The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-05-18
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THE WAKING OF A HERO.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Perhaps It would never have happen
ed had comrade given him word of
encouragement. But the men were too
intent on the grim work before them, so,
in the hail of the lead, when Private
Cory dropped to the ground it was gen.
orally understood that bullet had
knocked him over. Such, however, was
not the case, as the ambulance corps
following in the rear soon discovered.
He had merely tainted from fright.
The doctor turned over the shivering
bit of humanity to look for the wound,
found none, and smiled. Cases of this
kind were not unknown to him. Poor
fellow" he murmured. Let him re-
main with the rest"
mo, he is not hurt at ALL" he said to
one of his assistants. His wound will
come afterwards, when he recovers
from that faint, and God help him then.
There is no bullet wound that will give
him the agony that is before him."
shall 1 throw bucket of water over
him, sir?" asked a man with a blood
stained bandage around his head, but
sufficient of his face left uncovered to
show his intense disgust at his COM
rade.
mo, you must not disturb him." was
the curt answer, and he turned to give
his attention to the burdens wien t.,e
s:retchers were now quickly darcsitrg
III the improviscd hospital
''r2or lad" he mused as he beat over
his worl:, ~ mus; give him a word of
encouragement when he comes round"
But when, later on. Private Cory stag
gered to his feet, the kindly doctor was
too busy to notice him. He looked Won
deringly round the tent. Then the re-
membrane of what he had done seemed
to rise up and strike him full in the face.
He sank down again with a choking
sob. He clutched the earth with his
hands, as men do when struck down in
battle with a mortal wound. 1t was a
burning hot day--the wounded were
suffering terribly from the intense heat
but he shivered with cold. outside,
the shells were screaming, while now
and again came the subdued but harsh
growl of the smaller arms. 1t seemed
as If a thousand voices were shouting at
him and reproaching him for his cow
ardice. Then a human voice Joined in
the wild orchestra.
you bloomin' cur Call yourself a
MANI"
1t was the stern sergeant of his COM
pany, who had been brought in, wound
ed in three places before he had given
up. His face was grey with the pain
he was enduring, but he must needs
give vent to his disgust at such pusil-
lanimity. A contemptuous smile played
about his bloodless lips.
Il call it gettin' money under false
pretenses. You're clothed and stuffed
with the best o. everything the country
can send out, includn' briar pipe and
baccy, and then yer go and-Pah!" and
he broke off. II couldn't hev believed
it O. any man in the whole bloomin'
company"
He stopped because the pain of his
wounds became too great, and he bit
hard the piece of Cavendish he had in
his mouth to stiffle a groan, but other
men took up the cue.
No agony of the battlefield could
equal what Private Cory was now en-
during. He quivered as though acted
by some powerful electrical current, but
he made no answer to their taunts, and
continued to lie with his face turned to
the ground. He tried to reconstruct the
wreck of his manhood. but his brain
was still in whirl, and those shrieking
shells outside still seemed to be telling
the world that he was miserable cow
ard.
man was handing round some
broth. He had been hours without
food and the savory odor caused a crav-
ing hunger to take possession of him.
pannikin full was being passed, from
which men took drink, their expectant
comrades looking on with eager, wistful
eyes. Cory raised his head, hoping his
turn had come. but he was immedi-
81,
that caused him to drop it again. Fool
that he was to expect 1t. He might
have known.
At that moment the doctor came up.
"Give Cory some Of that soup. Hold
up, my lad" he said, not unkindly; you
may make a soldier yet" and he hand
ed him the tin vessel. Drink this"
"He is a broth of a boy" shouted a
man, and this poor joke was greeted
with laughter even by those who knew
that they had but few hours to live.
Cory sat up. The soup seemed to put
life into him. and he ceased to shiver.
He was barely out of his teens, but his
face, in it's ashy greyness, looked more
like that of a man who had passed his
prime.
"Feelin' bit better now?" began the
sergeant.
Hell run for it as soon as he's able"
remarked another. "Whew! listen!" he
broke off. as shell exploded just out
side. "They seem to have got the range
Of us now."
For a few seconds there was silence
as the men realized their danger. The
angry growl Of the quick-frers was
every now an then punctuated by the
long, deep-mouthed baying Of the Beers
Long Tom.
'They are aiming at US, by God"
shouted man, running into the tent
with his right arm hanging helpless by
his side.
Immediately there was violent con-
eussion; the air was filled with dust,
smoke and a pungent smell. and the
end Of the tent lit up with a tongue Of
fame In insta Mt three four men