The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-11-30

they look upon as 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. no one thought OF his going
to Cuba as . mere private. He set
about raising a company which he
was to command The young men all
wished to be members OF Edwards
company. and il was soon filed up
and made a part OF a crack regiment
From the frst the captain acted on
the principle that a 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
miuarly and addressed as captain or
lieutenant. ii was always Captain Ed
wards. the speaker standing at 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. be kept his men up
to their work. and at a critical mo-
ment. when some OF the deld officers
proved incompetent and others were
disabled. be seized a dag. 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 a hero In the minds Of
every young person who had ever
known him
During the lighting about Santiago
Edwards. who commanded his regi-
ment as lieutenant colonel. lost a leg.
When a warrior goes out to fight the
battles OF his country and comes home
on a 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 be
was MANNED and be names II he Is |
asked during which Of several preced-
ing wars that battle occurred II he
lives long enough be belongs to a past
period with which the new generation /
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 hero's wife were ready /
10 marry him He chose Gwendolin
Emory, and she was very proud 70 be
singled out from all the rest. with the
expectation Of being Mrs. Colonel Os-
mond Edwards.
But, as has been said. Edwards was
al the top Of the hill Of fame He
could get no higher-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 ike a Joint that has been
cut The young colonel walked with
his accustomed dignity. but be limped-
In other words. be hobbled- Those who
upon his return had looked upon him
with admiration. which was really
curiosity, now saw in him nothing but
a hobbler. Those who revered him
made no special demonstration OF their
reverence. II had become an old story.
In short, the hero's heroism, 50 far as
concentrating the gaze OF his fellow
beings was concerned. was fading
away.
His 6ancee noticed this. and It trou-
bled her. She had engaged herself to
him as a hero and was now begin
ming to realize that she was tied to
hObbler One day she overheard a
man say to another. referring to her
fance. THAT hobbler wears a cork
leg" How did be lose his ownY
Don't know for certain. I've heard
II got caught 10 a bear trap"
Miss EmOry's heart sank within her.
She begun 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 were in the country.
Edwards was a canoeist and begged
her to go out with him in his canoe.
While be was padding be attempted
TO change position. To change posi-
lion in a canoe with a cork leg Is
The canoe was upset.
Miss Emory was a splendid swimmer
and, knowing that her lover could
also swim. paid no attention to him
an she had caught hold Of the canoe Z
Then on looking about for him she 1
Jaw only his leg floating. He was 2
unable 10 sink It. and It sank him. 4
Misc Emory swan for him. but was
unable to right him. The shore was :
near. and. selling him BY his cork
heel. she towed him 10 safety. i
The spell that had been thrown
around him as a hero was dissolved.
and be was now nothing but one Of y
wars victims She departed from him =
ana IN few months wrote him that
she had been mistaken IN thinking she q