Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-07-31

examines the fragment eagerly.
Among a chorus of disappointed
murmurs, Heron says, quietly:
| mine"
| The general mods. calmly.
4 could not wish for better man. .
he says, courteously. eff you will be
kind enough to come to my quarters,
Sir Heron, we will arrange. Good
night, gentlemen" and he goes as
quietly as he came.
Heron puts on his coat, refills mis-
pipe, and, with a goodnight" steps
out
/ Charlie Hamilton follows him, and
'ays hand upon his shoulder.
Heron turns.
'Well?" ne says.
Hamilton is silent for a moment,
then he says, in a troubled voice:
IT wish you'd give tbs up. Heron!
wish you would let me take your
place."
| Heron shook his head.
"Look here" says Hamilton, anxious
| ly, this is no work for you. I'm an
older hand at this sort of fun than you
w-and-and-I know what this
means"
Heron laughs his rare laugh, Short
mirthless laugh.
so DO IT, he says. "What then?"
Gust this" replied Hamilton, 'that
knowing what this means, think you
have no right to go in for it. Any
one of us has a better right than you.
We have all been here longer than
you have, and some of us are better
fitted for it than you are. I. for in
stance am just the man for the work.
1t means something to me to win. if
win; it matters little if I lose. There
is no mother and future wife to think
of in my case; there is in yours, and
and it doesn't matter to anybody, ex-
cepting my creditors, if I do make
mess of it. But yours and he
pauses significantly.
! Heron smiles.
DO you want to rob me of the
glory?" he says.
That's nonsense" retorts Hamil
ton, impatiently. "You dent care a
that, Heron. For Heavens sake, think
of the mother and the woman waiting
1t nome in England for you I've no
one waiting for me-"
Heron turns away, impatiently.
You are good fellow Charlie" he
says, in low voice. "blt-but you
ion't know how powerless that sort of
Il -, -
more words on me; shall go; good
night, good-by, perhaps, for this will
come off tonight, ] think, and, as you
say, it may be serious. If anything
happens, tell my mother-tut-tut! |
shall be back before breakfast, and if
than can tell you. Goodnight and,
gently releasing himself, he strobe out
into the night
A few stars shone dimly in the
heavens, their cold pallor contrasting
with the glare Of the shells that at in
tervals arose from behind the enemy's
trenches and flew, shrieking, into the
town
Heron stands for a few minutes,
looking out into the darkness with
dreamy abstraction.
He knows well that the adventure
before him is dangerous-that the
plain stretching before him might we'll
De Iikened to the plain of the Shadow
Of Death-that in all probability he
shall never see England again; but,
though his mothers loving face rises
before him, there is another beside it
toward which his heart turns yearn-
ingly.
'Thank Heaven!" he murmurs, 'we
Irarted in peace. Come what will of
this nights work, we parted in peace
our hands have touched"
Then with long breath, he throws
off his soft mood and strides through
the silent streets to the generals
quarters.
An hour later, and, with noiseless,
cat-like caution, the attacking party
steals out of the fortress and glides
into the night. There has been no
sound Of bugle, no clatter of arms, no
word spoken, save the low, whispered
word Of commando; like some dumb
animal stealing forth to spring upon
it's prey, the little column makes it's
way into the darkness.
Even the horses seem to understand
| that noise means death, for they tread
cautiously and peer about them with
expanded nostrils and erect, nervous
ears.
Clad in his dark, stained military
overcoat, Heron rides at the head,
his hand upon his sword-hilt, ready at
moment to draw it forth with the
word to attack.
| Beside him rides the straight figure
Of Parks, who, by dint of entreaty and
sheer stubbornness, has obtained
Heron's permission to accompany him.
What Parks thinks of the business
no one can gather from his face. AL
most as calm and impressive as his
master, he rides beside him, his eyes