Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-11-06
fighting a splendid fight-at the
edge of a mountain stream.

SPANAVAN uSnOOaL tile
edge of a mountain stream.
To some men life is a continual
nagging skirmish; to others it is
single decisive engagement won OF
lost; to still others, and these are
legion, life is a long, drowsy sum-
mer camp. The men who deserve
the medals of honor are the hard
and haggard fellows on the skirmish
line who have to fight to live. who
get their training under fire, who
keep the small of their backs to the
fields they have won and who make
the history for the campers to read.
The second class have mortal forces
superior 20 their irfrmities. They
surround their natural enemies in
the beginning and slaughter them
once and for all. These men are to
be praised. They are also to be en-
wed for the admirable balance of
brain and sinew which their fathers
gave them. They are the successful,
the happy, the admired, men. But
the evil instruction within them
was never whole hearted nor unkiD
able
But You want a hero? Go, pick
one from the lean. painting, worried
fellows who are forever on the Skin
mish line, whose foes are themselves.
These have mighty virtues. but their
weaknesses are mighty too. These
know no peace. Their foes are as
stubborn as the incoming tide. as
virile as poison, as relentless as
granite \ man indeed Is he who
Systematically starves a host Of ugly
passions.
In the last month big Darby made
many trips up the trail TO the shack
of Marie and her mother. and Juan.
the poor Porto Rican peon. clutched
at the belief with all his simple mind
that the white man was an angel
from heaven. and because ii was the
right way. because he had made up
his mind. Trooper Darby had
strength To lead Mario into the right
way. When hc journcvcd to san
Juan TO get his finals cashcd. all the
American soldiers I'm the capital city
were talking about a new war in
China Big Darby took no drink,
though there was much money I'm his
pocket. On the way back TO CoroXal
he wondered if the war I'm China
would mean much action.
1t was evening when he walked
up the trail, and by his side was
the old priest of the district. Silent
ly they walked together upward
upward toward the heights. Marie
was there, Juan was there, and in
the doorway the old mother sat in
the deepening twilight mumbline
old refrains.
The moon beamed down upon the
mountain tops, while the priest ut-
tered softly the words of the old
old story, and the moon PLAYED in
the depths of the running rivers and
whitened the great cliirs-and the
soul of one of Uncle Sans cavalry
men. When it was all over, bic
Darby paid the priest and placed a
roll in the trembling hands of Juan
the poor OK driver fortune away
up in the mountains of Porto Rico,
where pennies are dollars.
Then big Darby kissed Marie, the
bride-for the first time-and held
her fast in his arms an instant, be-
cause she was sobbing a little Then
he FASTENED down the trail to the
town-for the last time-and at the
canteen he bought a round of drinks
for the boys and told them that he
would start for the States in Il cou-
pie of days to enlist III one of the
new cavalry regiments which were
being equipped for Chinese service.
-Pittsburg Dispatch.