The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-30
ONE OF WARS
HEROES
A Story In Support OF Peace
BY F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

is impossible to think of great men IL
an undignified position. There are alsC
lesser lights.
The young have their heroes, whom
they look upon as something above
themselves, whom they surround witt
an illuminated atmosphere.
0smond 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 sci
about raising company which he
was to command. The young men all
wished to be members of Edwards
company, and 1t was soon filed up
and made a part of a crack regiment.
From the first the captain acted on
the principle that a leader must be
unapproachable. He did not associate
on equal terms with bis 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 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, he kept his men up
to their work, and at a critical mo
ment. when some of the field officers
proved incompetent and others were
disabled. be seized flag. sprang 10
the front and saved the regiment from
panic A newspaper in the United
States published a 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 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 he
was MANNED and be names It he is
asked during which of several proceed
ing wars that battle occurred. If 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
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 0s-
mond Edwards.
But, as has been said. Edwards was
at 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 like joint that has been (
cut. The young colonel walked with /
lis accustomed dignity. but he limped-
n other words. he hobbled. Those who /
upon his return had looked upon him I
with admiration, which was really /
now saw In him nothing but 7
/ hobbIer. Those who revered him I
made no special demonstration of their /
everence. IL had become an old story. I
n short, the hero's heroism, so far as
the gaze of his fellow
beings was concerned. was fading
way.
His fiancee noticed this, and 1t trou-
lied her. She had engaged herself to
lin as n hero and was now begin
ling TO realize that she was tied TO
Iobbler. One day she overheard a
nan say 10 another. referring to her
lance That hobbler wears cork
eg." How did he lose his owny'
Don't know for certain. I've heard
got caught In bear trap"
Miss Emory's heart sank within her.
he began TO see that the paths OF
Tory that don't lead to the grave lead
0 misfortune.
But the real pang came later. She
nd her lover were in the country.
edwards was a canoeist and begged
er to go out with him in his canoe.
While he was padding he attempted
D change position. TO change posi-
lon in a canoe with cork leg is
angerous. The canoe was upset
liss Emory was splendid swimmer
nd, knowing that her lover could
lso SWIM paid no attention to him
II she had caught hold OF the canoe.
hen on looking about for him she
ivy only his leg floating. He was
nable to sink it, and ii sank him.
Miss Emory swan for him. but was
nable 10 right him. The shore was !
ear. and, seizing him by bis cork :
eel. she lowed him TO safety.
The spell that had been thrown
round him as a hero was dissolved.
nd he was now nothing but one Of
airs victims. She departed from him