The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-10-19
MOTIVES.

MOTIVE Els.
After the first days fighting at San
tiago two men, lying side by side, tried
vainly to sleep. Tho nightmare of the
struggle still left its impress on them.
A twitohing of the lips or nervous
starting Of n limb showed the after
effects of the strain. They were volun-
teers, who had picked each other out
for tho 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 she'll whisper warning
that the next to 60 may be oneself
the man IL reduced to elementary prin-
ciples. David Cleayes 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.
80 empty of God and hope, such fit
ting prelude to tho frowning morrow
At last tho younger broke the silence.
"By gosh. Billy, you showed up
well today y said he. You went up
that hill like man who wasn't afraid
to live or die. | tell you | was proud of
you.
"Shuclsl" answered tho other.
"You did tho same. -
Eyes, | know, but my reason WASH I
quito the same, Pm afraid. To tell you
the plain truth, old man, l only came
into this business to get my name up,
l wouldn't give you cents hundred
for Cubans, let alone my life. want
ed, he went on in shamefaeed way,
Ito have the girls point mo out when
got home-you know, Amt he heroY
and that kind of thing. 'Tain't very
noble, is it2 | don't suppose you'll
think much of me after that, but some
how 1 felt had to tell it, 2"
Tho elder man smiled into the dark
ness--an exceeding bitter and mirthless
smile.
What do you suppose came down
here fort" no asked.
Il don't suppose anything about it
i know" answered the other stoutly.
Haven't l been with you every day
since you fished mo out of tho surf
And you've never kicked nor grumbled,
no matter what came up. You're hore
because you believe in it. and you need
not say anything different just to com
fort mo.
Listen, said the other, laying a
hand ON his arm and bringing his
mouth close to the lad's ear. "I'm go
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
"A word until Two finished and then see
If you want to take my hand.
My boy, / came down here to kill
man in our regiment. 4"
He felt tho start tho other gave, but
went on without change Of voice. "Id
been watching my chance for month
then | heard that no enlisted, and /
joined. Now, the first time he gets near
mo and nobody's looking I'm going to
shoot him through tho heart-right-
Observation-Disclosures blaok-heart "
GOOD Godp' said the other Good
God Almighty
Its the truth" continued the elder
in the same quiet voice. Il picked the
scoundrel out of the gutter and tried to
make man of him--tool him right
into my home, and that was tho worst
days job | ever did for it didn't stay
my home long. My wife-my wife
well, | had no wife after that. don't
know what to think. She seemed a good
Birl--as true wife as IA man ever had
before--for years-but-well, Kid, the
reason charged up the hill today was
to show myself that j 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. F"
The silence fell black around them.
At last tho younger spoke.
"Im only a 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.
II have always been square man.
and this job goes against me" no went
on. IL wish there was some other way
out Of 1t. +"
80 Lord. so do I p groaned the boy.
"Ain't there anything, Billi"
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 II
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 it but for
me to take tho law In my own hands.
Good night. Kid I'm going to sleep"
The next day Bill was struck on tho
head by piece Of shell in the early
part Of the engagement.
A man who had hitherto kept care