Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06


and compliment and to inquire as to
his wound. "Only a pin scratch, gen
eral, that wouldn't hurt at all If l
could know there was no truth in the
story that General Melville is killed"
ooh, l won't believe it!' said the
chief. "Your only authority and mine
is Colonel Nathan, and Nathan's only
ents he's been housing for the past
week. They had it that you were NOR
tally hit and half your regiment killed.
Where is Colonel Nathan, anyhow"
81 don't know, SIR" answered Lang
don guardedly. 81 haven't seen him
since daybreak."
The major general turned in saddle
and looked back across the bloody field
toward the roofs of Pace glinting be-
tween him and the white towers Of
Manila, another mile beyond. The pale
blue clouds had drifted away. In their
place dense volumes of black smoke
were beginning to roll skyward from
three or four points in the thronging
suburb, and the crackle of burning
bamboo sounded like a distant fusil-
lade.
They've been firing on our wounded
and ambulances from the church and
native houses" said the general briefly.
He was thinking-he couldn't help it
of the words of two battery officers he
had overheard as he stood at the knoll
watching the triumphant advance of
his division. Rodney May was the
first speaker, and the battery COM
mander had heard without either re-
proof or dissent.
Its just what Eric said at Pawnee
ten years ago. He has come steadily
up and Nathan gone steadily down in
the good opinion of every square man
/ in the regiment. Yesterday they were
/ on level as far as rank goes; today
Pm betting Langdon's name goes in for
! brevet and Nathans won't be heard
/ Of"
"Where OIL earth is Colonel Nathan?"
asked the brigade commander as he
reined in on the Plaza under the walls
of the great church where two compa-
MES of the Columbus were tanning
their hot faces with their broad brim-
! med hats, and the men looked at each
other and grinned.
where on earth is Colonel Nathan|'
again demanded the division chief as
he and the brigadier rode through the
smoke of blazing nipa huts from whose
walls the lurking Tagal rifles had shot
down but few moments before at
tend2nts Of the wounded. friend and
foe alike. A surgeon. looking up from
= the stretcher over which he was bend.
ing. duckcd his head toward distant
Pace.
Away back yopder. colonel You
won't find him this side Of the Concor-
dia." And the two seniors exchanged
glances. Not until out Of range of lis
tening ears was another word spoken
Then the division commander began tt
free himself Of his Impressions.
when the story of this Gays worf
Is told your Washes and westerners
especially LangGon. viii he gloriiird'
/ said lie, hut what shall be said of Ma
4 than"
! Meanwhile Erie Langaon burned
with pain and fever under the root
where lay. conyalescing OF the wounds
received early in the FIRST days fight
his gallant and devoted friend Melville
Langdcn pulled through. thanks to IA
tive strength and constitution and the
tireless devotion and professional skill
Of the surgeon who received him. un
conscious ard sore spent, from the
hands of the hospital corps. Doing as
we'll. general. as we can expect after sc
severe wound" was DR.. Armstead's
almost daily report for q week. .s'Bu
what will the waking be?''
"If you will permit me. DR.. Armi
stead. that is matter with which
shall charge myself. It's time Lang
Con knew the truth c
And SO one day when the soft Sc;
breeze was blowing in from the bay
now studded with transports bringIn:
the long delayed re-enforcements. Il:
Langdol lay. weak. but once agaii
clear headed and craving news OF hi
men. Melville hohbled to his bedsid
I and sgnalen to the attendant to sill
away "I.angdon. old fellow" be ask
ed as they were left alone, feel Il
q though you could bear n shock today
. Your old division commander came il
to say goodbg while You were asleeI
+ You are named for the medal of homo
/ and the brevet of brigadier general.
4 wrote the news home by last post"
n The pale. thin face on the pilloy
/ lighted with a faint flush of pleasure
! Ehe long. slender fingers feebly clasI
J. ed the warm hand extended in gree
e ing.
;, How long before can be in saddl
II again." was the question framed b
e his spallid lips. and the voice was BIT
IS the ghost of that that rang like ella
It lon over the field at Santa Ana an
l. swung the Washoes into their magnii
1t cent charge.
d 1.-TWO months or three, perhaps, an
% not that possibly without sea voyai
d to Japan or a run to Australia. Yo
d had fearful wound, Eric, and und
If Gods providence nothing but the be
1T Of surgeons and constitutions save
r you. DR.. Meade is looking after "