Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-06-14
WOODBURY., N. J, THURSDAY, JUNE IA, 1900

eyes and taken such chances that he
was called a devil on one hand and o
fool on the other.
Men who watched him closely denied
that he was looking for promotion or a
record He was seeking to end It all
on the battlefield. There was nothing
more i'll life for him. and it would be
better to die with saber in hand than
to snuff out his own Life like a coward.
Our respect for the man increased, but
yet he was still outlawed and we still
carried feeling of resentment against
him.
One day, in the depths of the forest,
while winter still held its grip on the
land, | came across him lying at full
length on the ground. He was moan
ing and weeping. For ten minutes he
sobbed as a man does only when some
great sorrow has wasted his strength.
turned back his years and taken him
back to childhood. Awed and fright
ened and wondering. l crept silently
away and left him with his grief Two
hours later met bin to find that he
had conquered himself 1t seemed as
If there was new line of care In his
face and that there was new touch of
silver in his hair, but he was not to be-
tray his secret He did not know that
his struggle had been witnessed, and
was dumb as to what had seen.
A week later Troop G was sent out
sr,4 a.
1t was reported that all of US did our
duty in the half hours hot lighting, but
there was only one hero Even with
the pistols flashing and the sabers
whirling | watched Private Haskins as
he waved his saber on high and thun-
dered into the thick of the melee. He
fought to kill and be killed. but death
passed him by.
We whispered to each other that be
was a hero. deserving of medal of
gold. and we esteemed and exalted
him. but the circle did not open to let
him in. He was not of us-he had not
been for a year-and no act of his In
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-
sented it when our sympathy was re-
fused.
1t was two weeks after our fight
when | was detailed on yedette 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 post on the high
way and dismounted under a tree.
remember that the sun shone warm,
the buds were starting, and here and
there n 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 1t
finally died out. He looked straight
ahead of him across the field or the
wall as his ears drank In the notes Of
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 wayering and deter
mination. AT the end of quarter of
an hour he suddenly sobbed in his
throat. Then be rose up and started
across the field toward the wall.
''What is 1t. Hasklns? What do you
see? Hold onr' | called TO him. but he
never halted or turned his head
'Come backw | called. "A sharp
shooter may be hiding behind the walll
Come backw
] 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 precipiee, but just then
our horses reared and snorted and re
quired my strongest efforts to prevent
them from breaking away. When
could look around. the man was nearly
at the wall was about to shout at
him again. when he 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 a
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 was back with a
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 pock-
cts, In searching for what might be
worth carrying away, they had taken
an old letter-a letter dated years be-
fore and in q woman's hand. They had
read 1t. or at least 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 1t up
and realized that therein was the troop
er's secret
'Let no man read ity' commanded
the captain. lit 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 un-
covered our heads and said:
''It was his secret-his and God'sr'-
New York Press.
Tales of the Nose.
Indented nostrils evidence meanness.
wide nostrils n spendthrift. A tip jut-
ting out far from the face is a token of
vulgarlty, refinement being the pos
session of the owners of noses that do
a ~.