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

Z TVS She TetOrted. without WEI ghln,
her words, ''and he defined it as one who
rs afraid Of God. and man. and for his
Z own skin"
Her teeth closed on her tongue as she
said the last word. for Colonel Jemmett
arose and shook himself Il see that nv
cdii mas been an intrusion on you: I shall
not repeat the indiscretion Good bye.
Good-bye she repeated mechanically.
ana touched the bell She felt powerless
10 detain him. but looked wistfully at the
I door when 1t had closed tshfnd him.
Ten days later she had letter from
him bearing the Southampton postmark.
4 am leaving for the Tirah. he said. to
1 command a brigade II | had done what
/ you wished 10 the Black Mountains I
should have risked the lives Of 5000 men.
I women. and children. I was afraid TO do
I this. Perhaps in this new business 1 may
/ be able TO present the Duty Soldier in a
better light-at least. in enc which you
| can see"
After all. be can be irouicaI" the
widow said. and wondered II 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 a time is not the best
for reading a woman s-partieularly a he
loved woman's-letter He was a duty
soldier. and though the touch OF il burned
his fingers. he put it in his left breast
pocket unopened.
IL was good he thought to have her
writing next his heart: but ne almost re-
preached himself for thinking about it at
all. Things we're not going so well in this
campaign that any man could afford con
sideration Of his private affairs. One by
name Winter he who commanded the bril-
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
battery Of ill-spared artillery. II Jemmett
were to follow his example the welfare OF
a thriving district would be ieopardized.
As il was, he would have to make head
against a 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 II he could counteract the effects
Of it,
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 aid-de-eamp up hill and
down dale for doing the same.
The enemy had brought two Of the four
captured guns into action against Jem-
nett aud the second in command was for
opening the fight in the orthodox way by
knocking these of their carriages with a
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 the sup
porting infantry but We must take our
chance Of bit Of bssting from them IN
til We get near enough 10 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 a linesman.
and when one Of the hostile shells. the
first which did happen to burst properly.
carried off a bugler and six men. a growl
escaped about waste of life.
Jemmett. who saw with half an eye that
things were going as be wished them,
leaned from his saddle to pat his suho-di-
nate on the shoulder My friend said
he. 1T may be inhuman, but 1 should not
call it waste Of life, though twenty more
and myself we're TO go. if We win the day
and get back those guns while a man as
good as you remains to take my place"
Il beg your pardon general" said the
second in command; but l wish you'd set
OIL your horse for I'm not big enough to
do your work. however pleased l should be
to try"
And just then another fragment Of shell
the last the enemy fred that day
pumped against Jemmetts knee and
brought his charger down with a broken
back. JeumeJt fell on his head.
You know what to do. said Jemmett
10 the second in command, as he recovered
: LAT no mir off, Of
tis fall.
1T has been done" answered the second
IN command The Rifles have cleared the
ridge, we've got the guns safe and sound.
and the guides are chiyyiug the beggars
Town the valley"
That's All" declared the colonel AID
now long have I to Iive?" he asked.
Bless my soul, How should l know
the other Twenty years. TWEEN
.y-fve. anything up to a hundred and
fifty. Long enough to bury the brigade.
inyhOw.
What's happened to me? I thought I
cit my leg go"
Yes, a chunk OF it went I'm afraid
-ou'll limp a 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 1
uppose they'll retire me now
Make you a field marshal. more likely"
aid the second in command.
Then Jemmett dictated a ten-1ine ac-
cunt Of the action to the second in com
nand. and when the latter had departed
o send il off and to attend to his proper
work. bethought himself Of the widows
stter
1t was very long for the widow and it
made Jemmett forget the limp on one side
nd the c. h. on the other. 1t ended with
he words: Give me a definition Of
uty soldier to take the place Of the stupid
ynicism he taught me"
Jemmett put the letter into the en-
elope and The envelope back into his
ocket. and. his heart full Of pride. tried
D think out the desired definition.
His eogtations were broken by the re-
ntrance Of the second in command. just
rifle furriOd. That ass Winter has been
4 il again. he said. He photographs
own that he's in the deuce Of a mess,
nd you can get him out OF it,"
What does he want asked Jeumctt,
AIKEN aback
He says he's surrounded and can't cut
way through without a big loss
Jemmett was wee bit angry. "It's
hame said he My men must be dog
red. l hardly know what to do
Il know what | should do. snapped the
scOnd in command.
What would you do?" the general en-
Iired.
Let him go to the devil his own way"
You forget yourself" said Jemmett
That's not business. We must DO what
g can TO help him
II you send one man you must send
lie lot said the second in command.
And YOU lose the fruit Of your victory"
Better that. returned Jemmett, than