cloud of savages surrounding the earth
work, in which was the great overland
/ stage-it was scene calculated TO ex
cite fear and sympathy. There wer,
women in that beleaguered fort as well
as men, and their pale faces, parched
lips and dry, fearless eyes evinced the
stony terror caused 10y the prospect Of
certain death.
y dozen troopers under the com
mand of Lieutenant Marks had been
sent to guard the stagecoaeh. When
/ they found themselves confronted by
such overwhelming odds, they hasten
ed To the grove we have mentioned
and hastily threw up the earthwork
behind which the soldiers and pass, L.
gers were defending themselves. The
| face of Lieutenant Marks was almost
as pale as marble, and he had long
since ceased TO give orders, for it was
now pitched battle, in which every
man was his own commander.
Two soldiers and three passengers
were already down. Many redskins
had bitten the dust, but the over
whelming numbers of savages about
the earthworks made il evident that
the brave defenders were doomed.
Prominent among the troopers WAS
tall, young man in the uniform of a
private soldier. There was look OF
calm determination on his face, and
whatever others may have done he
wasted no shots that day. Every time
his rifle cracked a redskin fell. Though
he exposed himself more to Indian
bullets than any Of the others, he SEEM
ed to hold charmed life, for not a
shot touched him.
This private was only 24 years ofage,
with handsome face, dark eyes and
black mustache. His name was George
Stone, and it was whispered that he
was a graduate of Princeton. How he
came TO be a private soldier in the
regular army is story Of sufficient in-
terest 10 tell even in the mIdst of bat
tie, especially as it had some bearing
on the conflict He and Lieutenant
David Marks had been schoolboys
together, and both were competitors
for the appointment at West Point.
Marks, though inferior to Stone in
every respect, having the strongest
political pull, succeeded, and George
went TO Princeton.
George graduated about the same
time that his successful rival came
from West Point with commission as
second lieutenant of cavalry. He hap
pened to be near the town in which
the regiment Of his rival was quarter
ed. This renewed the jealousy of his
companion. Then Miss Mary Som
mers came TO the city. She was going
to her sisters in Montana the coming
summer, and as Marks regiment had
been ordered 10 that part of the coun-
try he hoped to meet her again, es-
pecially as he had fallen desperately in
love with her. For the second time
his rival was his schoolboy friend,
George Stone, who seemed To ME more
successful than lie had been before.
Marks had no political pull in love
affairs and began To look about for some
means to conquer again.
The plan he fell upon was the most
nefarious that can be conceived. One
day he and some other offers and
friends enticed George into a saloon,
and during the afternoon induced him
to drink so much champagne that he
became utterly unconscious of his acts
and surroundings.
While be was in that state recruit
ing officer who was present induced
him to enlist in the regular army as
private, and he was assigned to the
company TO which Lieutenant Marks
belonged.
When Stone recovered consciousness
and realized what he had done, he re-
solved never to drink another drop of
intoxicating liquor. He was angry
and filed with modification. Friends
came to his relief and offered TO pur-
chase his discharge, but he declined
their kindness and determined to serve.
Marks, who had been his constant
associate, of course cut his acquaint-
ance, and George was compelled to
mess and associate with the common
soldier. The common soldier Is not al
ways an educated man. He is some
times rude, uncouth and grossly inn
moral. Stone was quiet, silent and
more like a convict than a trooper.
He gave strict attention to orders and
studied military tactics as he had never
studied any subject in his life He be-
came the favorite Of all save his second
lieutenant, who lost no opportunity to
humiliate him.
In due time the regiment was order
e to the plains, and he was with the
squad sent to guard the stage. 1t was
the first time Lieutenant Marks had
ever been under fire. Nevertheless il
was natural TO suppose he would show
some courage on this occasion, for
Mary Sommers, the girl who had won
his heart, was in the stage.
Ii was CALLING to poor George Stone
to meet the woman whom he loved
under such changed circumstances
that he dared not speak TO her. He
bore himself erect with a proud, sol
dierly dignity, but was silent. When
the attack came, he was first in the
fight, and il was then that the lieu
tenant, who had shone as society
man began To show the white feather.
He failed to go to the front with his
men and kept ~ much out of range OF
bullets and arrows as possible.
1t was George, his stony silence
broken only 10y the exigency OF the
moment, who suggested the grove as
the proper place to make the stand. 1t
was he who proposed that the breast
work be thrown up from the stones
and sand. He even directed the oper-
alton, for the commanding officer was
s,uDefiad and dumb with fear.