Smyrna times., 1899-06-14

y to the rear, but as he passed along
another Spanish bullet struck him in
the right arm, and presently he was
wounded in the left. Then his day Cf
battle was done, and the black hours of
unconsciOusness followed.
When reason returned the sounds of
battle had ceased, ard he wondered
where his comrades were. Were they
all deadY Would they search for him?
He was alive. but he knew that death
would come in few short hours. How
hot the sun heat down How still ev
e1ything seemed to him-no whizzing
Of bullets in the air, nor shrek CT
screaming shell, nor the yell of charg-
ing troops nothing but the silence of
an ocean of grass. There was the dead
Cuban lying at his feet-a ehastly
bunch of mortality. How big and black
he was! His eyes were staring at him
like balls of glass! What were they
staring at him for? The night was com
ing on apace-would he have to lie III
the tall grass until the morrow He
could not tell. And then the dark cloud
again settled Ger his senses and it was
| hours before the light came into his
soul.
Oeath's door is a mirror and the dy
! ing have good memories When con
sciousness returned the boys mind
went back to Eis home He wondered if
! all was well on the old farm, where he
and his mother and brother had lived in
peace until the war with Spain called
him to the front. He had letter III his
pocket from hOme-he would read it
again. But, alasl he could not reach
his pocket both arms were disabled
and in the inky darkness he could not
see.
How long since had he left home :
Three months only three months! And
now he lay dying i'll his young man
hood He remembered the morning that
he left his home. The birds were sing
ing and nature was at her best. The
fields were clothed in green and the
brook softly murmured over the pebbles
at the bottom. He had donned his new
uniform, and he felt little sharp pang
as he left his home. He remembered it
all very well.
"Goodby, Bill, " he had said to his
brother. Take good care of mother. "
Look out for Spanish bullets and
bring back a machete, said Bill.
"I'm off, mother
"Goodby, my SON Be brave and serve
your country like man. Then she
embraced and kissed him. and the part
ing was over.
The old house cat rubbed against him
and purred as if to bid him godspeed.
His faithful old dog followed him down
the lane, but with stern words his mas
ter drove him back. At the edge of the
town blue eyed, fair haired girl stood
at the gate. "Are you really going tC
fight the Spanish, john"
Eyes, Helen, and have come to say
goodby. There was then hasty kiss
a warm pressure of hands and thus hC
left home.
Everything was so hushed and darl
now. Was the whole world dead? Why
was he lying helpless here How had j
happened? Then he remembered-th,
furious charge across the open field nj
the hill and over the crest in the face o
; a rain of Spanish bullets. The air hum
med and whistled. From the trenche
: and blockhouses the Mausers spit "A
them. Then the blow came to him.
: was terrible shock. 1t seemed to lif
him from his feet and double him NJ
t and pitch him forward; then the pain
full journey to the rear, two more bulle
? wounds, and then uncOnsciOusness.
Now he was dying in the darkness
A How strange il all was. That dead Gu
] ban-how black he looked, and how hi
e eyes glared There was tiny hole j
e his forehead where life had leape
e through Some one was crying for wa
ter Was it himself? He could not tel
d The night was getting cold, and tn
b heavy dew made the tall grass soggy
k There were no stars to watch hin
II Would nobody help himr Hark! Tha
0 was his dog bowling, and how loud
wasl
: How weak and dizzy he felt.
: "Goodby. Bill
t He could not see. Everything wa
J. growing dim.
Farewell. mother Helen -
T And the deep, dank grass waved
p weeping requiem to another brav
J. young soul. Detroit Free Press.
Ie Cut and Run.