The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-11-15
A Soldiers Vindication


everybody loved. His hair was flax,
his eye was robins egg blue. and he
Wore a perpetual smile on his lips. lie
looked so good that butter wouldn't
melt in his mouth.
When the Spanish--American war
broke ont. Bob. who was a member of
the national guard of his state. Went
with his regillc.t to Cuba and fought
through the battles that resulted in the
capture of Santiago. He seemed insen-
sible to fear, and his companions said
of him that he was too lazy to worry
about getting shot
Bob didn't get shot, but with that
luck which comes TO reckless people
who rather deserve punishment he re-
ceived wound just severe enough to
enable him to show the scars of Il war
veteran. \ Mauser bullet went
through the biceps Of his right arm,
giving what might pass for two
wounds, one where it went in and one
where it Went out.
Hazard. not being able to handle a
musket during this time had album
two balls from cartridges he sent one
to his best girl, with letter in which
he said that to her and her alone he
gave the Spanish bullet With which he
had been shot. The other he sent to
his other best girl, with similar mes
sage. He enjoined each to keep the Sc
cret of his preference, since he didn't
wish to appear to attach any impor-
lance to his wound.
Now, the recipients, Miss Edith
Spencer and Miss Della Marsh, were
extremely feminine young ladies'
While neither We're in love with the
Young soldier. both We're proud of the
preference. Each knew that the other
counted on Private Hazard as one Of
her especial friends at the front in
those exciting days when not to have
an especial friend at the war made
| girl feel and appear like a wall
| flower at ball. The next time Miss
l Spencer met Miss Marsh after the re-
| ceipt of her bullet she asked, With a
triumphant sparkle in the eye and toss
of the head:
/
| The response was doubtless indu-
enced by the questioner's manner
YES; the poor fellow has been severe
ly wounded
81 know replied the other, with all
air of superiority. He wrote me all
about it,
$50 he did me, and sent me a keep
sake
He sent me the bullet that struck
him"
Miss Marsh gasped for breath 81
have that bullet" she said Gin my
escritoirc.''
"And have it in my jewel box"
This was the preliminary part of a
conversation that led to the exhibition
of two bullets, each with a polished
surface. which is never found on one
that has been fired from gun, to say
nothing of being sent through mans
arm. Had the girls been disinterested
they would have smiled. AS it was,
they vowed that when Private Robert
Hazard returned he should explain
this strange proceeding and pronounce
|
had wounded him.
When the war ended, it virtually be-
gan for Bob Hazard. An enemy
awaited him which would have strick-
ell terror into any man of less bravery
His regiment marched through the
city from which it had departed with
flying colors and martial music The
| G,.cf Io
being mustered out was note from
Miss Spencer asking him to come and
see how she had mounted the keep
sake he had sent her. He called that
evening and found Miss Spencer and
} Miss Marsh together. On the table
was an open jewel box that had held
pair of solitaire earrings. and in
place of the earrings were two bullets
The expression ON the faces of the
girls was ominous.
will you please" said Miss Spencer,
''tell us which of these two bullets
wounded your
Bob looked at the leaden missiles.
! Their polished surfaces should have
brought the blush of shame to his
face but they did not Indeed he
took no note of anything. lie was
thinking how to wiggle ont of the
scrape he had brought upon himself
Finally With an injured air he asked
permission to take off his coat. which
was granted. Removing the coat aud
Il pair of gold sleeve links. he rolled
up his shirt sleeve.
This wound.' he said, pointing to
the scar where the missile that had
really struck him Oh the inner surface
of the arm, was made by the bul, It
on the right. This" pointing to the
scar where the original missile had left
his arm. was made by the bullet ON
! the left
The girls looked at each other.
You two young ladies'" he con
tinued. "as especial friends Of mine.
thought might like to have a bullet
) that had struck a simple soldier Of
the Spanish war. Having bullet for
zach wOund I was enallad tn send ono