The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-11-26
THE GALL Of THE FLAG. !:
~AsS4xA,
BY LIEUT.. c. +. MARTIN. U. 4. A.

Is 1t please the court, shall now
! read the charges against the &C.
fused."
The prisoner, a young soldier with
y haggard face and tired eyes, rose
u. ?chanically, and stood gazing at the
juGge-advocate, who read in clear,
emotionless tones the charges setting
forth that Private John Walters,
Company NJ, til United States In
fantry, had been guilty of conduct
prejudiclal to good order and military
discipline, in that he had been drunk
and disorderly in his company quar-
tiers, AMI had disobeyed a lawful or
der given him by his superior officer.
You have heard the charges and
specifications preferred against you,"
continued the officer representing the
government as prosecuting attorney.
"EIow DO you plead?"
The prisoner looked helplessly at
his counsel, a tall bronzed man in the
uniform Of first-lieutenant, who re-
'sponded: Guilty, to the specifications
and to the charge.
The prosecution here rests" an
iounced the judge-advocate.
HAS the accused any evidence to
offer in his owa behalf?" questioned
the president of the court.
The accused had none. His counsel,
In few words, begged the court to
consider that the prisoner had been.
at the time of hin offense, under the
iahnsnce of the poisonous Filipino
bino, which naN~ aenriyed him of his
responsibility he CALLER .-.4-..ion m
the excellent service the accused hac,
at various times, rendered under fire,
az set forth in his record, and request
ed that such clemency as was possible
be shown him.
As Walters, followed by his counsel,
left the room, he let his eyes pass for
the first time over the group OF grave,
lihaki-clad officers forming the court
martial.
xviii the lieutenant tell me what he
thinks will get?" he asked, when the
door had closed behind them for the
verdict.
well, this is your sixth conviction
within the year, Walters; I'm afraid
you can't hope for less than a dis
charge and Il months"
That night as Walters lay on his
hard bunk by the barred window OF
the rude stone building used as a
gllard-house, he tried to analyze his po'
sition. "Dishonorable. discharge and
II months"-the thought kept ring
ing In his head. A year IN Bilibid-
no bino and no fighting. Then he
would be sent back to the States-he
never wanted to see the States again;
the battle of life there had been too
strong for him: defeat had seemed
to pursue him In every renewed ef-
fort, and his repeated failures to con-
1uer his insatiate thirst for liquor had
only brought disgrace upon his family.
In his army service his reckless ccur-
age under fire mad atoned for much
of his recklessness In drink. For
long, drink and battle had been the
only sedatives to quiet the fire In his
bratn orly when drugged with one
or wild with the passion Of the other
had he been able IN forget the pangs
OF acknowledged failure. But fve
years in the tropics had begun to take
away the sting. There was forgetful-
ness in this land; IL emanated from tbs
incident rustlingN of the palm trees
from the golden, dreamy glow Of
the twilights-from the dangerous
perfume Of the Wang Ylang. He wal
slowly and surely imbibing the lotui
flowers potion If content. The cas-
was dropping its srell over his soul
and he was grateful for It's mercy.
A faint rustling Without the win
lew attracted Lis attention; he peere'
through The lars, and saw In tn
dim light FORM crouch!ng close Il
tho prison wall.
Isabella" lie whispered.
A SHALL brown hand came throug
the iron uprighis ar1 pressed his I'm
gers us they rested en- the sill.
was Filipino girl whom Walters ha
once protected from the insults OF
drunken hntr. end who had thereai
tsr secretly lavished upon this reck
lCss. gloomy young American all tn
affection cf which she was capable
Unconscious OF the deeper feeling
which animated her, Waters had nc
been tinseirsiblc to tie unfailing friend
ship she had shown him. and betwee
the two o sort of comradeship ha
arisen. She came to him for advic
and sympathy In the small affairs {
her life. and Walters had found h
4 lospitable home an agreeable asylul
II whcu he wanted to escape from Il
rcushrr cornpnnicnsbip OF his assoc
ateA Her sppears rec below his VIII