The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-04-10

bearded. We had faced hidden fire and
had stood unhinchingly by the side of
falling comrades. 1t was the night be-
fore the onslaught of FL Caney. Many
of our messmates had fallen. Allan was
in command of a battalion. We had
poncho and a blanket between us.
lay down, but Allan walked slowly back
and forth near me, his hands clasped be-
hind, his face turned upward toward
those glittering stars that shine with
such brilliancy in the southern sky.
Then he turned and looked toward his
sleeping men. Finally he sat beside
me and peered into my face.
you're not asleep2" he whispered.
stretched forth my hand and be
clasped it for a minute. sandy" he
said, and his voice, usually so calm and
matter-of-fact, quiyered, 81 have re-
ceived my summons from Heaven.
shall be shot tomorrow"
/ lifted myself on my elbow.
'Don'ti" exclaimed.
"There is one thing that I wish to
speak of to you tonight" He FUN
bled inside the breast of his blouse. L
gazed at him wondering and with slow
horror creeping through my veins. How
many true soldiers and brave men had
received notice the night beforeI He
brought forth small package wrapped
in tissue paper and unfolded it. 1t con-
tanned photograph, four letters and
a tiny Testament. He silently handed
me the first, and, leaning forward,
struck match so that / could see it the
better. The Pickering light disclosed
the face of beautiful woman-a wom-
an whom knew.
'We are engaged" he said, simply.
] looked at him, astonished. Despite
our intimacy, this was the first time he
had spoken of it. He read my glance.
ut has been too sacred to speak of,
even to you. 1 have not been able tic
realize this voice faltered-"but
now want you to send them to her
if fall"
He replaced the packet within his
| blouse.
at only happened the night before
left" he explained. 81 had not dared
to dream of it before. hope-I hope
that she will not remain unmarried
I bnc was OOIu " DC udPPgs LIE dot
not mar her life-tell her So"
grasped his hand in mine, and then
! he lay down beside me and turned his
boyish face once more to the twinkling
stars. Though we neither of US slept
we lay silent on that Cuban hillside till
the dawn of day.
How calm he was, and forgetful of all
save duty, as he received his orders and
formed his men for that bloody charged
We found him at night after the guns
were still and the rattle of the mus
kerry had ceased, lying on his back
where he had fallen, the cold starlight
bathing his still, upturned face. He
clutched his breast with his left hand,
his right, grasping his sword, was out
stretched, straight. 1 removed the
package. 1t was blood-staned-a bull
let had passed through it.
The fever took hold of me, and, heart
sick and footsore, crawled down to
Siboney and boarded the first return
ing transport. At the post Office on
shore-composed of tent and attend
ed by a government official, who, poor
fellow, died soon of the yellow fever
I found some letters and carried them
on board ship with me to enjoy The
treat of reading them at leisure, and
then 1 noticed that one was addressed
in the same handwriting as that of the
letters to Allan Clave, written by the
woman to whom he was engaged. said
that knew her-that explains it. The
letter had been forwarded to me from
Tampa, and this is what it said:
New York. June 10. 1S9S-Dear Cousir
Andrew: AS usual. have gotten mysei
into horrible mess and turn to you to hell
me out. You remember last spring I Wis
tied an army post, where the til infan
try were stationed? had a desperate fir
tation with an awfully dear fellow named
Lieut.. Allan Clave. The regiment was or
dered to the front. He was fearfully II
earnest, and l suppose ] was carried ava,
by the excitement and glory-at any rate
you know that I am impressionable. Blu
you know, too, that cannot keep that sor
of thing up long-dont blame me, l can
help it. it's the way I'm made. have trie,
to write him regularly at Tampa, and hi
letters--well. it's got to be stopped, for hi
sake Now, thought you might be abb
to see him, and perhaps you could explain
l simply can't write. Paint me jet black /
it will do any good. only do it. and shall b
everastingly grateful. Tell him that it wa
all foolish mistake. L"
dropped the letter as if it had stun,
me. / was almost alone on the aftel
deck of the transport. We were slowl,
working our way along the Cubal
coast. / took Allan's blood-staine,
packet from the inner pocket of M,
coat and slowly unrolled it. L looked
at the photograph minute. then strucl
; a match and lit it and the letters, in
GLIDING the one that I had just beer
reading-one by one, and let them con
sumo in my hand till but fragment re
manned, when threw them out into tn
swirling wake of the ship, where for
moment they made fiery trail will
which the copper rays of the settin.
| sun mingled, and then they disappeare,
| forever.
"She was born to be happy. this mus
: not mar her Ife--tell her sol" whis
, pered to myself. And then, Thank Go,
, he is deadi"
, The little Testament with the cleal
hole bored through ii still have.-Les
lies Popular Monthly.