The Banner-Democrat., 1901-12-14
PRIVATE CORY.
ny Araol FORBES.

ne Vi encouragement. But the men were
L. 100 intent on the grim work before
70 them. so. In the hail OF lead, when pri-
: Vate Cory dropped to the ground, it
was generally understood that bullet
oad Knocked him over Such, however.
was not the case, as the ambulance
h corps following in the rear soon dis
"a covered. He had merely tainted from
fright.
The doctor turned over the shivering
e bit of humanity to look for the wound.
u found none, and smiled. Cases of this
e 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
e TO one OF his assistants. His wound
VIII come afterwards when he recov-
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 | throw a bucket of water
over him, sir?" asked a man with a
blood stained bandage round 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 |
MS attention to the burdens which the |
stretchers were now quickly deposit
ing In the improvised hospital.
Poor lad" he unused, as he bent
over hfc unrtr l
word of encouragement when he comes
around"
But when, later on, Private Cory
staggered to his feet, the kindly doctor
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 with a
choking sob. He clutched the earth
win his hands, as men do when struck
oown In battle with q mortal wound
IL was burning hot day-the wounded
were suffering terribly from the in
tense heat-but he shivered with cold
outside the shells were screaming
while now and again came the SUBJ
oueo but harsh growl Of the smaller
arms 1t seemed as If thousand i
voices were shouting at him and re- :
proaching him for his cowardice. Then S
human voice Joined in the wild or t
chestra. v
You bloomin' cur. Call yourself n
MANI" a
1t was the stern sergeant of his conn., o
'any who had been brought In wound e
'd In three places before he had given -
lp. HIS face was gray with the pain te
ie was enduring, but he must needs re
ave vent to his disgust at such pusi- 81
lnimity A contemptuous smile PLAYED ii
bout his bloodless lips. ST
I call 1t gettin' money under false 81
fetences. You're clothed and stuffed te
'ith the best o. everything the coun- tn
y can send out, includin' a briar nine In
40 baccy. and then yer go and
In! and he broke of. 81 couldn't &c
ev believed it O. any man in the whole co
oomin' company" on
He stoppeu because the pain Of his br
ounds became too great, and he bit ra
ard the piece of Cavendish he had ro
|
her men took up the cue. an
NO agony of the battlefield could alb
ual what Private Cory was now alb
during. He Quivered as If acted 3to
ION by some powerful electric cur se'
Mt, but he made no answer to their 10
UNITS. and continued to lie with his CA
ce turned to the ground. He tried /
reconstruct the wreck of his man. for
od, but his brain was still in a whirl Ga,
q those shrieking shells outside still a
smed to be telling the world that he Ag
Q, miserable coward. mo
A man was handing round some ope
9TH. He had been hours without dis
'd, ana the savory odor caused a me-
wing hunger to take possession of Am
n. A pannikin full was being passed not
m which men took drink, their ex- mol
'tant comrades looking on with IN
'er. wistful eyes. Cory raised his this
ID, hoping his turn had come. but eng
was Immediately greeted with a iuai
rm OF curses that caused him to the
p 1t again Fool that he was TO ex- goo'
1t. He might have known. er
Give Cory some of that soup. Hold Cor
. zett
t that moment the doctor came nm
lad" he said not unkindly. won A
make a soldier yet Drink this root
he handed him the tin vessel by I
He is the broth of a boy" shout. in b
man, and this poor joke was greet ture
with laughter, even by those who of
that they had but few hours to 20,0t
are
Dry sat up The soup seemed tn emp
life into him, and lie ceased to wou
er. He was barely out of his teens scro
his face in its ashy grayness looked walls
Q like that of a man who bad cal 6
ed his prime Th
ceiling bit better now?" began from
to ia
le'n run for it as soon as he is upon
remarked another. "Whew, lis ing.
he broke of as a shell exploded guam
outside. proct
hey seem to have got range Of no diges
" mode
r a few soconas ,ho- half
Q men realized their danger. The rum
v growl of the ouick fres NOS tria
now and then nurcturad -. A.. blue.
deem moptbed bay,na - -. to tn
!. Long Tom the N
-. fires 1
running into the tent with his
arm hanging helpless by his side. Am,
nediately there was violent con- most
IN; the air filled with smoke and womel
igent smell. and the tent lit up laws
= tongue Of fame In an instant iouris