The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-01-03
MY SUBSTITUTE.

ways regarded him as such. A notice was
tackled up at the foot of the steps leading
to the little hall in Kingston. The crook
ed characters, laboriously formed, pro-
claimed to the world that a company would
be organized on certain night. Without
any intention whatever of being present at
the meeting strolled to the village that
evening and mechanically assembled the
steps, not that had any intention of en-
in the world. Kate and 1
had been married but three months,
and knew it would break her heart if 1
left her then. And, besides, my profession
required my constant attention. If things
had been SO 1 could have left, l would
have been among the first to put down my
name-I guess l would. Still, impelled
by some marvellous fascination, wander
ed in. My old friend Troutman, fellow
whom had tolerated with a sort of pat
ronizing Indifference, was making Wig
orous speech, and the listeners howled ap-
proval at everything he said, though, good
ness knows, it was dull enough and vio-
lated every rule of oratory. But suppose
to their untutored ears it sounded very
fine. At its conclusion Troutman invited
every one who wanted to join the company
to come forw and sign the roll. A
rush was made to the front. ] started to
go out when that chump of Troutman
announced that one more man was need
ed. He waited, and noticed several
glanced at me. 1 looked over in corner,
and my eyes rested on Jack Hastley. He,
too was gazing at me with a slight look
of contempt, thought. With a curious
glance at me he walked to the register,
took up the pen and completed the list by
signing his name. l met him outside,
drew him in a corner and handed him $50.
He took it and thanked me with a little
more feeling than 1 thought one of his
breeding could exhibit Then 1 noticed
that he wasn't such bad looking fellow
after ALL He had broad forehead, clear
cut mouth and nose, dark, intelligent
eyes, and then he had a resolute air about
him that made you think he was some
thing of a man, even if he was a pauper.
After that came the Santiago fight, and
some of the Kingston volunteers got hurt
l was sitting in my study, and my
thoughts involuntarily reverted to "my
SUBJ" 1t was warm night, and all the
windows were up. don't know how he
got in, there was no noise of the door open
ing, but when 1 wheeled my chair to the
desk saw seated opposite me the subject
VI lily lutulbtbiOlf. was SOul6-
what astonished, but welcomed him as
courteously as l could under the circum-
stances He gazed wearily around the
room. His complexion was a curious mix
ture of pallor and sunburn. His face was
much thinner than when I had seen it
last, and he had the appearance of one who
had been about starved to death. His eyes
roved constantly, but they lacked luster
and intelligence. 1 told him 1 was glad
to see him and asked how the boys were.
He jumped all preliminary movements
and began describing the attack on San
Juan and Ell Caney heights. His voice
sounded strangely unfamiliar, but 1 at
tributed it to his rough experience.
''It won't do to say those Spaniards
can't shoot" he went on, because as
we went up the air was as full of bullets
as bees around hive. had never been
under fire before, and I believe would
have gone back if it hadn't been for the
brave fellows around me. We rushed on,
tore down those damnable barb wire
fences, and 1 began thinking we would
soon be at the top and give a rousine
cheer for the American flag when was
struck, think, by six Mauser bullets
One passed directly through my heart"
/ jumped out of the chair and exclaim
ed: ''What on earth do you meanp You
must be mistaken, Jack. How in the
| mischief did you recover SO soon?"
"Oh, didn't recover he said coolly
81 am there YETI 1 shivered and moved
| away from him. Then he went on
"That's what came to sec you about
Will. You're about the only man I've
| any claim on, and want you to do me
| favor"
Then noticed the sunken condition O
the eyes and that his lips never moved
while he was talking.
He abruptly asked:
| "Wheres Kate?"
| / flushed at the familiar method of re
ferring to my wife, and coldly told him
supposed she had retired.
He looked disappointed and said, as i
in hurry to change the subject:
| What want, Will, is this: They hav
got me planted on the side of one of thos
| clay hills down there along with a lot O
| the bravest boys in the world, but l wan
| to come home. That hill will wash ava.
in short time, and 1 don't want m.
| bones mixed up with the trash that will
| go down the gully. 1 want you to g
down there and hunt me up and bring m
| north. There is a photographic the
haven't torn my clothing off-fastened t
the shirt. You will know who it is. AM
then there is great tear on the left arm
from the hand clear up to the elbow. Tha
was made by the barbed wire. There ar
two bullet holes through the left leg, on
through the right shoulder, one near th
right knee and one through the head
There may be others that struck after tn
last one was fired.
| 81 want to be laid alongside Siste
Grace''-his voice shook through the thi
lips-"and then some one may some tim
come out there to the little cemetery an
put a flower or two over us. l knoN
mother will, and hope some one else.
have had hard life, Will, and a fe'
months before l went to the war passe
through one of those experiences that sta
with man. You know what l meaI
She was very kind, and 1 loved the yer
! air she breathed. OF course she was wa
! above me. She married, and I-well,
died. No, I'll not tell you who she is, bJ
1 want to be where she can come if she
a-mind. / almost fancy that l could fe
those footsteps near me. Will you do th
for me, Will? l know it's asking lot
. you to make that long trip, but remen
|, ber you couldn't have got out of 1t thi
. night if hadn't taken your place.
And as 1 made him the solemn promi
: to faithfully execute his wish glad sml
!. ! stole over his face, and he glided from tt
!, room
r l told Kate the next day that Jack Has
q ley had been killed at Santiago, and th
9 l intended to go south, recover his boo
b and bring it home for interment in OF
= = ! town cemetery. / expected nothing ell
e but a storm of protests, ending in ut
y weeping But there was nothing of Il
!, !, SORT At first she turned deadly pale al
j sank in chair. Then she arose al