Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-08-30

she right arm, and presently he was
wounded in the left. Then his day Of
battle was cone. and the black hours of
Inconsistencies followed
When reason returned the sounds of
battle had ceased. and he wondered
where his comrades were. Were they
all dead Would they search for him ?
He was alive. but be knew that death
would come in few short hours. How
hot the sun beat down, How still ev-
eIything seemed to him-no whizzing
of bullets in the air nor shrek Of
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 CHASTITY
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 ne have 70 lie III
the tall grass until the morrow He
could not tell. And then the dark cloud
again settled Ger his senses and il was
hours before the light came into his
soul
Deaths door is a mirror and the dy-
ing have good memories. When con
sciousness returned the boys mind
went back to his 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 10 the front He had letter in his
pocket from home-he would read it
again. But alas he could not reach
his pocket-both arms were disabled
and in the inky darkness he could not
see.
How long since had be left home :
Three months, only three months, And
now he lay dying in his young man
hood. He remembered the morning THAI
he left his home. The birds were sing
Ing and nature was at her best. The
fields We're clothed in green and the
brook softly murmured over the pebbles
~ the bottom. He had douued his new
uniform. and he felt a little sharp pang
as be left his home. He remembered i
all very we'll
"Goodby, Bill. ne had said to his
brother. Take good care Of mother.
Look out for Spanish bullets and
bring back machete. said Bill
IN off. mother e
"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 10 hid 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 tht
town blue eyed, fair haired girl stood
at the gate. Are you really going I,
fight the Spanish Johnr'
Yes, Helen. and l have come TO sa,
gOodby. There was then a hasty kiss
warm pressure Of hands, and thus h
left home
Everything was 80 hushed and darl
now. Was the whole world dead VIII,
was he lying helpless here. How had /
happened? Then he remembered-th,
furious charge across the open field, III
the hin 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 10 him. L
was a terrible shock. II seemed 10 lf
him from his feet and double him NJ
,
ful journey To the rear. two more bulle
wounds, and then Inconsistencies.
Now he was dying in the darkness
How strange it all was That dead Gu
ban-how black he looked and how hi
eyes glared There was tiny hole il
his forehead where life had leape,
through. Some one was crying for wa
ter. Was il himselfg He could not tell
The night was getting cold, and tn
heavy dew made the tall grass soggy
There were no stars To watch him
Would nobody help him? Hark Tha
was his dog bowling. and how loud i
was
How weak and dizzy he felt
"Goodby Bill.
He could not see Everything wa
growing dim.
Farewell, mother Helen
And the deep, dank grass waved ,
weeping requiem to another brav,
young soul.-Detroit Free Press