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

lhk MIN up staIltu ior tue rear, carry
Ing his insensble body
The Kid, who was leaning against
the tree bandaging his shattered left
arm, looked up as they passed him.
"Why it's Bill" he cried. "Say,
pardner, where's no hit? Is 1t bad?"
I'm tho head; don't know, answer.
ed the stranger.
Poor old Billl' said tho boy, with
quiyering lips. ooh. Amt this war u
horrible business l don't want any
moro of their d---d tighting"
He had stood tho pain of his own
wound without awhimper, but the sight
of his friends bloody face was too
much foi overwrought nerves He broke
down and sobbed like child.
Brace up. Kid, Perhaps it amt rs
bad rs it looks, " said tho stranger.
"Oh, that's all right for you to say"
answered tho boy "What is it to you?
But he was my pardner and eare
something about it. "
The arms of tho stranger gripped his
burden conyulsively. He turned saw
age face upon the boy.
Shut up you fooll" he said then
added i'll II different voice: "Giive mo u
lift with your good arm, will your |
feel kinder sick "
The Kid took his friends feet under
his arm, while the stranger supported
the shoulders.
So they staggered en- until they camo
to the field hospital
There they laid tho wounded man
down with all possible tenderness. The
Kid went to haston Il surgeon.
AS Bill touched the earth his eyes
opened, yacantly Mt first, but with grad
ually increasing intelligence, fury gath
ering in them tho while, until they
bent upon tho stranger with absolute
feroeity.
Tho other gazed stoadily Mt him.
"You hero, you black hearted dog I"
Mt last said Bill between his teeth. III
| could raise n hand, I'd kill you'll"
"Will you listen TO mo minute?n
answered tho other q | only ask you
for little time, and every word shall
be tho Gods truth. "
A weakness swept across tho wounded
man. Life lost its intensity. Henodded
YEARLY
well. Bill. said tho stranger in II
hating. abrupt fashion, 81 was II bad
lot--there amt any doubt Of it--and
that my feelings toward Sally were
wrong | ain t going to deny, but don t
be too hard ON tho girl. 1t WAS oil my
fault. led her along so quiet and easy
that she didn't suspect me. That she
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. 1t
didn't go as far as you think, Thon,
and when sho understood fully, sho
wouldn't let mo so much rs touch her
hand. Still she felt. poor littlo soul,
that she was to blame in tho matter,
and she worked and talked to mo to
show mo what an awful thing we'd
done. She brought up how good you'd
been to both Of us until saw saw.
Then | enlisted right away--that'f
tho reason l camo down hereto SEQ il
couldn't get out of it all In decent
sort Of way, for nm sick of myself
dead sick And, Bill, I'll never go back
Il feel 1t In my bones, but even if
should couldn't trouble you any more,
for the girl gave it up of her own FREQ
will, which amt little thing on this
earth, where mono Of us is angels, |
might change again. know i'll nov
er was either good or bad long at timo
but Sally il different kind. You'll
never havo cause To doubt her again,
that's sure
Tho wounded man looked at him with
sad eyes
"You always We're liar" he said
simply.
"Thnt's so; that's so, " as6onted tho
other eagerly. but not this time. Bill
l wish | could tell with my dying
breath, then you couldn't help but be-.
lieve me.
Tho words had hardly left his mouth
when there was a ripping sound III tho
bush, instantly followed by sharp
"thwuok. F." A piece of cloth leaped from
the strangers breast A fountain Of
blood spurted after it.
His eyes were filed with wonder. He
stood ereet-so-for n fraction Of time
then tho muscles gave way, and he
came crashing to earth. A second later
no raised himself upon his elbow, strug
Cling with tho hurry and confusion of
his mind. He fixed his dimming eyes
upon his enemy, gasping;
I'm gone, Bill--all true--so help
me--Godl Forgivo"--
And no was dead.
Bill covered his eyes with his hands.
The vengeance which wo gloat over
looks horrible when worked by other
hands. The bitterness left his soul, and
u great pity took its place.
"Oh, Lord, he prayed. "send me
back to my little girll'-Criterion.