River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-22
. ASK YEARS. MYSTERY. F.!
BY GEORGE A. WADE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

TLSIE BENNETT put down the
newspaper she had just been read
Ing aloud TO her father. and turned to-
wards the old man with a beaming face.
and hands that fairly trembled with
emotion
Isn't il splendid, father?" she said.
Don't YOU think this Robert Connell
must be indeed a brave man? oh, |
should so like TO shake his hand.
Yes" she continued. after moments
pause, and with her eyes kindiing with
a bright light. Il am proud Of being a
soldiers daughter. father. when | read
of such deeds as this being done by your
comrades-your old comrades, perhaps,
j ought to say. seeing that il is at least
- years since you left the til Ian
GERS"
AYE. aye, Elsie said the old vet
eran. right you are there. my girl.
il does make me proud Of the profess
sion, and prouder still of having been
one of the dear old Iancrrs which con-
tains such a noble fellow as this Con-
nell you've read of. And so they're GO
ing TO give him the Cross. are they?
Sic Shall I ever forget when the grand
old queen-though she wasn't old then!
herself pinned lie V. c. on my own
breast after the glorious struggie in the
Crimea? Do you reme-- ,er," said he,
utter a pause, how Barlow used 10 be
80 fond of looking, II me Cross, and how
often he used TO say il 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, un-
thinkingly, had touched a very tender
chord in her heart. She had been car
Iied away for q moment. so 10 speak.
by reading the long Geographic ac-
count in that mornings paper Of the
gallantry of the -th Lancers I'm one
Of the fierce fights in Burmah against
the hill tribes. and especially of the
heroic deed OF one, Private Robert Con-
nell
Tie til Laneers was her fathers old
y
took the greatest pride and interest in
all irs dOings. Her father would be
kept Ip-to-date in all that concerned it;
its present station, its officers, its stand
ing in the army; and all the news about
ii he eagerly listened to. This morn
ing's paper had given an account in
fun Of what had yesterday been a mere
Geographic dispatch, but the bare news
of which had made a 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.
II appeared that. few days before.
two squadr0us of the regiment, com
Handed 10y a captain, had gone for
ward To attack hill-fOrt of the Bur
mese. Contrary 10 their expectations,
they had found the place almost de
serted. or. at least, so IL 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 defe lders. they found them
selves surrounded ON every side by thou
sands of the natives. and so hemmed in
that escape. except with very great loss
OF life. appeared practically impossible
There was, however, no other method
of regainiug their liberty. They haG
been trapped, and must make a dash for
IL. Calling upon his men to follow him,
the captain, stung by The knowledge of
haNrmUr hsasrr
out, and boldly made dash through
the opposing hordes. The Lancers came
bravely after their leader, aud. despite
the tremendous odds. at last succeeded
in getting free. but only after a loss of
nearly half their force, though some
dozens Of the enemy lay dead aud dy-
ing between them and the fort.
Ii was whilst thus taking stock
that Robert Connell. who was private
soldier, noticed that. in the late dash
ing attack. the brave soldier who had
borne the regimeutal standard hal
gone down. and that the flag" was
missing. Scarcely had he observed this
than he also saw that flag being waved
triumphantly by Burmese soldier.
Who was close to the fatal spot. To
make a dash for the standard. through
that troop of shrieking Burmans.
meant almost certain death. but Rob
vrt COnuell never thought of that. II
was sufficient for him that he was one
Of the TIL Laucers. and that the
til LanCers' standard was in the
hands OF the enemy! With wild rush
he urged his horse along. and. brand
ishiug his weapon. advanced on the
Zoe. towards where the flag had last
waved. Tie threw down man after man
who opposed his progress; no bullett or
sword seemed 10 injure him. Truly
he bore charmed life At last he
reached the sacred standard. almost
before the Burmese had really gath
cred what was his object. and in a trice
ne had run the bearer Of il clean
through the body with his lance. Seiz-
ing the dear old flag. he set OF back on
his Wild career through the shots and
thrusts Of the enemy's weapons. and
even though a bullet passed through
his left arm. which fell helpiessly by
his side. he only grasped the flag more
closely I'm has right hand. and al leagtc
WAS lifted by his cheering comrades
tenderIy and eNuultiugly from his good
war horse. whilst the latter shared in
the pet:ing and congratulations which
came shoNeTing upon its brave master.
50 all through England had run a
fierce thrill OF JOY as men read and
heard Of the deed; and the old Minister
city in Yorkshire felt doubly proud
that Robert Council had been born
within her walls And the queen had
siguIted her intention Of presenting
the hero with the Victoria cross. in
recognition Of his gallant deed.
This was the herOism which had
raised Elsie Benefits enthusiasm. and
made Ter. for day or two. forget her
own trouble. that long-standiug trouble
Of six years. OF which the old soldier.
her father. had raised again the bitter
memories when he had spoken OF Regi-
Maid Barlow. the grocer's assistant.
Reginald Barlow had been Elsie Ben
uett's affianeed husband, but an ex-
tremely strange thing had happened
on that day. so many years past, when
they should have been made one. They
had been engaged" for nearly two
years. and no couple could possibly
have been happier OF more loving.