The times., 1897-07-18
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STARK, of Company d, Twelfth Regiment
big and strong, and better able 10 stand
a long march or "a DAY with the pick and
spade ON the earthworks than any other
man in the company. He had oon'rade,
but no chum Wniie nobody dlsiiGed him,
he was silent ulan, and u nian Who sci
dom suiled, and SD the men fell away from
him and let him alone. at first MS com
Iade tried to draw him ont and get closer
TO him. but after repeated repulses he ac-
cepted John stark for what he was, and
ceased his efforts. There were ninety
nine men in Company ID. who sang, !pKed'
played cards, and fraternized as soidi+rs
always do. There was one man who sat
apart Hy himself when off dnJy no never
sang or ioked, answered all questions
briefly and gruffly or Lot az all, ana
seemed TO be an outcasJ anG an OUTLAW
in the midst of boon companions
One day when John StarA was ALONE
in his tent he took from ms knapSack a
small object which was carefully wrap
ped in paper and cloth and tied with
faded blGe ribbon After much hesitancy'
and after elancing around him like a man
alout 10 commit a crime, be united the rib
hon ana removed the wrapping and held
ur-a baby's little red shoe. 1he reu mo
rocco showed signs Of wear at the toe, anu
two or three of The buttons were missing
The racpickers of a city find hundreds OIL
such shoes in the waste barrels on tiie
curbStones, and they are valued at less
than a beef bone. AS John Stafk helu
up the little shoe TO view his chm qulE-
cred, his ewes filled with tears, and tne
look at his face would have told you that
he prized il a bove pearlsaEd DIAMONDS lie
had it pressed to his lips wren his coiura ce
approached his tent unheaTd and unper-
ceiseG and looked in. The man saw the
shoe, the tears, the trembling lips, and Ne
said to himself when he drew back ana
tiptoed way:
..Weu. I'll be hanged. A baby's shoe,
eh? Big John Stark kissing taby'S Old
shoe. Damn tie man, but he's got a heaTt
after all, and something happened IN the
past TO break him up Glad he didn't see
me. It's his setIet, and I don't want it
out of him, but l II tell the boys
And ne went among his comrades and
said:
Bows, old John STARK is over in the
tent. kissing a baby's shoe, and shedding
tears We've all wondered what ailed
him, and we've set him down for Grabbed
old cuss who didn't want TO chUm With any
body. That's il hes had trouble he's
all broke up. Don't say "A word about the
shoe, but let's touch elbows with him
oftener."
And from that time on, though no man
/ got nearer the heart OF John STARK. and he
l,tt,e. rs before tUaGf
d more tender feeling in every mans -ieart
for him, and men went out Of their way
to make him realize that there was.
He thought mis- secret was safe in his own
breast Now and then, when his ccInrade
was on duty or soundly sleeping, the big
man would CAREFUL yextractthep parcelfron
| the knapSack and the tears would cone
even withth firsttOuch. HecOuld have told
his comrades all about the shoe with honor
| to his feelings, but IL was sacred thing TO
| him. Ashe was ready to uarch wa ; 10 the
| front a faithleSs wife had bIO;en up his
home
A creeping. Growing baby had been left
! behind and in the midst of his cuFsing
| and reviling and threats of vengeance
| the babe had cIul ched his leg and lifted
| Itself up 20 be petted The man had
! hugged it to his breast and soOthed and
| kissed it and wept over it, and the touch
of the chubby hands and the soft 3o0-cOo
| had driven the thirst for blood out OF has
| heart Three ys later, even ss the drums
ratified FOR the recruits to fail in for
their Journey TO the Potomac, the creep
/ ing child had met death by accident.
| John Stark remained behind to bury it,
| and when he departed he carried away one
| of the little red shoes under his shirt That
| was Jhc secret-an the particulars, ex-
/ ccpt that there Were hours when he
| cursed his faitlIess wife and thirsted fol
revenge, and other hours when he wept
| with the little red shoe pressed TO his cheek
or heart.
| Orders at last for extra rationS-t0
| break camp 20 open the campaign. Big
| John Stark marched away with the rest
| Some of tire Incl, were excited and eX
| uHant, aud one after another caught up
! tie refrain Of 'O4 John Brown and sent
it back TO the struggling rear Some
| were thouchtful and serious, realizing
that they were marching TO death, and
| they neither sang nor iested. When night
came the marching host filed out OF the
| highway, right and left, and were before
| the enemy The near presence OF death
affects men differently. Some are fear
| ful and appTehenive,a and would dcreep away
| To Ee alone md think and think. Others
| are affected as with too much wine, aud
| they become almost silly in their hilarity
Others still feel the fear, but they cover il
up with bluff and swagger, ana at length
| make themselves almost believe that they
will be passed by on the morrow. Listen
| TO the conversation as two men boil theiI
coffee in their tin cups with elbows touch
ing. One has campaigned for a year oil
| more. and has participated in two OF three
battles the other is soon to hear the first
crash OF musketry along a battle line
They say-thcy say there viii be
big battle tomorrow" observes the re
oruit as he glances down across the fields
toward the enemy's position, and littI
shiver passes over him.
''welI, what of it," queries the veteran
as he blows out dying ember, and seek
to appear uniuterested.
''There will be a good many killed ant
wounded?''
.'of course Shouldn't wonder if Com
pany u lost at least half her men. Yes
itn be rippin' old battle, and that's wha
| I've been acbin' for these many weeks
Damn this coffee, but it won't bile Jest I,
spite me-
"You-you may be killed or wounded,
continues the recruit, wondering how N
other can take matters so cody.
"Bosh, The bullet hasn't been made ye
which viii even Craze me! In your case
hcweveT-weH, if I'm detailed with tn
burial party III see that You are well GOV
cred up. Never fired a gun yet, under
stand