The Virginia enterprise., 1904-12-09
! TIE GALL 0F THE FLAG:
~&I&, 10 x$h
BY LIEUT.. G. r. MARTIN. U. s. A.
>>>A>A>>>>>>>>>>>>%>>>>>

1>>>A44411]>A1]A1>1%111>11
e F 1t please the court, shall now
l read the charges against the ac-
cused."
The prisoner, a young soldier with
a haggard face and tired eyes, rose
mechanically. and stood gazing at the
judge-advocate, who read in clear,
emotionless tones the charges setting
forth. that Private John Walters,
Company NJ, -th United States In
fantry, had been guilty Of conduct
prejudicial to good order and military
discipline, in that he had been drunk
. and disorderly in his company quar-
ters, and had disobeyed a lawful Or
der given him by his superior officer
"Ycu have heard the charges and
specifications preferred against you.'
continued the officer representing the
government as prosecuting attorney.
SSFIow DO you plead?'
The prisoner looked helplessly at
his counsel, a tall bronzed man in the
uniform Of a first-lieutenant, who re-
sponded: Guilty, to the specifications
and to the charge"
''The prosecution here rests" an
nounced the judge-advocate.
'Has the accused any evidence to
offer in his own 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 his offense, under the
influence of the poisonous Filipino
bino, which had deprived him of his
responsibility he called attention to
the excellent service the accused had
at various times, rendered under fire
as 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,
khaki-clad officers forming the court
martial. :.
will the lieutenant tell me what he
thinks l 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 dis
charge anu Il months"
That night as Walters lay on his
hard bunk by the barred window of
the rude stone building used as a
g'lard-house, he tried to analyze his po
sition. 'Dishonorable discharge and
~ months'-the thought kept ring
ing IN his head 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-
quer his insatiate thirst for liquor had
only brought disgrace upon his family
In his army service his reckless cour-
age under fire mad atoned for much
of his reclSlessness in drink. Fol-
long, drink and battle had been the
only sedatives to- quiet the fire in his
brain; Only when drugged with one
or wild with the passion of the other
had he been atle tn forget the pangs
OF acknowledged failure. But five
years in the tropics had begun to take
away the sting. There was forgetful.
ness in this land; il emanated from the
ineo'ent rustling of the palm trees
from the golden, dreamy glow oi
the twilights-from the dangerous
perfume Of the Yiang Ylang. He was
SLOWLY and surely imbibing the Lotus
f1oweI potion If content The cas-
was dropping its srell over his soul
and he was grateful for its mercy.
A faint rustling without the win
dew attracted LIS attention; he peeret
through the liars. and saw in th'
dim light form crouch!ng close t<
the PRISON wall
tlsabellc.' he whispered.
A Shall brown hand came through
the iron uprighfs ard prcsstd his fin
gers as they rested on the sill. I
WAS Filipino girl who1, Walters ha,
onco protected from the insults of ,
d"*nken hutr. anc whu had thereaf
tor secretly la>ished ulvn this reck
less. gloomy young American all tn
affection ct which she was capable
Unconscious Of the deeper feeling
which animated her. WATERS had no
been unsensiblc to tie unfailing friend
ship she mad shown h.al, and betwee,
fhe two q sort of comradeship .:ha'
artseu. She: came to 4him. for *advic,
and sympathy In the small affairs O
her 1lfa. and Wa;.efw had found he
hospltab,e home an agreeable asylum
When he wanted to escape from tn,
Tougher eompanicuship of his associ
= stes. Her appears rce below hls win