St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-01-21

must surrender. We are outnumbered
and the ammunition is exhausted"
Surrender! No fear" returned Ar
thur reassuringly. There's plenty Of
ammunition in the wagon. I'll have
some f;erved out" "
He turned, and as he Gid so John
slipped handkerchief from his sleeve
fastened it on bayonet, and held il
on high, where the breeze caught and
rocked it gently.
Almost at once the firing from the
kopje slackened, and then ceased, and
simultaneously the men heard the
bugle sound cease fire." When they
looked round bewildered, though nc
doubt to some extent relieved, they
saw their officers standing together,
and on the ground between them a
bayonet with shameful rennon at
tached. Which of the two had raised
it?
But nothing certain was known OF
the surrender until, by one of the
strange chances of war that upset all
calculations and render the foresight
of experience futile, Col. LIE Sage heard
from the Rilingtons themselves an ac-
count Of what had happened. ~
For reasons of their own, the Beers
had set the two young officers free,
having first relieved them of their val
uables. The brothers had tramped
back to camp, some so miles, in less
than 80 hours. They had had neither
food nor water, and had been soaked
to the skin in heavy rain. AS John
was on the point of collapse, shaking
in every limb, and almost unconscious,
he was ordered into hospital by the
doctor, and on Arthur devolved the
task of giving the details of the unfor-
tunate occurrence.
"Devilish awkward for the boy, hav-
ing such a story to tell when his own
brother was in CHARGE" thought the
colonel, as he prepared himself to lis
ten to the disclosure.
After the first few sentences his face
hardened. He misdoubted his own
senses. @
Il fail to follow you, Mr.. Ellington"
he interrupted, in tone that was sell
dom heard by the regiment. "Your
story is incredible. Am to under
stand that, without your brothers
knowledge or permission, you flew the
white flag after bare ten minutes
fighting, and with total loss Of three
men wounded and two killed."
Eyes. sir"
"You were not in any way separated
from the ammunition wagon?"
;" No, sir, we were not
Gould you have got at tiff you
had tried?"
quite easily, sir"
There was ring of conviction and
truth in the last three words that had
been wholly wanting in all that had
gone before, and the colonel recog-
nized it. A tinge CT color came into
the young mans face, and for the first
time since he had come into camp he
looked up. Then, remembering the
part he had set himself, his eyes re-
sought the ground. But the colonel
had seen what he wanted in them, and
had formed his own opinion there
from.
do you know you are practically
accusing yourself of cowardice?"
Eyes, SIR" answered Arthur, re-
Iapsing into the cold and guarded man.
ner he had momentarily dropped.
''Well, Mr. Ellington" resumed the
colonel, after painful pause, Il have
heard all you've got to say. Of course,
you are aware that you have left me
no option in the matter It will have
to be gone into when your brother is
able to give evidence, which at present
be is not In the meantime shall be-
obliged by your considering the state
nent you have just made as confden-
Eial. But there's something behind it
which I haven't got at. In the mean
lime you can return to duty"
AS the youngster left the tent Col.
lie Sage sighed deeply. He had seen
many good man fall in his country's
service, others had lost health or
strength or limbs. and others, again
more piteous still-theirg reputation
Ind their honor Was his old friends
son destined to join their dishonored
'anks? e
1T is bound to go hard with him it
lie sticks to that story" he muttered.
But there's something fishy some
where. I'd much sooner believe it of |
hat full-dress- parade brother of his.
III give the boy chance, anyway.
He may clear himself yet
But Arthur never did clear himself. |
lie fell mortally wounded in the very
lext skirmish, and died some hours |
afterwards.
II am glad the colonel understood"
lie said, as he drew his last Pickering
,reath. And so was Col. LIE Sage when
lie heard the message.
Of course the court Of inquiry never |
vas held. There was no object in STIR
ing up muddy waters. John was in
Aided home with rheumatic fever,
tut recovered to enjoy himself in civil
Magazine.
THERE WAS 4 DIFFERENCE.
fan Bunged Up in .sPleasuring"
Had No Right to Say He