Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-08-26

Of them lay dead or desperately
wounded by the time the firing had
ceased. Gaspard was sick Mt heart as
he marched past those grooming or ST.
lent bodies; his comrades cheered and
laughed, but il had come home to him
with appalling directness that he was
O murderer
As night approached the women
came from the country outside and
tried to carry of the bodies of their
men, wailing out their death chants
with an awful, piteous monotony that
depressed the most exuberant of the
marines. Fascinated, yet Mortified,
Gaspard watched their 1.-THE dark
forms as they tore their hair and flung
their arms above their heads in ges-
lures Of wild grief and wept over
their dead. One of the women, who
was crouched beside the body OF hne
young warrior, turned upon Gaspard
as he passed and spat at him, uttering
words which from her manner of de-
livefing them, seemed TO be curses.
Gaspard looked at the woman; he
met the full gaze Of her eyes of ha-
tired, OF savage agony and savage love,
and he flung down his rifle with
clatter and marched on.
Private Meudon, what means thisp"
shouted Sergeant Croix. $50, pick
up your riael"
IT shall not use It again, sergeant.
Look at that woman!'
"What have the black cattle to do
with your You have done your duty;
it is enough. Pick up your rife!'
Gaspard strobe on and never an
swered, and SO the sergeant picked mp
the rife himself and reported Private
Meudon. to the lieutenant, and the
culprit was sent for.
"Do you know what you OBSERVER"
asked Lieutenant Vallon, who was
kindly man, although severe disci-
plinarian, and who had no wish to be
severe with man who had fought his
first battle CALAMITY.
Gaspard was silent.
death is the punishment" haz-
arded the lieutenant. He had no exact
knowledge Of, what the punishment
was for such unprecedented behavior.
Clearly, however, Gaspard had been
guilty Of disobe dience of orders while
in an enemy's country.
Gaspard was unmoved. It was evil
dent to the officer that this man was
no coward, and to he tried to reason
with him.
''You must have had some motive
for throwing away your rifle. Come,
out with it, my lad"
II have killed men," The words
came out slowly,reluctantly, and Lieu
tenant Vallon laughed outright at the
answer.
Sand what do you suppose your
rifle was given to you, for? To light
fire with, eh?"
"They are murdered Their wives
and children are broken-hearted /
know it!'
''You know nothing, you fool!
These black pigs do not value your
life so much as you value your cigar.
If you hadn't killed them they'd have
killed you."
"Then 1 would have died without
being murderer. In taking the lives
of men I have lost my own soul"
"Poufl I'll absolve you, mon en-
fant!"
''It is impossible, lieutenantw
''What?"--the officer was angry at
the mans obstinacy now. "What?
Speak to your officer like thatl Here,
sergeant, put this imbecile under ar
rest We haven't any cells, but do
your best to make him feel what a
fool he is"
The sergeant grinned intelligently
and marched the prisoner off to hut
and placed guard at the door. The
hut was filthy and the air foul, but
there Gaspard had to remain, thirsty
and restless and silent, until the guard
was relieved, and then he asked for
water.
"Sergeant's orders are that you are
TO have none until you recover your
senses, comrade. Come, be man."
was the sentinels reply.
II am mani" Gaspard said proud-
ly, and he waited without complaint
until morning, when the sergeant
fetched him and marched him to the
lieutenant.
swell, prisoner, are you going to
do your duty9" asked the officer.
II cannot kill" was the hoarse re-
ply, and the swollen tongue and the
cracked purple lips told what agony of
thirst the man had endured.
Every WELL" said the lieutenant,
edo with him as you suggest, SER
geant."
Prisoner! Right about face!
March!" cried the sergeant, and, Joined
by the guard at the door, they marched