The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-06-12

gold, and we esteemed ana exHited
him, but the circle did not open to let
him in. He was not of us-he had not
battle could make him so. He knew 1t
as well as we did. and he made no ad-
vance. He had our respect and admi-
ration in the fullest, but he did not
have and did not wish for our COM
radeship and sympathy. We knew that
there are things which must lie buried
in the human bosom forever and ever,
no matter what the cost, but yet we re-
scented it when our sympathy was re-
fused
1t was two weeks after our fight
when l was detailed on vedette duty
with Private Haskins We were to
take the post together. In the winter
camp behind us there was the hum of
preparation for the spring campaign.
In the quarters of the enemy. dozen
miles away, there was the same excite
ment We rode to a post on the high
way and dismounted under a tree. l
remember that the sun shone warm,
the buds were starting, and here and
there robin was raising his glad song.
Little was said between us, and by
and by Private Haskins fell into one
of his moods.
From the corner of my eye watched
his pipe puff at longer intervals until it
finally died out. He looked straight
ahead of him across the field or the
L. ~, -
the birds. He forgot that was near.
His thoughts went back to the old
grief, and saw the changes In his soul
written on his face. There were joy
and gladness; there were grief and
pain; there were wavering and deter
mination. AT the end of a quarter of
an hour he suddenly sobbed In his
throat. Then he rose up and started
across the field toward the wall.
what is it, Haskins? What do you
see? Hold on!' called to him, but he
never halted or turned his head.
"Come backw l called. "a sharp
shooter may be hiding behind the walt
Come backw
l heard him gasping and sobbing as
he pushed forward. would have run
after him and caught him, as one might
a somnambulist who was approaching
the edge of a precipice, but just then
our horses reared and snorted and re-
CURED my strongest efforts to prevent
them from breaking away. When l
could look around, the man was nearly
at the wall. / was about to shout at
him again, when be stopped, threw up
his arms and sank down, and he was
lying on his back on the frostbitten
grass before | heard the report of the
rifle which had slain him. Then
squad of cavalry dashed out and tried
to capture me, and | went laundering
up the road toward the reserve picket
with bullets singing louder than the
robins.
Half an hour later l was back with
squadron. We charged past the dead
man on the grass and up to the stone
wall, but no one was in sight. All that
we saw was the peaceful farmhouse
beyond: all that we heard were the
voices of the birds.
The enemy had been to view the man
they had slain. From one of his peck
cts. in searching for what might be
worth carrying away, they had taken
an old Iettera letter dated years be-
fore and in a woman's hand They had
read 1t, or at least a few lines of it.
Then they had spread 1t out on his
breast and left him with body un
searched, perhaps lifting their hats in
reverence as they turned TO ride away.
We saw the letter and lifted it up
and realized that therein was the troop
er's secret
'''Let no man read itY' commanded
The captain 1T belonged to him. He
Is dead" And holding it aloft in his
hand. he touched the letter with a
lighted match. and as the paper shriv-
eled and curled and became ashes, to
be carried away by the breeze, we IN
covered our beads and said:
at was his secret-his and God'sW-
New York Press.