The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

Yes, she retorted. without weighing
her words, and he defined IL as one who
IS afraid of God, and man. and for his
own skin"
Her teeth closed on her tongue as she
SAID the last word. for Colonel Jemmett
arose and shook himself. Il see that my
call mas been an intrusion on you; | shall
, not repeat the indiscretion. Goodbye"
Good-bye! she repeated mechanically.
and touched the ball. She felt powerless
TO detain him. but looked wistfully at the
door when it had closed behind him.
Ten days later she had a letter from
him bearing the Southampton postmark
Il am leaving for the Tirah.' he said, ito
command a brigade. If | had done what
you wished in the Black Mountains
should have risked the lives of 5000 men,
women, and children. l was afraid 10 do
this. Perhaps IN this new business l may
be able to present the Duty Soldier in a
better light-at least, in one which yc-
can see
After all, he can be irouical." the
widow said and wondered IL he could
escape retirement. She thought she might
write to him.
Colonel local major generaD Jemmett
received the widows letter the morning
OF the day his brigade was to attack the
enemy's position. II was the first battle
in which he found himself his own COM
mander, and such time is not the best
for reading a neutrality-suspicious. a he
loved woman's-letter. He was a duty
soldier. and though the touch of it burned
his fingers. he put it in his left breast
pocket unopened
II was good. he thought. to have her
writing next his heart: but he almost re-
preached himself for thinking about it at
all. Things were not going so we'll Ia this
campaign that any man could AFFORD con-
sideration of his private affairs. One by
name Winter he who commanded the lri-
gade at the other side OF the big hill yon-
der, by thinking OF his chances of winning
a C. B.. had sacrificed the better part of a
battery of ill-spared artillery. If Jemmett
were to follow his example the welfare of
n thriving district would be jeopardized.
As it was, he would have to make head
against very superior force il Winters
disaster were TO be retrieved. His second
in command had observed to him that
Winters imprudence was good. inasmuch
as he. Jemmett, would be sure Of c..
b. now If he could counterfeit the effects
OF 1t.
In reply. Jemmett did what he seldom
did; he snubbed the second in command,
who went away and laughed at him, and
then damned an id-de-camp up hill and
down dale for doing the same.
The enemy had brought two of the folr
captured guns into action against Jem-
nett. and the second in command was for
opening the fight in the orthodox way by
knocking these of their carriages with
round or two; but Jemmett would not
hear of it. NO no." said he; I'VE must
have these back intact. Tell Captain
Maxwell to burst the shells behind and
around them. so as to clear away tho sup
porting infantry; but We must take our
chance Of bit Of basting from them IN
til we get near enough to pot the gunners-
They're firing very slowly. they're rang
ing badly, they're not setting the fuses
properly. and they have only one limber's
supply
The second in command was linesman,
and when one of the hostile shells. the
first which did happen to burst properly.
carried off bugler and six men, a growi
escaped about waste of life.
Jemmett. who saw with half an eye that
things were going as he wished them,
leaned from his saddle to pat his subordi-
nate on the shoulder My friend" said
he. ''it may be inhuman, but l should not
call it waste of life, though twenty more
and myself we're TO go, il we win the day
and get back those guns while man as
good as you remains to take my place
Il beg your pardon. general" said the
second in command; but | wish you get
do your work, however pleased should be
to try
And just then another fragment OF shell
the last the enemy fired that day
pumped against Jemmett's knee and
brought his charger down with broken
back. Jemmett fell on his head.
You know what to do said Jemn
10 the second in command. as he re ,0yesy
an hour later from the stunnin.. let x
his fall.
1T has been done" answered the ST cond
in command The Rifles have cleared the
ridge, we've got the guns safe and sound.
and the guides are chiyying the beggars
down the valley.
That's AL" declared the colonel. Ard
how long have to Iive?" he asked.
Bless my soul. How should 1 know"
returned the other. Twenty years, TWEEN
ty-iive. anything up 10 a hundred and
fifty. Long enough to bury the brigade,
anyhow
What's happened to me? 1 thought I
felt my leg GO
Yes. a chunk OF it went. I'm afraid
you'll limp bit. old chap
You mean it must come OFF,
NO. it's not SO bad as that-it only
wants absolute rest-and there's the c.
B.. don't you know"
I'm too old to care about that, but
suppose they'll retire me now
Make you field marshal. more likely"
said the second in command.
Then Jemmett dictated a ten-line ac-
count of the action to the second in COM
mand. and when the latter had departed
to send it off. and to attend to his proper
work. bethought himself of the widows
letter
1t was very long for the widow. and it
made .Jemmett forget the limp on one side
and the c. b. on the other. 1t ended with
the words: Give me a definition of a
duty soldier to take the place of the stupid
cynicism he taught me.
Jemmett put the letter into the en-
velope and the envelope back into his
pocket and, his heart full of pride, tried
to think out the desired definition.
His cogitations were broken by the re-
entrance of the second in command just a
trife furried That ass Winter has been
at it again." he said. He photographs
down that he's in the deuce of a mess,
and you can get him out OF it."
What does he WANT" asked Jemmett,
taken aback.
He says he's surrounded. and can't cut
a way through without big loss
Jemmett was wee bit angry. ITS
shame" said he. My men must be dog
tired | hardly know what to do
Il know what | should do" snapped the
second in command.
What would you do?' the general en-
quired.
Let him go to the devil his own way"
You forget yourself said Jemmett-
That's not business. We must do what
We can to help him.
If you send one man you must send
the lot" said the second in command.
And you lose the fruit of your victory"
Better that. returned Jemmett, than