Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-07-12

The enemy had brought two of the
four captured guns into action against
Jemmett, and the second in command
was for opening the fight in the or
thodox way by knocking these off
their carriages with round or two;
but Jemmett would not hear of it.
"No, no." said he; eve must have
these back intact. Tell Captain Max
well to burst his shells behind and
around them, so as to clear away the
supporting infantry; but we must
take our chance of bit of blasting
from them until we get near enough
to pot the gunne"s. They're fighting
very slowly, they're ranging badly,
they're not setting the fuses properly,
and they have only one limber's sup
ply"
The second in command was n lines
man, and when one of the hostile
shells, the first which did happen to
burst properly, carried of bugler
and six men, a glowl escaped him
about waste OF life.
Jemmett, who saw with half an eye
that things were going as he wished
them, leaned from his saddle to pat
his subordinate on the shoulder. "My
FRIEND" said he, ''it may be inhu-
name, but l should not call it waste
of life, though 20 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"
81 beg your pardon, general" said
the second in command; "but 1 wish
you'd get off your horse, for I'm not
big enough to do your work, however
pleased l 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 a broken back. Jemmett fell
heavily on his head.
You know what to do" said Jem.
NETT to the second in command, as he
recovered an hour later flom the stun.
ming effect of his fall.
cit has been DONE" answered the
second in command. ''rhe Rifles
have cleared the ridge, we've got the
guns safe and sound, and the guides
are chivying the beggars down the
valley"
That's ALP declared the colonel.
"And how long have | to live?" he
asked.
''Bless my soul How should /
know?" returned the other. Twenty
years, 25, anything up to $50. Long
enough to bury the brigade, anyhow.
What's happened to me! thought
felt my leg GO
Yes, chunk of it went.
I'm afraid you'll limp bit, old chap"
'iou mean it must come o1'?'
NO, it's not 50 bad as that-it
only wants absolute rest-and there's
the c. B., don't you know"
''pm too old to care about that, but
1 suppose they'll hardly retire me
now.
Make you field marshal more
likely said the second in command.
Then Jemmett dictated ten-line
account of the action to the second in
command, and when the latter had de-
parted to send it Of, and to attend to
| his proper work, bethought himself
of the widows letter.
II was very long, for the widow, and
it made Jemmett forget the limp on
one side and the c. b. on the other.
1t endel with the words: ''iive me
a definition of duty soldier to take
the place of the stupid cynicism he
taught me"
emmett put the letter into the en-
velope and the envelope back in his
/ pocket, and, his heart full of pride,
tried to think out the desired deini-
ton.
His cogitations were broken by the
re- e-entrauce of the second in command,
Just trihe furried. THAT ass Winter
has been at it again." he said. He
photographs down that he's in the
deuce of a mess, and can you get him
out of ii"
What does he want?" asked Jem-
nett, taken aback.
''He says he's surrounded, and can't
cut way through without a big loss. F"
Jemmett was wee bit angry. cts
shame" said he. "My men must
be dog tired. l hardly know what to
DO"
'I know what should do" snapped
the second in command.
"What would You do?" the general
inquired.
LET him go to the devil his own
way"
''You forget YOURSELF" said Jem-
NETT 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 COM
mand. And you lose the fruits Of
your victory"
ethan suffer defeat"
Better for Winter, perhaps, "
growled the other, but not for u.s..
Then Jemmett learned that miles
journey in dhoolie would spell GER