The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-11-28

hillsides and in the valley, the soldiers
lay sleeping on their arms. Sentries
paced their lonely beats and here and
there the smouldering embers OF camp
fires fickered.
The colonel, asleep in his tent, was
aroused by a hand ON his shoulder.
He awohe with a start and saw an or
Derby stsndipg over him.
Private George Sanderson. Is dying
In the hospital" the orderly said. He
says he wants to see you. SIR"
The colonel sprang from his cot.
every well. SIR" he replied, II will
come at once"
The wounded man lay with his face
towards the door, and faint smile
quivered upon his lips when the officer
entered.
The colonel sat on the edge Of his cot
and took one OF his hands.
swell. my boy, what can do for
you?" he asked.
The boy smiled sadly.
~ am hard hit, sir" he said. "and I
guess I'm done for. You are very kind
10 come-I wanted TO tell you some
thing before I--be fore die. You have
known me as George Sanderson.
colonel. but-that is-not my name.
Once. years ago. broke the laws of my
country. hut. say. don't you think
I've kinder--wiped out the old score?
I'm dyin'--for the old flag g-coIonei."
He paused moment forrest. and the
, officer pressed his hand warmly. Then
ne continued:
II don't care, for myself. sir. Ny life
Z amt worth nothin' anyhow-only to
mother. And 7 don't reckon It's been
much TO her. lately. seem as she hasn't
known where I was for the past ten
years. Wish could live them ten years
over again. colonel, I'd spend 'em with
her. tryin' TO make her happy. for
God knows--her life has been-full
enough--of sorrer. Poor-mother."
He lapsed into silence and look of
infinite sadness came into his eyes.
"She broke her promise to the only
man she ever loved. sir, and married
to please her parents-married man
who was a scoundrel. just-like ] am,
sir. But father is dead now. and sup
him. Butt know mother never loved
him. know-her heart broke-when
the man--she Ioved-went away. and
she-never heard-from him-again."
"And what became Of this other
mani" asked the colonel. much inter-
ested.
The wounded boy looked sharply into
the Others eyes and sald
"As near as know. sir, he never
married. He Joined the army and the
last heard Of him-he was-,sittin'
beside dyin' soldier, the son-of the
woman-he loved"
He felt the colonel's hand tighten
nervously upon his own, and. reaching
under HIS pillow. he drew forth pho.
tograph which he handed without q
word to the officer
Silently the colonel gazed at the pic.
: ture and the boy saw the grizzled vet.
eran's steel, gray eyes grow moist and
q tenderness creep into his face.
Colonel" he said. finally, a passion,
ate pleading in his voice. "colonel
promise me you--will go to her. Tell
her--I sent you to her-tell her
died--in helpin'-to put the old-dag-
up on-El Caney. Promise me-
colonel"
The officer grasped his feeble han'
In both his.
II PROMISE" he said.
A smile settled upon the face of tn
boy, and, with happy sigh, he close'
his eyes, while the colonel sat besid
him with uncovered head, holding hi
hand and looking down into his facs
80 the hours passed, and In the morn
ing twas whispered around the camp
"Private George Sanderson died las
might with smile on bis face"