The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-10
A PRIVATE SOLDIER.
BY JOHN r. MUsICK.

a dreary plain, vast waste, with
0Aly a green oasis like grove of trees,
In which had hastily been thrown up a
rude breastwork of sand and stone.
A cloud of bowling savages sur.
rounding the earthwork, in which was
the great overland stage. 1t was a
scone calculated to excite fear and
sympathy. There were women in that
beleaguered fort as well as men, and
THAR pale faces, parched lips and dry,
eearess eyes evnced the stony terror
caosed by the prospect Of certain
asath.
A dozen troopers under command of
Lieutenant Marks had been sent to
guard the stagecoach; when they found
themselves confronted by such over
wbelining odds that they hastened to
the grove we have mentioned and has.
Hly threw up the earthworks behind
which the soldiers and passengers
were defending themselves. The face
of Lieutenant Marks was almost as
pale as marble, and he had long since
ceased to give orders. for 1t was now a
pitched battle in which every man was
bis own commander.
Prominent among the troopers was
a tall young man In the uniform of a
private soldier. There was a look Of
calm determination on his face, and
whatever others may have. done, he
wasted no shots that day. Every time
his rifle cracked redskln fell. Though
he exposed himself more to Indian bul-
lets than any of the others, he seemed
to bold a charmed life, for not a shot
touched him.
This private was about twenty-four
years of age, with a handsome face,
dark eyes and black moustache. His
name was George Stone, and it was
whispered that he was a graduate Of
Princeton. How he came to be pri-
vate soldier in the regular army is a
story of sufficient interest to tell even
IN the midst of battle, especially as it
has some bearing on the conflict. He
and Lieutenant David Marks had been
schoolboys together, and both We're
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 a commission as
second lieutenant Of cavalry. He hap
pened TO be near the town in which the
regiment Of his rival was Quartered.
Yhis renewed the jealousy of his COM
pnnion. Then Miss Mary Sommers
came to the city. She was going to her
sister in Montana, the coming summer,
and as Marks regiment had been or
dered TO that part of the country, he
hoped he would meet her again, espe-
cinlly as he had fallen desperately in
lOve with her. For the second time his
rival was his schoolboy friend, George
Stone, who seemed to be more success
fui than he had before. Marks had no
pelitical pull in love matters, and be-
gan to look about for some means to
conquer again.
The plan he fell upon was the most
mefarious that can be conceived. One
day he and some officers and friends
enticed George into a saloon. and dur
ing the afternoon induced him to drink
% much champagne that he became
utterly unconscious Of his acts and
surroundings.
While he was In that state recruit
kng officer who was present induced
him to enlist In the regular army as a
private, and he was assigned to the |
company to which Lieutenant Marks !
belonged.
When Stone recovered consciousness
sud realized what he had done, he re.
solved never to drink another drop of |
intoxicating liquors.
Marks. who had been his constant
Ansociate, of course cut his acquaint-
ance, and George was compelled to
mess and associate with the common
soldier. Stone gave strict attention to
srders, and studied military tactics as
Ae had never studied any subject in his !
NE. He became the favorite Of all |
save his second lieutenant, who lost no
opportunity to humiliate him.
IN due time the regiment was ordered
b the plains, and he was with the |
~4s~Au SShN W Z usti u llt stage. III WAS |
the first time Lieutenant Marks had
ever been under fire; nevertheless it
was natural to suppose he would show
some courage on this occasion, for
Mary Sommers, the girl who had won
MS heart was in the stage.
1t was CALLING to poor George Stone
% meet the woman whom he loved
under such changed circumstances that
ne dared not speak to her He bore
himself erect with a proud soldierly
dignity, but was silent When the at.
tack came he was first in the fight, and
It was then that the lieutenant, who
shone as society man, began to show
the white feather. He failed to 60 to
the front with his men. and kept as
much cut of range of bullets and ar
rows as possible.
1t was George, his stony silence bro !
Ken only by the exigency of the mo-
ment who suggested the grove as the
proper place to make the stand. 1t
was be who proposed that the breast