The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-09-13
An lgnominious
Fall
BY JAMES r. WINSLOW

north to volunteer, but after some
eighteen months had passed enlist
ments fell off. and the government
was obliged TO resort to the draft.
Herbert Bradford, a young married
mar with several very young children.
was drafted. He was struggling to
keep the wolf from the door, his wife
was in delicate health, and he had no
money to pay a substitute. His case
was distressing. Neither he nor his
wife had a relative In the world on
whom his family could rely for sup
port while he would be away. The
only person who could be even OF do
nestle assistance was Alice Bradford.
a girl Of twenty, and she ~bethought
herself what she could do for her
brother and his family in their hour OF
need. Had she lived in these times
she might have taken a position on a
salary, but that was before women
became companion workers Of men.
One morning when Herbert Bradford
] WAS lIeDulluS W iCPOit W thC oNo''N
where he was to be enrolled he recelv-
ed q note from one James Harrison
stating that he had been hired to go to
the war as Bradford's substitute. On
the same day a young Ia who gave
his name as above presented himself
for enrolment. Harrison was a rosy
checked boy who looked too young to
be a soldier. but by this time almost
anything was considered good enough
food for powder, and young Harrison
was readily accepted.
At the first fight his regiment was
knocked to pieces by a superior force
of Confederates. While the confusion
was at it's height Harrison found him
self in a cornfield so frightened out Of
his wits that he didn't know which
ton Of the enemy. He ran into the
color bearer, who was shot down at
the moment of their meeting, and the
flag. the staff having been shattered.
got entangled about Harrison's neck
and shoulders. The major. who was
vainly trying to rally the fugitives,
seeing him going with the colors
straight at the Confederates, sang out:
See that brave boy carrying your
colors to victory! If you have a spark
Of manhood left turn and follow him!'
The sight Of the flag borne in the OPP
posite direction and the majors words
had their effect The men turned, re-
formed, went after Harrison and re.
covered the ground they had lost.
Moreover their work encouraged their
thanking corps and turned defeat into
victory.
Harrison found himself a hero. He
had sense enough to keep his mouth
shut, but he was the most astonished
man in the army. He was summoned
to the ~colonel's headquarters, where be
was complimented in the highest terms
by his commander and ordered to as
sumo the duties of his captain, who
had been shot In the fight. Harrison,
while these encomiums and honors
were bestowed upon him, stood with
his eyes bent on the ground, appearing
to all who saw him a marvel Of mod
esty.
His commission arrived in due time,
and he was the most admired man in
his regiment. But what he was going
to do when the next fight came on he
didn't know. He hoped that if he Vert
again inclined to run away he might
again run toward the enemy. But soon
after his promotion the army went into
winter quarters, and there was no
more fighting until the following
spring.
During the winter the major died of
wounds. and the lieutenant colonel
went home for a sick leave, from
which he did not return. Captain
Harrison became second in command
Of the regiment, a beardless boy, the
curiosity Of the army. No field Officer
Of his corps was so young and girlish
in appearance. Indeed, 1t was this
femininity that caused every one to
wonder at his bravery.
One day the colonel received an or
der to report to Washington and, de-
string to show his boy commander to
the magnates there. took Harrison
with him. After introducing the
brave officer to the president, the sec.
rotary Of war and other great men,
who looked at him with envy for his
reputation for marvellous courage. the
colonel invited a lot Of them to dine
with himself and his subordinate. AS
soon as the dinner had been finished
the colonel gave an account Of the
fight in which his lieutenant colonel
had distinguished himself, told how
he seized the colors from the nan
who fell against him and, bearing
them forward. stemmed the current of
fugitives and led them back to vic
tory. The colonel was raising his
glass to drink to the brave soldier
when Harrison caught sight of a
mouse running along the Dashboard.
With a suppressed shrek he jumped
up on to his chair and from thence or
to the table. q
A few days after this fall from glory
Alice Bradford. who had been long
missing. reappeared at her home. She
never explained her absence. but the
onoaoronro uomo1iotalv o%xov tho