Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-01-12
FL cANEY'S ROMANCE.
BY FRANCIS KIr1BALL.

Burden returned the mems salute
mechanically. The presence of John
Hardey filled him with conflicting
emotions. He had fed from Washing
ton hoping to drown in the excitement
of an aggressive campaign the sorrow
which this man had brought upon
him. Had it not been for Hardey-
he clinched his hands until the nails
bit into the flesh. "What now?" an
evil spirit whispered. "He is in your
power; you may order him whittier
you will, even to death by Spanish
bullets; none will know of it, for the
Cuban bush tells no tales
The colonel wondered at the pale
ness upon the face of the young Off
Ger as he passed from the tent into
the darkness beyond. Could he be
afraid? He dismissed the thought
with laugh. Captain Burden had
come to the -th with the highest rec
concentrations from the secretary of
war.
Out beyond the shelter of the camp,
Burden led his men straight into the
thick, prickly brush. At times he
could almost feel Hardey's breath upon
his face and hear the voice whispering
in his ear: ''To the left, to the left!
He will reach the Spaniards sooner
there.
Far up the height dozen tiny lights
glimmered in the darkness-th Span
ish torches about the blockhouse of
Ell Caney. To the left the faint ring
of steel told the three Americans that
the enemy's sentinels were wide
awake, ready to fire blindly in the
darkness. Captain Burden paused
'Private Hardey," said he, so husk-
lily he scarce recognized his own voice,
''move cautiously to the left. keeping
well in the shadow of the bush; the
corporal and will detour to the right,
approaching the slope further on"
Hardey's hands came to quick
salute. Every good, sir" replied he,
steadily, though he must have known
he ran against the very muzzles of
Spanish rifles. Then, wheeling about.
he disappeared in the tangled thicket.
Captain Burden paused irresolutely,
white to the very lips. ''Come!" said
he sharply, ''to the right, corporal"
A myriad of insects buzzel about
their faces, the pests of the Cuban
chapparal. The corporal fumed and
brushed them off, but his companion
scarce noticed them; his ears were
strained to catch the shots from the
slope of Ell Caney, the fusilade which
would send him back to Washington.
A minute passed five ten; it
seemed as many hours. The heat and
blackness of the brush stihed the
Americans, the sharp thorns tore their
clothes and lacerated their bodies.
Corporal Joyce lamented the fate
which had sent him to Cuba. Captain
Burden moved forward as one bereft of
feeling. He had become machine,
thing devoid of sense and feeling,
human sounding board waiting to
catch rife crack from Ell Caney.
Suddenly the buzz of insects, the
crunching of the dry leaves and twigs
under the feet of the moving men,
the noise made by the passage of
their bodies through the brush were
drowned by the echoing report of
Mauser rife; then another, third
and fourth and fifth. Corporal Joyce
unconsciousIy clutched his officers
arm. "Godr' he whispered, "they've
riddled him, an braver fellow never
wore sabre"
Captain Burden staggered as though
the bullets from the Mausers had
pierced his body. A cry sounded in
the stiffness following the echo of the
shots; an appeal for help, and the voice
was Hardey's.
For an instant Burden wavered,
then, before the corporal could restrain
him, dashed through the matted chap
paral to the slope of Ell Caney, upon
whose summit danced hundred
| Spanish torches awakened into life by
the fire of the sentinels.
With Joyce painting at his heels, he
pushed forward, drawing his revolver
as he ran and shouting aloud to Har-
dey to answer him, that he might
gain the private's side in the dark
ness.
Breaking through the bush, he came
upon an open space unsheltered from
the Spanish guns above, to stumble
over Hardey, who, resting on one ell
low. was keeping off five whiteclothed
figures with his revolver.
Perhaps the Spaniards feared an
attack from the entire American army.
At sight of Burden and the corporal
they wavered, forgetting the Mausers
in their hands, that they were five to
three with one of the latter sorely
crippled.
Corporal" said Burden, sharply,
noting with quick perception the con-
fusion of the Spaniards, ''to the rear
with Private Hardey. I will cover