The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-15

iut NC WelCoIle. Tie restrained IL TlslH6
sob as he realized that he could not
say goodbye to the one of all the world
ne loved the most. He had often in his
minds eye folded her to his arms on
just such an occasion, for he had often
thought he would be among the first to
respond in time Of need He recalled
the admiration in her eyes when he had
declared his patriotism and had sworn
to do or die Il war should come. He
relinquished the little dream now with
a pang of regret. Then again a wave
of bitterness sWamped his reason. Sen
| timent disappeared. He felt a mali
cious satisfaction in the thought that
he was going to war without word to
her. What great changes had day
brought forth!
| He felt quite himself now and busted
himself about the recruiting office all
! day, pausing long enough to write
long letter to his distant mother, APP
prising her of the step he had taken.
| He Wrote no line calculated to let her
know of the life he had led. She believed
him prosperous. He preferred that she
continue to think so. If he should be
killed in battle he would leave her no
sorrowful memories save that occa-
stoned by his death. If he should be
spared-please God he would be a diff
| ferent man.
The streets were alive with excited
| thousands when the regiment moved
away. Wild cheers rent the air, flags
We're flying, drums We're beating and
men and women frantically waved their
handkerehiefs and hats to the brave
boys in blue as they moved along the
thoroughfare with measured tread.
A halt was taken at the public square
to permit mothers, sisters, sweethearts
and wives to take leave of their loved
ones. Warwck's eyes filled with tears
as one after another of his comrades
responded to some loving salutation,
and he realized how utterly uneventful
was his going away.
He was almost sorry he had enlisted
1t meant no honor to him. Who was
there to accord him honor, who cared
what became of him? What glory was
there in being shot down like dog if
there was none to weep over him Like
every other man his patriotism tagged
in the absence Of fulsome recognition.
1t is the way Of the world.
Standing there alone, leaning bitterly
on his musket, his eye suddenly rested
on a white, tlmid, anguished face that
gaZed at him wistfully from afar in the
crowd. His heart almost stood still, 1t
was she. Tears stood in her eyes and
brought the blood back to his heart
with a mighty rush. The tears were
for him. He knew it. She did care
after all. She seemed trying to reach
him through the throng. The crush
was great and her progress necessarily
slow, but coming she was, slowly but
surely. Invountarily he stepped for
ward to meet her, his face glowing with
happiness. Impatiently he threw aside
the human obstacles between them. His
heart was beating like a trip hammer.
His one thought now was to reach her
side and press those little lips once
more-this time in a long and probably
fateful farewell.
The distance was gradually diminish
ing, they We're almost within speaking
when suddenly on the air rang out:
"Atten-shun. Company! Right Shout
der arms. Forward march!
A great movement in the waiting
lHTtHSS anu lllC ldCG lduCb IIOlii VIZ"
as the regiment marched on
The battle was raging fiercely all
along the line. The enemy had twice
been driven from their defenses, hut
were fighting like demons as they re-
treated inch by inch. They were better
trained in war than their adversaries,
and the belching fire from their long
lines swept fearful havoc through the
ranks of the Americans.
Warwick saw men falling by the
dozens on every side Of him and Won
dered why he survived that awful hail !
of lead. He wondered too, why he was
not frightened He had been too cow
ardly to leap into the river, but now,
with hideous death in every form on
every hand, he hinched not and obeyed |
the orders dimly heard through the
battles din with a calmness that |
amazed him.
He was firing and loading his piece
like a steady bit of mechanism. But |
now a succession of fierce charges up |
the hill awakened every nerve. He !
shouted in very glee as with every dis
charge from his company death |
crashed in the enemys ranks. He was
like man walking on air. The ex-
citement thrilled him through and |
through Now, as the enemy gave way /
in front and precipitately fled, his
nerves battled with each other and he
felt he must entirely lose control Of
them--not through fear, for it were folly
to fear anything in that fearful storm
of destruction. But he felt an citation
that was strange to him.
AS the firing ceased for time he sud
denly became quite calm again. Even
at that dread hour his thoughts went
back to her What would she think
could she see him now? He smiled
grimly at the thought, then, remember
ing her pale, anxious face as he last
had gazed upon it, he grew tender
again.
When the news of the great battle
reached her would she accord him a
little of the lost regard-would she feel
for his danger, and yet What if she
could see him now" cried his ever
changing thought. What of it? He
was doing no more than thousands of
others. There was no distinguishing
bravery in what he was doing. Every
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