The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-06-01
THE MAKING OF A HERO |

nERHAPS it would never have hap
rencl had comrade given him a
word Of encouragement. But the men
were too intent on the grim work be-
fore them. so, in the hail of lead,
when Private Cory dropped to the
ground it was generally understood
that a 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 SILVER
ing 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 remain with the rest"
mo. he is not hurt at all" he said
to one of his assistants. His wound
will come afterwards, when he recoy-
ers from that faint. and God help him
then There is no bullet wound that
will give him the agony that is before
him
shall I throw a bucket of water
over him, sire" asked a man with a
blood stained bandage around his head,
but sufficient of his face left uncov-
cred to show his intense disgust at
his comrade.
NO. you must not disturb him."
was the curt answer, and he turned to
give his attention to the burdens
which the stretcners were now quick
~ depositing in the improvised hos
pital.
Poor lad" he unused. as he bent
ever his work, II must give him a
word of encouragement when ne
comes round
But when. later on, Private Cory
staggered to his feet, the kindly doc
tor was too busy to notice him. He
looked wonderingly round the tent.
Then the remembrance 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
mortal wound. 1t was burning hot
day-the wounded were suffering ter
ribly 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 coward
ice Then a human voice joined in
the wild orchestra.
You bloomin' cur Call yourself a
MANI"
1t was the stern sergeant of his
company, who had been brought in
wounded in three places before he had
given up. His face was gray with the
pain he was enduring. but he must
needs give vent TO his disgust at such
pusillanimitv. \ contemptuous smile
played about his bloodless lips.
81 call it gettin' money under false
pretenses. You're clothed and stuffed
with the best o everything the coun-
try can send out. includin' a briar
pipe and baccy, and then yer go and
-Pah!" and he broke off. 81 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
ir Lis mouth TO stife 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 il acted upon
by some powerful electric 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 man.
hood. Luz his brain was still in q