Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-11-16
ONE OF WARS
HEROES
a Story Ia Ssppon oil Peace
by l.. n. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation. lgii.

IN iHnpoHSibic 10 tiluk OF great men Ill
an undignlied position There are also
lesser lights
The young have their heroes. whom
they look upon Ak something above
themselves, whom they surround with
an illuminated atmosphere.
Osmond Edwards was one of these
When the Spanish war broke out, on
account of his prominence among his
fellows, 10 one thought of his going
to Cuba as mere private. lie set
abou: raising II company which he
was to command The young men all
wished to be members of Edwards
company, and it was soon filled up
and made part of crack regiment
From the first the captain acted on
the principle that d leader must be
unapprOachable. He did not associate
on equal terms with his men, even
those who had been his intimate
friends since boyhood While other
company officers were approached ia
miliarly and addressed as captain or
lieutenant. it was always Captain Ed
wards. the speaker standing ut at
tentiOn and saluting respectfully.
Furthermore. when the. regiment en-
tered upon its first engagement Ed
wards fulfilled what was expected of
him. While some other officers blanch-
ed or gave way. he kept his men up
to their work. and at critical mo-
ment. when some of the field officers
proved incompetent and others were
disabled, he seized n flag. sprang to
the front and saved the regiment from
panic. A newspaper in the United
States published picture of him wav-
ing the flag over his head and shout
ing to the men to come on" This
fixed him as hero in the minds of
every young person who had ever
known him.
During the fighting about Santiago
Edwards. who commanded his regi-
ment as lieutenant colonel. lost leg.
When warrior goes out to fight the
battles of his country and comes home
on Il stretcher he is at the summit of
his career. A burst of admiration, of
sympathy. greets him. after which
those about him begin to think of 9th
er matters. The war in which one
distinguishes himself recedes. After
awhile when asked in what battle he
was MANNED and he names it he is
asked during which of several pleced-
ing wars that battle occurred. If h,
lives long enough he belongs to pa
period with which the new generatio
has little or no real sympathy.
Edwards on his return occupied the
pinnacle of heroism. The young men
spoke Of him with envy; the girls Law
ished favOrS upon him. That dignity
which had always been natural to him
added to his glory. Several romantic
girls who were infatuated with the
idea of being Il heros wife were ready
to marry him. He chose Gwendolin
Emory, and she was very proud to be
singled out from all the rest, with the
expectation of being Mrs Colonel Os
mond Edwards.
But, as has been said. Edwards was
at the top of the hill of fame. He
could get no hgher-at least in the
profession of glory. for he was dis
abled. War has no use for men into
whose carcaSSes she has bitten. They
are to her like a joint that has been
cut. The young colonel walked with
his accustomed dignity. but he limped-
in other words. he hobbled Those who
upon his return had looked upon him
with admiration, which was really
curiosity, now saw Ill him nothing but
a hobbler. Those who revered him
made no special demonstration of their
reverence. 1t had become an old story.
In short. the hero's heroism, so far as
concentrating the gaze of his fellow
beings was concerned. was fading
away.
His fiancee noticed this, and it trou-
bled her. She had engaged herself to
him as hero and was now begin
ming to realize that she was tied to Il
hobber One day she overheard
man say 10 another, referring To her
fiance. That hobbler wears IL cork
leg" How did he lose his own"
Don't know for certain. I've heard
it got caught in bear trap"
Miss Emory's heart sank within her.
She began to see that the paths of =
glory that don't lead TO the grave lead
to misfortune.
But the real pang came later She
and her lover We're in the country.
Edwards was canoeist and begged
her to 30 out with him in his canoe
While he was padding he attempted
to change position. 10 change posi-
ton in caroe with a cork leg Is
dangerous. The canoe was upset.
Miss Emory was n splendid swimmer
and. knowing that her lover could
also swim. paid no attention to him
till she had caught hold OF the canoe
Then on looking about for him she
saw only his leg floating. He was
unable to sink it, and it sank him.
Miss Emory swan for him. but was
unable to right him. The shore was
near. and. selling him by his cork
heel. she lowed him to safety
The spell that had been thrown
;, ro11pd him as n hero was dissolved