The Opelousas courier., 1900-09-01

man, and when one of the hostile
shells. the first which did happen to
burst properly, carried off a bugler
and six men, q growl escaped him
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 subordinate on the shoulder. my
friend" said he, sit may be inhu-
| name, but I should not call it waste
of life, though 20 more and myself
were to go, if we win the day and get
back those guns while o man as good
as you remains TO take my place"
81 beg your pardon, general" said
the second in command; 'but l wish
you'd get off 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 fired that
day - pumped against Jemmett's
knee and brought his charger down
with q broken back. Jemmett fell
heavily on his head.
"You know what to do" said Jem-
NETT to the second in command, as hs
recovered an hour later from the stun
ming effect OF his fall.
"It has been done," answered the
second in command. THE Rides
have cleared the ridge, we've got the
guns safe and sound, and the guides
are c~hivying the beggars down the
valley"
''That's Alp declared the colonel.
"Aud how long have [ to live?" he
asked.
"Bless my soul! How should I
know?" returned the other. Twenty
years, 25, anything up to $50. Long
enough to bury the brigade, anyhow"
whats happened to me? l thought
I felt my leg 60"
eyes, a chunk of it went. . {.
I'm afraid you'll limp a bit, old chap"
"You mean it must come Off"
$40, 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
I suppose they'll hardly retire me
now"
MAKE you a field marshal more
likely said the second in command.
Then Jemmett dictated a ten-line
account Of the action to the second in
command, and when the latter had de-
parted to send it OF, 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: "dive 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 in his
pocket, and, his heart full of pride.
tried to think out the desired defni.
ton.
His cogitations were broken by the
Remittance of the second in command,
just q trife Hurried. THAT ass Winter
has been at it again." he said. "He
photographs down that he's in the
deuce of o mess, and can you get him
out of it."
What does he want?" asked Jem-
NETT, taken aback.
HE says he's surrounded, and can't
cut a way through without a big loss. ="
Jemmett was g wee bit angry. ''It's
O shame" said he. my men must
be dog tired. I hardly know what to
do"
'I know what should do" snapped
the second in command.
"What would you do?" the general
inquired.
Let him go to the devil his OWE
way"
"You forget yourself" said Jem.
NETT. '"That's not business. We
must do what we can TO help him"
"If you send one mar you must
send the lot, said the second in com.
mand. "And you lose the fruits OF
your victory"
Better that" returned Jemmett,
ethan suffer q defeat"
Better for Winter, perhaps, -
growled the other, ''but not for us. u
Then Jemmett learned that q miles
journey in d dhoolie would spell Ger.
tain death, and he felt himself falling
from the highest peak of happiness to
the lowest depths of despair, for his
was q commonplace mind, that did moi
feel heroism as an ecstasy, but all he
said was Sound the assembly"
"How many men shall I take with
me?" asked the second in command.
Every living one but myself" said
Jemmett.
"Eh?" said the second in command
he thought his chief had forgotten the
meaning of Afghan wal.
Jemmett smiled. eth be all right, .
he said. ''The Doctors given me q
sleeping draught. Have You got q
pencil and an e~nvelope?"
When the second in command gave
Jemmett his last handshake he carried
away with him the envelope. it was
addressed to the widow, and inside il
was her own letter, with these words
pencilled at the foot of it: "My dear
child, q duty soldier is one who il
afraid only of falling in his. duty
Grandpapa. Pail Mall Magazine.
Soldiers ikc Sweet Things.