Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-08-23
The Dead Soldier
Afterglow &,
BY KELVIN BRAYTON
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association. n

The national guard were fighting n
sham battle. The red were attacking
the enemy's country, while the blue
were defending IL. Lieutenant Ned
Wagstan was standing behind the line
OF battle. the men. at parade rest.
waiting orders. A stan officer rode up
and Suid.i
! This command has been annihilat-
trd"
The cebnel turned TO his men and
told thcm that, having been annihilat-
! rd. thcy could fight no more. Then he
gave the order to stack arms and per-
mission to do ms they liked till retreat.
billy said Wagstan to Captain
Drummond. Il want you, to do some.
thing for me-
! What is itr
Go up TO the house and tell Belle
Harknway that our regiment has been
Rnnihilaird. that I've been killed and
/ the jiS's up all around"
what for"
IL want TO see how she'll take it."
"She is certainly not so silly as to
take it literally"
She's pretty stupid"
Stupid girls are most attractive TO
men-that is, If they are pretty-and
Belle is very pretty-decidedly pretty"
IF you play your part well you can
fool her. I'm curious to know If she'll
mourn for me-"
"All right; I'll try it on. Suppose she
wants TO see your dead body"
Il never thought OF that. Perhaps
I'd better lie dead on the battlefield
You can bring her TO see the corpse
But first l want to know If you're
going to give me away"
No; l won't do that though It
would be good joke 10 do so. III
play the part for you rs well as ]
can" r.
"And youth tell me how she takes
! IT."
mo. but II she wants TO see your
corpse you can judge for yourself
about that"
"All right. You'll find me under that
big oak over there. So long"
Billy departed for the house. and
WaGstaff went over to the oak. sprawl
ed himself on the grass and. TO XIII
time while waiting TO be inspected for
dead man. lit n cigar. Men who
night sham battles need to get up "A
lot of Dutch courage. Ned had dis
hnguished himself for bravery induced
by seyera lbracersduring the fight ICON
sequenflyNhe felt dopey and soon Yield
ed to slumber Suddenly he was
awakened by girls voice:
| Where is he? Oh. tell me. where is
hep"
Ned. recognizing the voice of the girl
be loved and. realizing that soldiers
| are not usually killed with cigars in
their mouths. let the half smoked weed
| fall. He felt it roll down his cheek,
but where 1t landed he couldn't see
lie lay stiff and stark. -..,
Here he is"' he heard Drummond
| say
Ned looked sidewise between his
'lashes and saw Belle Harkaway hur.
rying toward him. He closed his eyes
and lay with peaceful expression on
his face. Indeed. he put on a certain
| serenity which he had often practiced
before mirror and which he con
sidered very becoming TO him. Belle
knelt beside him. He dared not open
/ his eyes. but he knew she was there
and very near him. ga IS
"Oh. Ned she moaned. 81
"He died noble death" Billy put In
solemnly.
Dear, brave Ned. If had only not
I treated you as did. If you could but
speak one word to me TO tell me that
/ you forgive me. Are you sure he is
/ dead? There's color in his face"
"Oh, that's often the case with men
shot in battle. They call 1t the sol
dier's afterglow."
This was very clever Of Billy. seeing
that the afterglow was produced by
the bracers Ned bad taken during the
/ fight.
Ned" moaned Belle. SPEAK to me"
Ned didn't dare part his lips suhl-
GENTLY to look at her. bur he could
hear her moaning over him.
"He makes beautiful corpse" Billy
remarked
Lovely. He must have been smok-
ing when he was shot"
What makes you think that?". ask.
ed Billy.
Don't you SEE the cigar on his
/ shoulder? Dear. brave Ned-coolly
smoking In the face OF danger"
That was just like him" said Billy.
He was always doing that kind Of
thing lie cared nothing for danger"
What were his last words?" asked
/ Belle. Did he say anything about
me-
Yes lie said. Tell Belle uarkaway'
that my last thoughts. my last words.
were Of her."
/ "Oh. dear. II could have been here
% bold him in my arms when no died.
Somehow 7 can't realize that the red
color you call the soldiers aftcrglow
isu't the blood Of life. I'm going to
7 pinch his cheek II may bring him
back 10 u.s."
She gave bis cheek a terrific pinch.
Ned WINGED but stood the test.
Seer cried Belle. THE aftorylOy-