The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-09-06

wiihering blast OF mauser bullets
swept across the open ground, and tho
boy who now lay dying In tho open
space In the tall grass fell forward
with ball In his thigh. A comrndo
ran 10 hi, assistance and he made his
way painfully 10 the rear, but M he
passed along another Spanish bullet
struck him In the right arm aud pro-
sently hc wna wounded in tho left.
Then his day OF battle was done, and
the black hours of unconsciousness
followed.
When reason returned the sounds of
battle had ccnacd, aud ho wondered
whore his comrades were. Woro thoy
all dcadp Would they search for him2
He was alive. but ho knew that death
would come in n few short hours. How
hot the sun bent down. How atill
everything seemed 10 him--no whizz.
ing of bullets In the mir, nor shrek Of
screaming shell, nor the ydll of chnrg-
ing troops nothing but tho silence of
mn ocean of q nss. There was n.
dead Cuban lying nj his feot-n ghnst.
ly bunch Of mortality How big aud
black ho wasl Ilis oycs were Rtnring
mt him like balls Of glnssl What were
thoy staring nj him for2 The night
wns coming ON npnco would he have
morrow lIo could not toll. And
then tho dark cloud ngnin settled ocr
his senses aud II was hours before tho
light came into his soul.
| Deaths door is u mirror and tho
dying have good memories. when
consciousness returned tho boys mind
went back To his home. lIe wondered
II all was we'll on tho old farm, whero
ho and his mother and brother had
lived in peace until tho war with Spain
called him TO tho front lIc had
letter in his pocket from homo-ho
would read II again. hut, alnsi ho
could not reach his pocket. arms
were disabled and in tho inky dark
ness he could not see.
How long since hnd no left home2
| Three monthRl only throo monthsl
And now he lay dying in his young
manhood. lIo remembered the morn
ing that he left his home The birds
were singing and nature was at her
best. The fields we're clothed in green
and tho brooks softly murmurcd over
the pebbles nj tho bottom. Ho had
| donned his new uniform, and he felt
n little sharp pang ns he left his home.
Ho remembered IL all very well.
"Good.bye, BILL" hc had said to
his brother. Take good care Of
mother"
Look out for Spanish bullets aud
bring back n mnchete," said Bill.
''pm of, mother
"Good.byc, my son. Be brave and
serve your country like man" Then
sho embraced aud kissed him and the
parting was over.
The old house cat rubbed againat
him and purrod as il TO bid him God
speed. His faithful old dog followed
him down the lane, but with stern
words his master drove him bnck. At
the edge of the town a abluo-cyed, fair
haired girl stood at tho gate. "Aro
you really going to fight the Spanish,
john"
Eyes, Helen, and / have come to
say good-by." There was hnsty
kiss, n warm pressure Of hands, aud
thus he left his home.
Everything was 80 hushod aud dark
now Was the whole world dead?
Why was ho lying helpless here? How
had IL happened? Then he remem-
borod 80 the furious charge across tho
open field, up the hill and over tho
crest in the faco of rain Of Spanish
bullets. The air hummed and
whistled. From tho trenches and
blockhouses the mausors spit ut them.
Then the blow came to him. IL was
n terrible shock. IL seemed to lit him
from his feet and double him up and
pitch him forward. Then the painful
journey to the rear, two more bullet
wounds, and then unconsciousness.
Now he was dying in the darkness.
How strange it all was. That dead
Cuban n-how black he looked, and how
his eyes glared There was tiny
hole in his forehead where life had
leaped through. Someone was crying
for water Was it himself? He could
not tell. The night was getting cold
and the heavy dew made the tall grass
soggy. There were no stars to watch
him. Would nobody help him? Hark!
That was his dog bowling, and how
loud it was!
How weak and dizzy he felt.
Goodbye, Bill"
He could not SEQ. Everything was
growing dim.
Farewell, motherp' "Helen-"
And the deep, dark grass waved
weeping requiem to another bravo
young soul. Detroit Free Press.