The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-29
THE DUTY SOLDIER.


| properly, ana tleS nave Only oAe I'LL
ber's supply"
The second in command was q line
man, and when one Of the hostile shells
the first which did happen to burst
! properly, carried off bugler and siH
men, growl escaped him about waste
of life.
Jemmett, who saw With half an eyG
that things were going as he wished
them, leaned from his saddle to pat his
subordinate on the shoulder. My
frlend,' said he, 1T may be inhumane
but l should not call it waste of life,
though twenty more and myself were
to go, if we win the day and get back
those guns while a man as good as you
remains to take my place"
IT beg your pardon, General, said
the second in command; "but I wish
you'd get off your horse, for I'm not big
enough to do your work, however
! pleased 1 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 brok-
en- back. Jemmett fell heavily on his
head.
You know what to do" said Jemmett
to the second in command, as he recoV-
cred an hour later from the stunning Ell
feet of his fall.
1T has been done" answered the sec
ond in command. THE Rifles nave
cleared the ridge, We've got the guns
safe and sound, and the guides are chi
vying the beggars down the valley.
That's All" declared the colonel.
"And bow long have [ to live?" he
asked.
Bless my soul! How should L
know" returned the other. Twenty
years, twenty-five, anything up to
hundred and fifty. Long enough to
bury the brigade, anyhow"
whats happened to me? | thought
1 felt my leg go"
Yes, chunk of it went. I'm
afraid you'll limp bit. old chap"
You mean it must come OFF,
mo, 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 l
suppose they'll hardly retire me now"
Make you field marshal more like
ly," said the second in command.
Then Jemmett dictated a ten line ae-
count of the action to the second in
command and when the latter had de-
parted to send it off. 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 G. b. on the other 1t end
ed with the words; Give me defini-
ton of 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 into his
pocket, and his heart full of pride, tried
to think out thu desired definition.
His cogitations were broken by the re-
entrance OF the second in command,
just trif1e flurried That ass Winter
has been at 1t again, he said. He he
down that he's in the deuce
Of mess, and can you get him out of
H.
what does he want?' asked Jem-
NETT, taken aback.
He says he's surrounded, and can't
cut way through without big loss
Jemmett was a wee bit angry. Its
a shame said he. My men must be
dog tired. l hardly know what to do"
Il know what l should do snapped
the second in command.
what you'd you do?' the general In
CURED.
Let him go to the devil his. own way."
You forget yourself" said Jemmett.
That's not business We must do
what we can to help him.
IF you send one man YOU must send
the lot, SAID the second in command.
ana you lose the fruits of your victo-
ry'
Better that" returned Jemmett, |
than suffer defeat"
Better for Winter, perhaps" growled |
men oeiiiiietl ieafheu that mile $