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


very unfortunate indeed. If / were
well, l could drive off those rascaIly
Indians, but really / am not able to
hold up my head" And il seemed as
if he would burrow his head in the
sand.
Lieutenant Marks, you are a cow
ard" cried the brave girl Indignantly.
"IOu are a disgrace to the service"
He began to lament in pitiable
manner, and she turned away and ran
to the side of George Stone, who stood
boldly erect 10y the imperfect breast
work firing at the savages, who were
pouring storm of bullets about him
Laying one little hand on his shoulder
she said:
"Mr. Stone, it is not right that you
should endanger you life"
He turned his pale, stern face upon
her and spoke to her for the first time
since he had worn the uniform OF a
soldier.
Miss Sommers, this is no place for
you"
Nor is it any place for you," she
answered.
al am a soldier, and it is my duty to
die"
"And / am one whom you are de-
Tending, and it is my duty to remain
at your side"
miss Sommers"-he began.
'No, no, Georgel l will never leave
this breastwork while you expose your
life-more precious than that of any
other in the party"
He was touched by her words. They
appealed TO his heart. a moisture
came into the eyes which had been SO
long dry, while his frame trembled.
"Miss Sommers''-
''George, you used to call me Mary.
Won't you do so now? Remember,
death is great leveler, and We are
facing death"
"Mary, | must-defend you," he said.
Il would defend you even if | were
not soldier, and must inspire these
Others by my example"
Better let any of them expose their
lives than your she answered in
voice of melting tenderness.
at would be fatal TO shirk duty now
the act of the coward. Il il not
better that we take the only chance we
have of defending our lives than to dic
a towards death?p
"Then let me stand by your side and
fall when you 30. / shall not care To
live If you are gone"
"No, no. Don't insist on endangerins
your life, Mary. You unman me.
am a coward when yoa are exposed to
danger. 1 an brave in the thought
that | can defend you"
His reason and entreaty prevailed,
and she was induced to seek the most
sheltered place in the inclosure when
the Indians made their next charge OH
the rude earthwork.
They are coming again, boysr'
cried the brave private. "NOw, re-
member that il is better to die brave
man than a coward. Don't waste -
shot. Our only hope lies in making IA
bold, stubborn resistance"
The soldiers, who looked upon him
as their natural leader, silently nodded
assent.
Here they come" cried Mr.. Bullard,
one of the passengers, who had seized
the rifle of dead soldier. "Great God.
What tornado of hoofs and headsn'
"They raise a storm" said Mr.. Leads,
another traveller.
There's thousand of them"
Were done for, Builardr'
"Well, let us die game if we must"
STEADY allr' cried George Stone
Now, take careful aim. Don't any of
you waste lead Oh the big chief with
red feathers"
Every rifle was aimed.
STEADY, Let them come n little
nearer before you fire."
Up they came until they were even
within long pistol range, and then
George gave the command:
.Firer
There was a rattling crash of fire
arms, and the foremost saddles were
emptied. The big chief with red feath
ers went down with the Others. The
riderless horses plunged back upon the
mounted sava -, making the panic
more general.
"Load"' cried the young soldier.
As they were all armed with breech-
leaders, it was an easy task TO slip car
tridges into the guns. Before the In
dians had recovered from the confusion
the volley had thrown them into IL
second volley was poured into them
Then some of the passengers having
winchesters began a continual fire.
One by one the soldiers went down.
As if by a miracle Stone was still un-
hurt, and gathering the arms of his
fallen comrades about him, he con-
tinued TO fire with such rapidity that
the Indians little dreamed there was
but one man left.
George, let ME help you" entreat-
ed Mary. 81 can load the guns"
"God help your he murmured.
At this moment there was a sudden
and for some time unexplained stam-
pede ON the part of the enemy. Hasti-
ly taking up their wounded and a part
of their dead, they flew across the plain
as rapidly rs their ponies could carry
them. The cause of their flight was
the arrival of 30 soldiers under Major
Warner George was the only man
unharmed save the cowardly lieuten-
ant, who was still under the stagecoach
and who never recovered from his sud-
den malady until the major assured
him the enemy were gone.
Miss Mary Sommers went TO the city,
where her brother, wealthy miner,
lived. Tom Sommers was not only
wealthy, but influential, and he was
soon ready to offer George Stone either a
discharge or a commission. He chose
to be discharged, and shortly after
married the lady whom he had so gal
lantly defended. He removed TO a