Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-12-15

and the line of American boys swept for
ward, first very slowly, then, gaining mo-
mentum, increasing the speed until it was a
mad rush, and every man on his metal to
reach the hospital first. Shots were pop
ping from it, men were falling, Lands went
down and others, but the rush never
stopped.
But the maddest of all sights was John
Sloan, hatless, far beyond his own line, run.
ming like a hare for the hospital, gun well up
but never firing a shot. Officers yelled in
astonishment as he ran by them, privates
envying him his gait, shouted in encourage
ment. He was a stimulant to the entire
line-this coward from the Juanita country.
He was in front of the walled church now,
eager to fight his way in. Men were yelling
on all sides of him, and there was the snap
of flames in the thatch Suddenly the earth
seemed to slip away from him, his head
whirled, he threw up his arms, and went
down, wounded. Sloan had given his blood
in atonement for his cowardice, and no man
can do more than that. When his senses
returned to him he was in the field hospital,
and his left shoulder done up in bandages.
There he remained until March, receiving
from home many kind letters, but none SO
dear as the one which ran like this:
II know all about what you did; every
body is talking of your bravery; if you were
here l would tell you, John, what think of
you; do, do come home. MARY CARR"
ButJohn Sloan was yet to fight at Malolos,
to cross Filipino river under fire with
Funston, the men swimming side by side, to
be with the Utah battery, the Thirteenth
Minnesota, the men from Oregon and Ne
braska, and when Malolos was taken he
was to fall in the middle of its main streets,
shot again as he held the colors high for the
cheer of his comrades. 1t was then he was
taken back to Manila as Sergt. Sloan, of the
Tenth, and nursed until such strength came
back as enabled him to return to the dear
old railroad folder and with pencil and paper
this time map out the long journey home
from the Golden Gate over the Union Pa
cifc and the North Western to the Juanita
country.
The Tenth came into Manila to relieve the
Fifty-frst Iowa at Cavite, and there to it
came the glad news that it was ordered home
and would go as soon as the transport was
ready. The gallant regiment had been SO
days on the firing line, and made wonderful
record for bravery. The latter part of june
the men went on board ship, and late in July
reached San Francisco, bringing into ths
Golden Gate the body of Col. Hawkins, who
had died en- route.
1ue OulOu anu NOIIu- w tSsSIh
brought them over the Sierras, through the
Rockies, across the plains of the Platte and
safely to Chicago. A little later they were
in Pittsburgh, where royal greeting awaited
them. But Sloan could not wait for this,
and hastened to the home of Mary Carr.
John was at the foot of small hill, when,
looking up the path to the summit, he saw
her coming. For a moment she did not see
him, but paused to gathera flower by the way.
Then he walked up toward her, one hand
outstretched. Now she recognized him, and
there was flame in the hazel eyes, and flame
on the soft cheeks, and the quick, heart Civ
ing cry of:
"Johnl"
He was by her side now, the white hand
of the maiden caught in the brown of the
soldier.
81 have come" he said, all the old fears
gone, "a long way-to tell you that l am no
longer afraid-I have done my duty" This
with touch of pride. 81 was often troubled;
1 did many things l ought not to have done,
but | have conquered myself. Mary, Mary,
I want you."
For no hero Of war or of peace can there
be greater reward than the love of pure
woman. The emolumeuts of governments
or the rewards bestowed by patriotic citi-
zens sink into significance beside the giving
to man of good woman's heart. There
came nesting into the hand of John Sloan
not one white hand but two, and the face OF
Mary Carr was lifted to his and her lips
| given to him.
Then she turned back with him, and the
two, thus united after sore trial, walked
| their happy way up to the old farm and the
old folks waiting there. Much had Sloan to
tell, much to go over and over again-his
fighting, his wounds, his myriad experiences
in Malayland-but which he had told all he
would that night, he brought out the faded
North Western folder, and he tossed it into
the lap of Mary Carr, with the words:
THAT was a living link with home to ua
in the field and at Manila-keep it forever:
it did much to save me for YOU"
And, being a woman, she asked him why,
and in time he told her this story.
Note.-Upon receipt of six cents in post
age stamps, this complete story, in book
form, handsomely illustrated, will be mailed
to any address by w. B. Kniskern, % Fifth
Avenue, Chicago.