Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-12-14

equation. We had lived as the Wild
beasts. Our faces were bronzed and
bearded. We had faced hidden fire and
had stood unflinchingly by the side OF
falling Comrades. 1t was the night be-
fore the onslaught of FL Caney. Many
of our messmates had fallen. Allan was
in command of q battalion. We had
poncho and. a blanket between US. I
lay down, but Allan walked slowly back
and forth near me, his hands clasped be-
hind, lis face turned upward toward
those glittering stars that shine with
such brilliancy in the southern sky.
Then he turned and looked toward his
sleeping men. Finally he sat beside
me and peered into my face.
''You're not asleep?" he whispered.
I stretched forth my hand and he
clasped it for a minute. ANDY he
said, and his voice, usually so calm and
matter-of-fact, quivered, II have re-
ceived my summons from Heaven. I
shall be shot tomorrow"
= I lifted myself on my elbow.
sDont!" exclaimed.
there is one thing that ] wish to
speak Of to you tonight" He fun
bled inside the breast of his blouse. I
gazed at him wondering and with slow
horror creeping through my veins. How
many true soldiers and brave men had
received notice the night before! He
brought forth a small package wrapped
in tissue paper and unfolded it. It con-
tanned photograph, four letters and
a tiny Testament. He silently handed
me the first, and, leaning forward,
struck d match so that could see 1.-THE
better. The Pickering light disclosed
the face of a beautiful woman-a wom-
an whom knew.
- 'We are engaged" he said, simply.
looked at him, astonished. Despite
our intimacy, this was the first time he
had spoken of it. He read my glance.
t'It has been too sacred to speak of,
even to you. have not been able to
realize this. voice faltered-'sbut
now I want you to send them to her
if fall"
He replaced the packet within his
blouse. Y t
at only happened the'night before
left" he explained. II had not dared
to dream of it before. I hope-I hope
that she will not remain unmarried
she was born to be happy. This must
not mar her life-tell, her sos
grasped his hand in mine, and then
he lay down beside me and turned his
boyish face once more to the twinkling
stars. Though we neither of us slept,
we lay silent on that Cuban hillside till
the dawn of day.
How calm he was. and forgetful of all
save duty, as he received his orders and
formed his men for that bloody charge!
We found him at night after the guns
were still and the rattle of the mus
kerry had ceased, lying on his back
where he had fallen, the cold starlight
bathing his still, upturned face. He
clutched his breast with his left hand,
his right, grasping his sword, was out
stretched, straight. removed the
package. It was blood-stained-a bull
let had passed through it.
The fever took hold of me, and, heart
sick and footsore, I crawled down to
Siboney and boarded the first return
ing transport. At the post office On
shore-composed of tent and attend
ed by a government official, who, poor
fellow, died soon of the yellow fever
found some letters and carried them
on board ship with me to enjoy the
treat of reading them at leisure, and
then I noticed that one was addressed
in the same handwriting as that of the
letters to Allan Clave, written by the
woman to whom he was engaged. I said
that I knew her-that explains it. The
letter had been forwarded to me from
Tampa, and this is what it said:
New York, June 10. 1s98-Dear Cousin
Andrew: AS usual, have gotten myself
into horrible mess and turn to you to help
me out. You remember last spring Wis
tied an army post, where the til infan-
try were stationed? had desperate fir
tatton with an awfully dear fellow named
Lieut.. Allan Clave. The regiment was or
| dered to the front. He was fearfully IN
earnest, and suppose was carried away
by the excitement and glory-at any rate,
you know that I am impressionab.e. But
you know. too. that cannot keep that sort
OF thing up long-don't blame me, can't
help 1t. It's the way I'm made. Ihave tried
to write him regularly at Tampa, and his
letters-well. it's got to be stopped, for his
sake. Now, thought you might be able
to see him. and perhaps you could explain.
simply can't write. Paint me jet black If
1t will do any good, only do 1t. and shall be
everlastingly grateful. Tell him that It was
all a foolish mistake. T."
dropped the letter as if it had stung
me. I was almost alone on the after
deck of the transport. We were slowly
working our way along the Cuban
coast. I took Allan's blood-stained
packet from the inner pocket of my
coat and slowly unrolled it. I looked
at the photograph minute, then struck
match and Lit it and the letters, in
GLIDING the one that I had just been
reading-one by one, and let them con-
sumo in my hand till but fragment re-
manned, when threw them out into the
swirling wake of the slip, where for a
moment they made a fiery trail with
which the copper rays of the setting
sun mingled, and then they disappeared
forever.
"she was born to be happy, this must
not mar her ife-tell her SOL" whis-
pered to myself. And then, s'Thank God
he is dead!"