The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-07-05
An lgnomiiniious
Fall
By JAMES r. WINSlOW

Herbert Bradford. young married
man 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 q substitute. His case
was distressing. Neither he nor his
wife had a relative In the world Cd
whom his family could rely for sup
port while be 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 position on
salary, but that was before women
became companion workers Of men.
One morning when Herbert Bradford
was preparing to report to the station
where he was to be enrolled he receiv
ed q note from one James Harrison
stating that he had been hired to 60 to
the war as BradfOrd's substitute. On
the same day young man who gave
his name as above presented himself
for enrolment Harrison was a rosy
checked boy who looked too young to
be q 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 superior force
of Confederates While the confusion
was at its height Harrison found him.
self in a corn6eld so frightened out OF
his wits that be didn't know which
way to run and started in the dtrec-
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 op
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
danking corps and turned defeat into
victory.
Harrison found himself hero. He
had sense enough to keep his mouth
shut, but be was the most astonished
man in the army He was summoned
to the colonel's headquarters. where he
was complimented in the highest terms
by his comma nder 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
bis eyes bent on the ground. appearing
to all who saw him a marvel of mod
eSty
His commission arrived in due time.
and be was the most admired man in
bis regiment But what be was going
to do when the next fight came on he
didn't know He hoped that if he were
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 lighting until the following
spring.
During the winter the major died OF
wounds. and the lieutenant colonel
went home for sick leave. from
which be 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 it 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 bis 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
be seized the colors from the man
who fell against him and. bearing
them forward. stemmed the current or
fugitives and led them back to vic
tory. The colonel was raising bis
glass to drink to the brave soldier
when Harrison caught sight OF a
mouse running along the Dashboard
With suppressed Shrek he jumped
ND on to his chair and from thence on
10 the table.
A few days after this fall from glory
Alice Bradford. who had been long
missing. reapppared at her home. She
never explained her absence. bnt the
appearance Immediately after the