Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-11-01

pardner, where's he hitl Is it bad?''
In the head; don't know" answer
ed the stranger.
Poor old Billr' said the boy, with
quivering lips. ooh, amt this war a
horrible businessi I don't want any
more of their d-d aghtingF'
He had stood the pain of his own
wound without a whimper, but the sight
OF his friends bloody face was too
much for oyerwrought nerves. He broke
down and sobbed like child.
Brace up, Kid. Perhaps it amt as
bad as it looks, said the stranger.
''Oh, that's all right for you to say, -
answered the boy. ''What is it to you?
But he was my pardner, and I care
something about it. "
The arms of the stranger gripped his
burden convulsively. He turned saw
age face upon the boy.
"Shut up, you fooli'' he said. then
added in a different voice: "Give me a
lift with your good arm, will you? I
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
ferocity.
The other gazed steadily at him.
"You here, you black hearted dog!"
at last said Bill between his teeth. 'If
could raise hand, I'd kill youp
"Will you listen to me a minute?n
answered the other. ''I only ask you
for little time, and every word shall
be the Gods truth"
A weakness swept across the wounded
man. Life lost its intensity. Henodded
wearily.
"Well, Bill, /" said the stranger in a
halting, abrupt fashion, "I was bad
lot-there amt any doubt of it-and
that my feelings toward Sally We're
wrong 1 amt going to deny, but don't
be too hard ON the girl. 1t was all my
fault. 1 led her along so quiet and easy
94Gg 644O O4Oh 6u6kJ6Cb 4lOs LudU 6nO
didn't understand right away is true,
too; but, Bill, we're all human, and
you know had the trick of pleasing
women. AS God is my witness, Bill, it
didn't go as far as you think. Then,
and when she understood fully, she
wouldn't let me SO much as touch her
hand. Still she felt, poor little soul,
that she was to blame in the matter,
and she worked and talked to me to
show me what an awful thing we'd
done. She brought up how good you d
been to both of us until saw-I saw.
'Then enlisted right away-that's g
the reason I came down hereto SEQ if
1 couldn't get out of it all in decent
sort of way, for am sick of myself
dead sick. And, Bill, I'll never go back
II feel it in my bones, but even if 1
should couldn' t trouble you any more,
for the girl gave it up of her own free
will, which amt a little thing on this
earth, where none of us is angels. I
might change again-I know it-I new
er was either good or bad long at time
but Sally is different kind. You'll
never have cause to doubt her again,
that's sure.
The wounded man looked at him with
sad eyes.
lyon always were liar" he said
simply.
"That's SO; that's SO, - assented the
other eagerly. "But not this time, Bill.
1 wish could tell with my dying
breath, then you couldn't help but be-
lieve me. -
The words had hardly left his mouth
when there was ripping sound in the
bush, instantly followed by q Eharp
"thwuck. A piece Of cloth Ieaped from
the strangers breast. A fountain of
blood spurted after it.
His eyes were filed with wonder. He
stood erect-so-for fraction of time;
then the muscles gave way, and he
came crashing to earth. A second later
he raised himseh upon his elbow, strug-
Cling with the hurry and confusion Of
his mind. He fixed his dimming eyes
upon his enemy, gasping:
"I'm gone, Bill-all true-so help
me-God Forgive"-
And he was dead.
Bill covered his eyes with his hands.
The vengeance which we gloat over
looks horrible when worked by other
hands. The bitterness left his soul, and
a great pity took its place.
"Oh, Lord" he prayed, "send me
back to my little girll''-C Criterion.