The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-10-19
ONLY A PRIVATE.

trees in which had hastily been
thrown up arude breastwork of sand
and stone; cloud of savages sur
sounding the earthwork, in which
was the great overland stsge-it
was scene calculated to excite fear
and sympathy. There were women
in that beleaguered fort as we'll as
men, and their pale faces, parched
lips and dry, fearless eyes evinced
the stony terror caused by the pros
pect of certain death.
A dozen troopers under the COM
mand of Lieutenant Marks had been
sent to guard the stagecoach. When
they found themselves confronted
by such overwhelming odds, they
hastened to the grove we have men,
toned and hastily threw up the
earthwork behind which the SOL
diers and passengers were defend
ing themselves. The face of Lieu
tenant Marks was almost as pale as
marble, and he had long since ceased
to give orders, for it was now a
pitched battle, in which every man
was his own commander.
Two soldiers and three passengers
were already down. Many redskins
had bitten the dust, but the over
whelming numbers of 'savages about
the earthworks made it evident that
the brave defenders were doomed
Prominent among the troopers
was tall, young man in the uni
form of private soldier There was
look Of calrs discrimination on his
face, and whatever others may have
done he wasted no shots that day.
Every time his rifle cracked a red
skin fell. Though he exposed him.
self more to Indian bullets than any
of the others, he seemed to hold a
charmed life. for not shot touched
him.
This private was only "a years Of
age, with a handsome face, dark
eyes and black mustache. His name
was George Stone, and it was whis-
pered that he was a graduate Of
Princeton. How he came to be a
private soldier in the regular army
is story OF sufficient interest to
tell even in the midst of battle,
especially as it had some bearing
on The conflict. he and Lieutenant
David Marks had been schoolboys
together, and both were competitors
for the appointment at West Point.
Marks, though inferior to Stone in
every respect, having the strongest
political pull, succeeded, and George
went to Princeton.
George graduated about the same
time that his successful rival came
from West Point with commission
as second lieutenant of cavalry. He
happened to be near the town in
which the regiment Of his rival
was quartered This renewed the
jealousy of her companion. Then
Miss Mary Sommers came to
the city. She was going to her
sister in Montana the coming sum-
mer, and as Marks regiment had
been ordered to that part Of the
country he hoped to meet her
again, especially as he had fallen
desperately in love with her. For
the second time his rival was his
schoolboy friend, George Stone,
who seemed to be more successful
than he had been before. Marks had
no political pull in love affairs and
began to look about for some means
to conquer again.
The plan he fell upon was the
most nefarious that can be oon-
ceived. One day he and some other
officers and friends enticed George
into saloon, and during the after
noon induced him to drink 80 much
champagne that he became utterly
unconscious of his acts and sur
roundings.
While he was in that state a re-
cruiting officer who was presens in
duced him to enlist in the regular
army as private, and he was as
signed to the company to which
Lieutenant Marks belonged.
When Stone recovered conscious
ness and realized what he had done,
he resolved never to drink another
drop of Intoxicating liquor. He was
angry and filed with modification.
Friends came to his relief and Of
fered to purchase his discharge, but
he declined their kindness and de-
termined to serve.
Marks, who had been his constant
associate, of course cut his acquaint-
ance, and George was compelled to
mess and associate with the common
soldier. The common soldier is not
always an educated man. He is
sometimes rude, uncouth and gross
1y immoral. Stone was quiet, silent
and more like a convict than a
trooper. He gave strict attention to
orders and studied military tactics
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