Connecticut western news., 1900-08-09

@-s9-.9-f9-sSs-9-s-39-s4.s-3.s-3 Have I ever killed n manT"
 Of a sudden, as he lay dozing on his bed In camp one day, Private Rollins asked this question of himself. He had been in battle and skirmish. He had fired away his 40 rounds and fired to kill, but as he began to recall all his battles he could not remember that he had ever had an enemy so near and so fairly before him that his bullet had surely done the work. There were few soldiers who boasted of taking life. There were sharpshooters who had brought down a dozen men, but they never talked about 1t. Men were pro- noted for desperate fighting, which sometimes meant killing single handed, but they were proud only of the pro- motion. It was curious question Private Rollins asked of himself, and 1t led to strange results. He was not a bloodthirsty man, and yet as he lay thinking the idea came to him that he had not done himself justice as sol dier. He had not killed a man. When the war was over and he had returned home, he would be asked the question. His friends and neighbors wouldn't be satisfied with his record of battles, but would sweep 1t aside and say:
 ''Yes; we know you were in five or six battles and that you fired hundreds of bullets at the enemy, but can you truthfully say you ever brought a man downY'
 He couldn't say 1t, and he felt that he would lose caste. This feeling brought a sudden resolve. It was a resolve that startled him at first, but the more he thought of 1t the more de- termined he was to carry 1t out. He would kill a man; he would do 1t next time he went on picket. There were no orders against firing. It was by tacit agreement among the pickets that they refrained. If he brought one of the enemy down, he would not be re- proved even if not praised. He would not boast of the kill to his comrades, but when he reached home and farm CTS and their wives and sons sat lis tening to his stories of war he could answer the question they would be | sure to put, and answer In the affirm ative. It was a fortnight before Pri- vate Rollins was detailed for picket duty. He was not impatient. He was willing that time should pass, but when the opportunity came be would | kill man. He never wavered in this | resolution.
 '"This is your post, Hollins," said the | corporal as he left him one afternoon | at the edge of a wood under a large oak. We don't know exactly where the enemy's picket is, but it's some where around that log house. How ever, if you don't Se,ct too fresh and go to walking around In the open he won't bother you. There hasn't been a shot fired along here for two weeks. If you go in for roasted acorns, don't make much Of fire.
 1 To-day I shall kill man." said Private Rollins as he was left alone, and he began his preparations at once. At long rifle shot, away across an old cottonfield, was a log house with a | few fruit trees standing about it. One might be sure the farmer was off to war and that wife and children, if they had not abandoned the place, were having a miserable existence. Rollins crept down to the fringe of bushes on his side of the field and peered and watched and waited like an Apache in ambush. For an hour he saw nothing. Then q gaunt, i'll used dog came among the trees and trotted about in the open in sneaking, furtive way. If the dog was there, the house must be inhabit. | n1 To I,,c y,tc sion when he caught sight of figure among the trees. It was between the house and the bushes, where he be. lieyed the enemy's picket was lying It must be the picket on his way to and from the well. Perhaps he had gone to the house to light his pipe or boil his coffee. There was glimpse and 1t was gone. Another glimpse, an. other hiding, and then the figure was fair to view. It was long shot, but pretty fair target, and without ar instants hesitation he drew up his gun and fired. When he looked over the smoke, the figure was gone.
 But I know I hit him, and he's ly ing dead on the grass" said the soldier as he reloaded his gun. Now I car tell them at home that l killed a man Mighty long shot, but I dropped hin for sure"
 The dog was still in the open. Al the shot rang out he looked bacl among the trees. As the echoes diet away he turned his head toward Hd
 lins and howled dismally. A momen
 later and the figure of a young gir
 appeared beside the dog. She wa
 bareheaded, barefooted and not ove 8 years old. Hesitating for only mo
 ment, she began advancing across tn
 field. The smoke from the soldier
 musket had located him. The dog fol
 lowed at her heels, head and tail down
 and with surprise Rollins watched tn
 girls approach. It took her five min
 utes to cross the field. She cam
 straight at him as he stood up anon the bushsa sud when she rsachsd. hlz