Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-10-25
MOTIVES.

struggle still left its impress on them
A twitcbing Of the lips or nervous
starting of q limb showed the after
effects of the strain. They were volun-
teers, who had picked each other out
for the stanch, all trusting friendship
that comes to men who are exposed to
danger and hardship.
The heat Of war sends all the small
conventions of life up into thin smoke
Where death and blood surround on
every side and the hum Of bullets and
the shrek Of shell whisper warning
that the next to go may be oneself
the man is reduced to elementary prin.
ciples David cleaves to Jonathan with
his whole soul and asks no reason why.
So il was with these two. Their
hearts spoke directly to each other.
The black Cuban night formed fit
ting surrounding for condolences. A
man liked 10 reach out a hand and find
that friend was near. 1t was so dark,
so empty Of God and hope, such fit
ting prelude TO the frowning morrow
At last the younger broke the silence
"By gosh, Billy, you showed up
well today said he. lyon went up
that hill like a man who wasn't afraid
TO live or die. tell you was proud Of
you"
"Shucks answered the other.
"You did the same"
"Yes, know, but my reason WASH Z
quite the same, I'm afraid. To tell you
the plain truth, old man. only came
into this business to get my name up
| wouldn't give you cents hundred
for Cubans, let alone my life | want.
ed, +" he went on in n shamefaced way,
"to have the girls point me out when l
got home-you know. Amt he n heroT
and that kind of thing Tain't very
noble, is it! l don't suppose you'll
think much of me after that, but some
how felt had to tell 1t. F"
The elder man smiled into the dark
ness-an exceeding bitter and mirthless
smile.
"what do you suppose came down
here fori" he asked.
II don't suppose anything about it
I know" answered the other stoutly
Haven't been with You every day
since you fshed me ont Of the surf
And you've never kicked nor grumbled,
no matter what came up You're here
because you believe in ii, and you need
not say anything different just to CON-
fort me- i"
Listen" said the other. laying q
hand on his arm and bringing his
mouth close to the lads ear. "l'm go
ing to tell you something, kid-some-
thing certainly never expected to tell
anybody. but / may get it tomorrow.
and feel that must speak. Don't say
q word until I've finished and then see
II you want TO take my hand.
MY boy. came down here to kill .
man in our regiment.
He felt the start the other gave, but
went ON without change Of voice. I'D
been watching my chance for a month /,
then | heard that he enlisted, ard /
Joined Now, the first time he gets near
me and nobody's looking I'm going TO
shoot him through the heart-risht-
through-his-dirty- black-heaIt. "
GOOD Godw said the other Good
God Almighty
"It's the truth, continued the elder
in the same quiet voice. IL picked the
scoundrel ont Of the gutter and tried 10
make man Of him-took him right
into my home, and that was the worst
days job | ever did, for 1t didn stay
my home long. Ny wife-my wife
well, had 10 wife after that. don't
know what to think. She seemed 4 good
girl-as true wife as man ever had
before-for years-but-well, Kid. the
reason charged up the hill today was
to show myself that wouldn't be
afraid to meet him face to face Id
have killed him openly before, but that
would have brought the whole story
out, and the buns on the corner ut
home could laugh aud joke about
about my wife.
The silence fell black around them
At last the younger spoke.
"I'm only kid. Bill, and | don I
quite understand these things. don't
know anything about them, but | do
know that you re square man. 1t tseems
awful to me. but there's my hand just
the same.
The other groped for it and squeezed
it heartily A tingling came to his cyes
The boys sympathy was very sweet to
his sore beart.
81 have always been square mar.
and this JOB goes against me, he went
ON. ~ wish there was some other way
ont Of il"
30 Lord, SO do r. groaned the boy
"Ain't there anything. BILE"
Nothing. suppose if we both get
back it will be the same old misery all
over again. l suppose if could talk
about it to-to-my wife-perhaps it
might make some difference-but !
can't speak. The words stick in my
throat.
perhaps he'll get killed?''
''Not ON your life. His sort never do
No, no! There's nothing for il but for
me to take the law in my own hands.
Good night, Kid! I'm going to Sleep"
The next day Bill was struck on the
head by piece Of shell in the early
part of the engagement.
A man who had hitherto kept care.
fully out OF sight ran forward and, pick
ing him up. started for the rear. carry.
ing his ipsensible body.
The Kid, who was leaning against
the tree bandaging his shattered left
arm. looked up as they passed him.
"Why, it's Billr' he cried. "Say,
pardner, where's he hit? Is 1t bad?"
"In the head; don't know" answer
cd the stranger.
"Poor old Billr' said the boy. with
quivering lips "Oh, amt this war a
horrible businessi / don't want any
more Of their d--d fghting"
He had stood the pain Of his own
wound without whimper, but the sight
Of his friends bloody face was too
much for overwrought nerves He broks
down and eobbed like child.
''Brace up. Kid. Perhaps 1t aint -
bad as It looks" said the stranger.
"Oh, that's all right for you to say, "
answered the boy. .What is it to you'll
But he was my pardner. and care
something about Il"
The arms Of the stranger gripped biz
burden convulGvely. He turned . sav-
ego faoe upon the boy.
'.shut up. you foolr' be aid. tbsa
aAded In . different voice: "Give ne