Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-14


the shade of friendly tree. As boys
they had played together, and together
at school they grappled with syntaX
juggled with fractions and whole num-
bers, merging one in the other, reas-
sorting them, turning them end for
end, etc. Together they tackled every
study till graduation and came Shout
der to shoulder through that. AS part
ners in business they were solving the
problem of living, when the call came
for troops, and together they went
south. And now their comradeship was
inseparably cemented in the midst of
known dangers, and in the presence of
an enemy of untried strength.
Hot, isn't it?" said Jim Morgan, the
older of the two
"Hellations," was the lacOnic reply
of his friend, Fred Vincent.
Morgan slowly closed his left eye,
and, looking at Vincent over his nose
with the other, remarked:
when / was a boy I was so thor
oughly taught by example, precept and
a supple switch that ipprecations and
their substitutes were alike ungentle
manly that now | would give a civil
answer if it broke three ribs. I'll try
you again. I referred to the weather
Hot, is it not?"
Vincent removed his pipe and almost
succeeded in making the word dim
milton" ride out of his mouth on the
tail OF a spittle, muttering afterwards:
Makes a fellow wish he could sit in
his bones"
"Incorrigible," said Morgan. You're
q case Of total depravity. Give me a
match. BY the way, did you get a
letter from home, sweet home in Kan
sas by the last mail?"
mo; for the simple reason I've no
ties there. That is best When a man
shoulders a rife and faces the GER
tainties and uncertainties of war, it is
best not to be trammeled with them
They blur his eyes and make his trig-
ger finger unsteady. Best to leave no
heart-broken wife at home, no young
sters to keep the sore raw by perpetual
inquiries for their soldier daddy. And
in accordance with my belief, I'm unin-
numbered save with my share of the
accOutrements and munitions of war"
But the knitted brows, the COM
pressed lips, the sigh disguised with
cough showed clearly that his creed
was not giving satisfaction; and Nor
gan correctly construed it to mean that
his heart was in rebellion against his
tongue. However, he remarked:
delicious sentiment. I suppose the
rule would apply with equal force to
the fortunes of business life, eh?"
In my case, precisely" returned
Vincent.
Say" answered his comrade, 81
know you better than that You're
talking merely to enjoy your smoke. |
wouldn't be a fool if | were YOU
Clearly understood" was the cool
response "Well defined distinction,
and, not being me, you can't help being
one. You have my sympathy, Jimmie"
Jimmie threw his hat at him. He
caught it, and with accommodating po-
likeness remodeled it as nearly as pos
sible into a Fedora, and returned it,
remarking that it was a slouchy argu-
ment to use.
Thanks" said Morgan. Go on
with your celestial moralizing. What
next?"
Well" answered Vincent, I'm
heart free, and so free from heart
ache!" again the frown)
What neXt?" persisted Morgan.
That" as a bugle sounded the order
to fall in line; and away they marched
to what?
An hour later as the troop, led by
our two friends, filed by twos into a
wood which was filled with a dense I'M
dergrowth, a deafening crash of mus
kerry from the front and obliquely
from both hanks stunned the column.
Before they could recover, another
volley emphasized the demoralizing eff
feet of the first. The unexpected had
happened. Nothing so tests the cour-
age and stability of raw troops as to
be ambushed and shot down like game.
To have lead belched into them from
somewhere when their thoughts are
two thousand miles from their rifles is
to be stunned; to be stunned is to be
rendered momentarily helpless. This
is usually followed by panic and dis
aster, unless averted by special inter
yention of Providence, or the pluck of
another body of troops
The troop stood paralyzed for a mo-
ment, then instinctively sought safety
to the rear.
The crisis was passed and the tide OF
battle turned in few minutes, but in
just such minutes men have lived life
times and looked beneath the surface
of their fellows.
At the first volley Morgan fell
pierced through the left leg, and badly
scalped Just as quickly Vincent, un-
hurt, dropped on his face beside him
and crammed a cartridge into the
chamber of his rife. When the wound
cd soldier saw him manipulating the
weapon beside him he said hoarsely:
GO to the rear, Fred go to the
rear!"
Lie still, Jimmie" he answered
'Krag-Jorgensen has the floor
Don't shoot" whispered Morgan
anxiously. ct would draw their fire
and that would be death to us both"
Just then Vincent WINGED. His com
rade noticed that and said as his fac
grew several shades paler:
My God! you're hit
Nothing serious. Disturbed an abb
bodied louise on my shoulder-that'
ALL"
And he smiled grimly.
Fred" said Morgan in a feeble
husky voice, why don't you go to tn