The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-11-15
MOTIVES.

struggle still left its impress on them.
A twitching Of the lips or a nervous
starting of a limb showed the after
effects of the strain. They were volun-
teers, who had picked each other out
for the stanoh, 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 a warning
that the next to go may be oneself
the man is reduced to elementary prin-
I ciples David cleaves to Jonathan with
his whole soul and asks no reason why.
So it was with these two. Their
hearts spoke directly to each other.
The black Cuban night formed fit
ting surrounding for condolences. A
man liked to reach out hand and find
that friend was near. 1t was so dark,
so empty of God and hope, such a fit
ting prelude to the frowniDg morrow
At last the younger broke the silence.
"By gosh, Billy, you showed up
we'll today'' said he. "You went up
that hill like a man who wasn't afraid
to live or die. 1 tell you was proud of
you. +"
"Shucksp' answered the other
"You did the same. .
Yes, | know, but my reason WASH t
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 l want
ed, " he went ON in shamefaced way,
"to have the girls point me out when
got home-you know, Amt he hero?'
and that kind of thing. Tain very
noble, is it? l don't suppose you'll
think much of me after that, but some
how | felt had to tell it. :"
The elder man smiled into the dark
ness-an exceeding bitter and mirthIess
smile.
what do you suppose 1 came down
here forf'' he asked
L don't suppose anything about it
| know" answered the other stoutiy.
Haven't | been with you every day
since you fished me out of the surf?
And you've never kicked nor grumbled,
no matter what came up You're here
because you believe in it, and you need
not say anything different just to com
fort me- -
Listen, said the other, laying a
hand on his arm and bringing his
mouth close to the lads ear I'm 60
ing to tell you something, Kid-some-
thing l certainly never expected to tell
anybody. But may get it tomorrow,
and feel that must speak. Don't say
word until I've finished and then see
if you want to take my hand.
My boy, came down here to kill a
man in our regiment.
He felt the start the other gave, but
went on without a change of voice. "I'd
been watching my chance for month +;
then ] heard that he enlisted, and /
joined. Now, the first time he gets near
me and nobody's looking I'm going to
shoot him through the heart-right-
Misunderstanding black-heart .
GOOD Godr' said the other GOOD
God AlmightyP'
cts the TRUTH continued the elder
in the same quiet voice. II picked the
scoundrel out of the gutter and tried to
make man of him-took him right
into my home, and that was the worst
days job l ever did, for it didn't stay
my home long. My wife-my wife
well, l had no wife after that. don't
know what to think. She seemed a good
girl-as true wife as man ever had
before-for ars-but-well, Kid, the
reason charged up the hill today was
to show myself that l wouldn't be
afraid to meet him face to face I'd
have killed him openly before, but that
would have brought the whole story
out, and the buns on the corner at
home could laugh and joke about
about my wife. "
The silence fell black around them.
At last the younger spoke.
"I'm only kid, Bill, and | don't
quite understand these things / don't
know anything about them, but do
know that you re square man. 1t seems
awful to me, but there's my hand just
the same. .
The other CROPPED for it and squeezed
it heartily. A tingling came to his eyes.
The boys sympathy was very sweet to
his sore heart.
Il have always been square man,
and this job goes against me, he went
on. 81 wish there was some other way
nut of it.
80 Lord, SO do I'' groaned the boy.
"Ain't there anything, Bill?''
Nothing. suppose if we both get
back it will be the same old misery all
over again. | suppose if could talk
about it to-to-my wife-perhaps it
might make some difference-5ut /
can't speak. The words stick in my
throat. -
perhaps he'll get killed."
'Not on your life. His sort never do
No, mol There's nothing for it 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
lead by piece of shell in the early
/ art 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 insensible 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 it bad?'
''In the head; don't know, answer
ed the stranger.
"Poor old Bill'' said the boy, with
quivering lips. "Oh, amt this war
horrible businessl 1 don't want any
more of their ID fghtingp
He had stood the pain of his own
wound without a whimper, but the sight
of his friends bloody face was too
much fo1 overwrought nerves He broke
down and sobbed like child.
"Brace up, Kid. Perhaps it amt as
bad as it looks, said the stranger.
ooh, that's all right for you to say, "
answered the boy What is it to you?
But he was my pardner, and care
something about it. -
The arms of the stranger gripped his
burden convulsively.. He turned saw
age face upon the boy.
"Shut up, you fool'' he said, then
added in a different voice: "Give me a
lift with your good arm, will you? l
feel kinder sick
The Kid took his friends feet under
his arm, while the stranger supported
the shoulders.
So they staggered on until they came
to the field hospital
There they laid the wounded man
down with all possible tenderness. The
Kid went to hasten surgeon.
AS Bill touched the earth his eyes
opened, vacantly at first, but with grad
ually increasing intelligence, fury gath
ering in them the while, until they
bent upon the stranger with absolute