The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1900-06-07
THE MAKING OF A HERO

were tCO Intent on the grim WoTh Dc-
fore them, so, in the hail of lead,
when Private Cory dropped to the
ground it was generally understood
that bullet had knocked him over.
Such, however, was not the case, as
the ambulance corps following in the
rear soon discovered. He had merely
tainted from fright.
The doctor turned over the shiver-
ing bit of humanity to look for the
wound, found none and smiled. Cases
Of this kind were not unknown to
him. "Poor fellow" he murmured.
let him remain with the rest"
"No, he is not hurt at ALL" he said
to one Of his assistants. Ills wound
will come afterwards, when he recov-
ers from that faint, and God help him
then. There IL no bullet wound that
will give him the agony that Is before
him"
"Shall I throw bucket Of water
over him, sir?" asked a man with
blood-stained bandage around his head,
but sufficient Of his face left uncov-
cred to show his intense disgust at
his comrade.
mo, you must not disturb him."
was the curt answer, and he turned to
give His attention to the burdens
which the stretcners were now quick
ly depositing in the improvised hos
pital.
"Poor lad" he mused, as he bent
over his work, II must give him
word Of encouragement when he
comes round"
But when, later on, Private Cory
staggered to his feet. the kindly doc
tor was too busy to notice him. He
looked wonderingly round the tent.
Then the remembrance of what he
had done seemed to rise up and strike
him full in the face. He sank down
again with choking sob. He clutched
the earth with his hands, as men do
| when struck down in battle with
mortal wound. 1t was a burning hot
day-the wounded were suffering ter
ribly from the intense heat-but he
shivered with cold. Outside the shells
were screaming, while now and again
came the subdued but harsh growl Of
the smaller arms. 1t seemed as II
tuOuSdhu NOlCSS "CIC db
and reproaching him for his coward
ice. Then human voice joined in
the wild orchestra.
You bloomin' cur. Call yourself
man?"
It was the stern sergeant of his
company, who had been brought in
wounded in three places before he had
given up. His face was gray with the
pain he was enduring, but he must
needs give vent to his disgust at such
pusillanimity. A contemptuous smile
played about his bloodless lips.
II call it gettin' money under false
pretenses. You're clothed and stuffed
| with the best o. everything tie coun.
| try can send out, includin' briar
pipe and baccy and then yer go and
-Pah!" and he broke off. II couldn't
hev believed it o any man in the
whole bloomin' company"
He stopped because the pain of his
wounds became too great. and he bit
hard the piece of Cavendish he had
in his mouth to stif1e groan, but
other men took up the cue.
No agony of the battlefield could
equal what Private Cory was now en-
during. ne quivered as If acted upon
by some powerful electric current, but
he made no answer to their taunts,
and continued to lie with his face
turned to the ground He tried to
reconstruct the wreck of his man
hood but his brain was still in
whirl and those shrieking shells out
side still seemed to be telling the
world that he was miserable cow
ard.
| A man was handing round some
broth. He had been hours without
food, and the savory odor caused
craving hunger to take possession of
him. A pannikin full was being
passed, from which men took drink,
their expectant comrades looking on
with eager, wistful eyes. Cory raised
his head. hoping his turn had come,
but he was Immediately greeted with
a storm Of curses that caused him to
drop 1t again. Fool that he was to
expect it. He might have known.
At that moment the doctor came
up.
| 1lNc SOTy sOlno VI tudU SCup 1loiu
up, my lad" he said, not unkindly;
"you may make a soldier yet. Drink
this" and he handed him the tin yes
sell
HE is broth of boy" shouted
man. and this poor joke was greeted
with laughter even by those who
knew that they had but q few hours
to live.
Cory sat up. The soup seemed to
put life into him, and he ceased to
shiver. He was barely out of his
teens, but his face, in its ashy gray
ness. looked more like that Of man
who had passed bis prime.
"Feelin' bit better nowY began
the sergeant
! "Hsurua for u ss soon ss he's