The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-26

h'~'F
Colonel Hayward Of the Twenty
sixth United States cavalry looked
weakly around. He had raised himself
a little on his sound arm, feeling at
last able to look for the help which
seemed so long in coming His left was
doubled under him in warm, red pool.
He thought the bleeding of his snOul-
der had stopped a little; lack of sup
ply. he opined. with grim humOr. He
would like TO know the time, but his
watch bracelet was a part of the gen.
eral wreck of his left arm.
Apart from hope or help, two things
were uDDermOst in his mind-thought
and image first. of course, as il had
always been. but afterward his regi-
ment crowded out all else. During the
pandemonium of that first hOTrid sur
prise. carnage had reigned, he knew
Men had dropped around him like pup
pets in a mimic battle. only these
might not be used again, But after
ward. surely they had been gaining
ground. when that hot message on his
arm had given him his temporary dis
charge.
How much that bunch of bluecoats
was to him, The honor of each man,
dear almost as his own. He yearned
for news of the fight. Would to God
that it was victory: if not. it would
only mean hard luck. for none knew
better than its colonel. the bravery of
the Twenty-sixth cavalry.
A faini sound smOte his ear Surely
that was a step, He tried to turn, but
the effort cost him a pang and he sank
back. The colonel set his teeth. Early
I'm life he had learned to bear worse
wounds that physical; to undervaiue
such hurt as this. when Edith had told
him that she loved Spencer better, and
he had watched her become another
mans wife.
That had been an awful time after
his years of hopeful wooing; but il was
all over now. buried twenty-five years
deep in the past. and her son. her very
own boy. was now a lieutenant in the
coloneFs regiment At first he thought
il remarkable coincidence. but after
ward felt sure she had chosen his regi-
ment and mutely placed the boy under
his guardianship.
. He felt grateful to her for this sign
of confidence; 1t helped him to forget
the long years he had lived alone fo1
her sake Well. he had done all he
could to help the DOy-
The warm, dry wind had died down
now Everything was as still as the
grave He felt that he was growing
weaker Surely some one would come
to his aid soon. Hush, Certainly that
was a step-a sturdy. quick one, run
ming hurriedly over the ground. He
tried to raise himself again. Yes, BY
.Iove, There was a man. and a blue
coated one, doging behind that elumT
Of bushes
Hello" he shouted weakly Help,
Come out from behind there. for Gods
sake. I'm wounded.
The bluecoat lay still. The colonel
gathered strength.
Hello, HELD, Come out from be
hind that bush What do you mean,
] see you plainly; help. if you're hu-
man at all.
After a moment. as if Of cogitatiOn
the object lifted itself and a straight
Young body moved toward him.
The colonel stared. looked again
then turned his head away with a sick
ened groan. 1t was one of his OWL
men. well and unhurt, slIulking in the
rear of his regiment.
Surely he had enough TO bear with
out this horrible infliction. 1t was toe
much, His face was still turned away
when the fellow kneeled beside hin
and fumbled at his arm.
Are you hurt much. sir2" a voice
said weakly in his ear, but only witt
the weakness of fear.
Yielding to his first impulse, Colone
Hayward tried to push him away. Hc
knew every man i'm his regiment. anC
he did not want to have 10 identify
this creature. Feeling that Ibis 1Sas
FOOLISH, Re (0cHe0 az 2ast. Greac God
Who was this standing before him? 4
could not be. His eyes We're deceivins
him. That could not be her boy. no.
Edith's boy. covering before him, He
drew his hand wildly before his eye.
and regardless Of the torture i'm hi.
side. struggled into a sitting position.
MY God. Spencer" he cried. "whaf
devil tempted you? Do YOU know what
you've done. boy? You've cut your
own throat. as surely as man is man
The colonel thought again of the
wounds worse than physical. while thi:
being stood irresOlute before him
crushed out of all human semblance. {
nitiful. covering dog. The boys face
which had been scarlet with shame
faded into sullen bronze under the
coloneTs gaze.
Colonel Hayward. I know it's bad
sir" he faltered. 'I wish ii were un.
done now. but l couldn't face that aw-
full charge simply couldn't. Why
the bullets were simply raining around
as thick as hail. sir. and thicker. and
not a man could we see to shoot at.
don't know where they were-behinC
the hills, lying down. in the earth. i
seemed TO me. but nowhere to be seen
Tt Just meant certain death to be IN
that charge. They all fell around me
lnortally wounded, before 1 hid
chester, Ainslie. Dalten-they were
all shot right before my eyes. ] eOulC
do no good. sir, no good"
mo good" the colonel Numbered
s.Have you done any good by disgrac-
ing yourself and your regiment for
ever? Have you done any good BY
branding yourself with what should bt
10 an officer and q gentleman worse
than the brand Of Cain? Have vol
done any good by skulking ana hidinl
in safety. when your ,more fortunate
companions faced their duties anc
T,,,nd them in death? Nv God. man.