Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-12-02

ordered. stopping now and again to |
empty them. till the fire from behind
the trees had ceased. Then he was or.
dercd by the general. who continued to
direct the operations in person. to take
his battery through an open gateway
and post it beyond the intervening
trees. The guns were hauled into the
place through the grove and past
large dwelling With massive pillars in
its front. The Federal troops had been
cleared from that part Of the field, and
the general was satisfied. Turning to
Birney with scowl. he said:
"I.ie,ltenant. so to the rear under ar.
rest"
General" replied the young man.
sheathing his sword. II crave your per-
mission to first so into the house yon-
der"
what do you want to go there for?"
ITO see if the inmates are alive"
"'rhe inmates! What are they to
you:"
"l'rom that house | went south to
Join this army. There | was born.
There less than IL year ago was mar
| fleu. u IL u''t IL WYNN SltlSC tSNClNSN
word from my wife that she had there
Just been delivered Of Il son. You see
the holes made 10y those shots. that
rent in the roof from the explosion of
shell? General. for Gods sake let
ME so and sec if have killed my wife
and boy!
The genera; sat in his saddle listen.
| {,,,. I,.;n ll,t mn sjnnn1 rl1oN
till it was finished. then threw himself
from his horse.
Come" he said II will so with
YOU
Together they went into the house
All was silent: all was wreck. Not
person appeared on the ground floor
and the two officers hurried upstairs
That, too. was deserted. Then Il sud
den thought struck the lieutenant, and
he hurried to the cellar, followed by
his general There on q wicker lounge
lay a young woman with an ashen
face and closed eyes. while an old man
and woman were administering restor.
. atives A negro nanny was holding
a baby. The two officers. who had en-
tered, stood awe stricken. Birney saw
his father. mother. child. wife. He
was soldier and brave man. but in
all men there is something wolnanly
that when pent to overfowing will
burst its bounds. In fury of tears
the young husband and father. point
ing to the livid body of his wife. eX
claimed:
There. general, is the cause of my
cowardice. You have forced me to fire
to kill my own wife. And now yor
have put me under arrest. Take my
sword: have no further use for it
| wish to God had disobeyed YOU
order and you had cut me down fol
mutiny Coward. | have been Il COW
ard Had been brave | would have
shot you rather than have turned m,
guns on my own home
The general stood looking from hi
subordinate to the pale face of tn
wife and mother as one turned TO mar
bic lie saw Il horror OF WAR such a
he had never seen before. And it WA
By his order that his; lieutenant ha'
fired the guns; against his; own wife
recovering from the effects of child
birth Then. suddenly starting fro!
his ie,lltr@y. tie cried to an infantry
man WHO had com" down the stairs:
go for Il surgeon Don't lose II INK
mcn1, Ride for Il lfe.''
The man disappeared. and the re,
erll turned again to the group l.iel
tenant l.incy WAS kneelng beside hi
wife, with his arms about hcr. begin
8 her to live Tor his sake" Her faith,
at WAS Slan,lin" with bowed head. 1l
al mother was f;,lliing her to give hi
. air
ne "She must ,r moved from here sal
MS the general. and. calling Oh sever:
TO privatrS who had Strayed from tn"
go, commands AND were rambling az,
.h through the house. lie ordered them
No carry nc lu!lnge and its burden Il
of stairs and into {, room where the lea
IN. wrrck;,:p had been done. There I!
liz invail. hunNed hy the presence of H.
.ur husband gathered Il little strength Il!
., was enabled to wind her arms a!o,
an his neck
>I Then came Il surgeon and appli.
simple reSlnln!ivrS.
49,, "lf she RECEIVERS" he said. latter u
az, ing in IL house battered by artille
while she was in such Il condition
., will be IL miracle"
His official duties carried the &c
~, eral away. Before leaving be direct
go that everything the medical staff cou
supply be brought for her use.
And yoi,. irutenant." he added
Eirnry. "nrr to remain on duty here
further orders
ru. Under her husbands tender care I
mother PASSED IL crisis and rccovert
:, but before HAT the army had vii
drawn suNthwnrd. and within Il fo
N night Eiiney rcioincd his battery.
'' ~ which, he captain having died of
~ wounds he was prollo'ed to the co
=. mnnd
~" The general pondcrcd long as to h
w he could make reiEration to his
81 Y thn SolOn time rpfr: