Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-06-12
NEW SERIES, VOL. xxxv, NO. "a.

eyes and taken such chances that he
was called devil ON one hand and a
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 in 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 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 l met him to find that he
had conquered himself. 1t seemed as
If there was a new line of care in his
face and that there was a 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 rs to what had seen.
A week later Troop C was sent out
on scout and rode into tight place.
1t was reported that all of us did our
duty in the half hours hot fighting, but
there was only one. hero Even with
the pistols Gashing and the sabers
whirling l 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 he
was 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 n 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 vedctte 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, a dozen
miles away, there was the same excite
ment. We rode TO post on the high
way and dismounted under 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 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 l 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!p called to him, but he
never halted or turned his head
Come backT l called. "a sharp
shooter may be hiding behind the WALL
Come backp
| heard him gasplng 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 precipice. 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
squadron. We charged past the dead