The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-08
His Country's Flag,

matters?"
War cried the hunchback. who
with? What for?"
"Reckoned as much" returned the other
with a complacent chuckle. set right
down in the store, Sandy, and read yer
papers. You'll find EN- real eye-openers.
Hold on ii, the stage comes in and get
| the latest news"
The hunchback hesitated, then turned
! and entered the darkening store. To his
relief ii was deserted by the usual fire.
| quenters; neither lazy Jim Green, the man
! in politics; nor Smouse. the Socialist of
the hills was there. He strobe TO where
/ the western light filtered through dingy
pane and there read on, absorbed, breath
/ less. For him no waiting day by day for
! keen developm from the
! sinking of the Maine to the call for vol
| unteers, marched events TO the inevitable
| end.
! The evening loafers, unheeded. dropped
/ in by twos and threes. l0unged on the nall
! kegs near the door, and waited their sole
touch of contact with the outside world
! the stage from Las Pelitas. SPRAYING on
the counter was the man in politics, per-
son of Importance in the village. His
voice, raised IN lazy scorn, broke in upon
! the hunchback's reverie.
Fight. Not if I know it, I've been
waiting for ten years to get my hand into
the county treasury. It's in now, and
don't take 1t out for no war"
Bursts of obsequious laughter follow
ed His hand in this same treasury
was worth a dollar day to many
hanger-on.
Might as well CO." said another voice.
''Nothin' else to do-dry year an no
threshin.''
NO" Smouse shouted, turning his
fa sneaker
flor there amt nothin' in it! Look at me.
I'm not goin' to be shot for S13 month.
I've never worked for less than two and
half day. I'd rather starve on acorns
first"
Begun already, amt yer? Times pretty
bad in the Brush Hills, eh?"
I'D kinder like to 60" drawled Jim
Green, the village Hercules, diverting at
tention from the angry Smouse, "but the
folks won't Jet me. My mommer says 1
amt big enough"
For shamer cried the hoarse voice OF
the hunchback; ''for shame to loaf a your
mothers apron strings, when those'-he
pointed to the papers strewn upon the
f1oor-"when these call on you to fight"
Fight echoed Jim, what for? 1
amt goin' to be shot for a lot of dirty
Cubans Worse'n greaser's anyway"
For your flag, for yoIr country-your
country, right or wrong. If 1 had your
strength if I'-he broke off with NUT
tered curse.
"Whv don't you enlist, Humpy?" said
the man in politics, with an airy wink at
his constituents "Quit chopin wood;
you can't make nothin', now it's dollar
a cord and board yourself. Never mind
your shape your arms as strong as an
others, an you can holler Remember the
Mainer with the best of 'em. Here's the
stage, boys. Quick"
In the stampede which followed Sandy
Hartog mounted Nell and rode home
through the gathering dust. On. past the
fields of dried-out grain, past the Brush
Hills. laden with chemisal; through them
and beyond, to where La Panza Mountain
scared upward to the eastern sky. Half
way up the precipitous slope perched the
cabin on nole-a solitary spot, fit abode
for a lonely, morbid man.
Not morbid now. The pent-up misery or
childish years, the adventurous longings
of his youth, the bitterness of a manhood
forswearing woman's love or homely joys
all had vanished in the gathering dusk.
At last he felt man. Chara cteristic of
change in the dreamer, he fell to making
plans considering ways and means. Nell
must go.
Il wouldn't sell you, old girl" he NUT
tered, mot for lapfull of sparkling gold
twenties, but you can't go with me, and
I couldn't turn you loose to starve. One
shot and it's over For our country and
our flag"
He put his arm around her neck in mute
farewell; a shot rang out upon the still
night air; Neli's half starved life was over.
Unlocking the clumsy cabin door, glancing
hastily around to see that all was well, he
made for the fartherest corner of the
y i1N lou
concealed the spare savings of years
enough, he quickly calculated, to take him
from Las Pelitas to the recruiting station,
200 miles away.
Closing the door behind him, Hartog
stepped out into the fragrant night. He
avoided Vaquero Water, plunged into the
unfrequented by1paths of the brush, and,
with the north star for his guide. struck
into the country road, some six miles
nearer Las Pelitas. All night he stamp
ed faint he felt and weary, when toward
dawn. the cool breeze stirred among the
oak leaves He still pushed on resoIutely
turning away his thoughts from that
clearing on the mountain where Nell lay
in the starlight, with her face turned to-
ward the sky.
Next day he reached his goal; stammer-
ingly. in short. broken sentences, he set
forth his errand. Kindly they listened,
viewed with compassion the misshapen
body the haggard face. the deep-set eyes.
brilliant with q feverish light-kindIy. still
ignoring his deformity, refused him on the
score Of heart disease.
The hunchback thanked them, and.
slowly turning left the room. What now
of the future? Return to Vaquero Water.
be a butt for the clumsy wit of the VIII
lage store, live without Neil? Never, One
bright ray of hope had illumined mis- lonely
life: TO darkness he could no more return.
Near by an organ droned out patriotic
airs; a heavy dray lurched in the road
way. He crossed the street abruptly,
staggered. fell. Dimly he saw the crowd
surge round him; his country's antfrcm
family sounded in his ear.
Remember the Maine" he whispered
feebiy. the flag Of our country. Nell
And the stage bore the news 10 Vaquero
Water.
Whoever thought the fool would have
done it?" irritably cried the man in poll
tics. He ought to have known we was
only joshin' him"
He was a fool" said Smouse; 1913 a
month want worth 1t. Short his horse.
too
But six-foot Jim slipped out into the
darkness. The hunchback was man"
he muttered, and IL was the fool. -
Edith Al.endale in the Argouaut
|
Kept Breakfast Waiting
An incident took place at the Battle OF
Mobile Bay when breakfast was kept
waiting for the close OF hosulities- Rear
Admiral James E Jouett OF MontEona-