The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-26
DISGRACE IS WIPED OUT
BY JAMES w. JACKSON.

By JAMES w. JACKSON.
The tents of the army stretched
off into the distance Of a gloomy
night. A young fellow with the glow
Of the fire on his grave face looked up
to welcome a visitor.
Can you read in the embers the
fortunes of the coming battle. Bur.
ger?" the newcomer queried. lightly.
Burger made no reply at once. Then
he broke the silence with . speech
that for him was long.
"You and l may never sit together
like this again. Cartwright. Ill tell
you story. Once there was . young
military cadet proud Of his calling.
But one day when a girl was very III
and he was denied permission to 60 to
see her he broke bounds and went
anyway. Coming back to quarters late
at night he was seen and hauled up
to explain. In foolish desperation he
lied-like common thief. They broke
his sword, Cartwright. for that. and
expelled him-broke his sword-mind
you"
Burger bowed his face In his hands
for an instant. Cartwright nodded In
silent sympathy.
$50 I came into the army as q
private. to offer myself and my life
In atonement. Something tells me the
sacrifice will be required tomorrow.
I wouldn't have you wonder about my
secret. II I 60 you will know l went
% soldier, won't you!" He turned
his head beseechingly and his COM
rade nodded reinsurance.
They did not talk again until the
dawn brought q sudden alarm. The
army reused swiftly. The splitting fire
Of the pickets became almost at once
that curiously unintermittent roar Of
continued infantry fire. Before Bur.
ger and Cartwright knew where they
we're to take part, cannon had doomed
out a challenge and had been crash
ingly answered. The battle was on.
Then came the order to advance.
Burger was satisfied. His was the
most eager foot to respond when the
forward command was given. Then
the small detachment swept on
double.quicked-swept on toward an
obliteration as swift and utter az II
they had faced the shriveling blast
Of a furnace.
For the enemy was ready and wait.
ing. In force. An unerring fire seemed
to strike the attacking line and rip
along It like fingers over the keys Of
q piano. The front staggered and
reeled.
And the officers vert down a.
thickly % their men before the muir.
derous scythe Of war. Those that re.
NAMED, however. pushed on with But.
ger and his fellows at their heels.
with the scream Of shells. the mad
roar Of musketry, the up.aying clods
Of earth. men staggering on In .
drunken line or Keeling % into the
gutter, the air trembling with the
fierce passion Of war. the sky lurid
with wild flashes and Z wall Of lead
impeding the advance. Yet the com.
mand pressed on-Burger pushed for.
ward on q lone officers heels.
For there was but one now. So long
as there was one to lead. just SO long
Burger. with blackened face and
parched lips, was content.
Then that one suddenly became
palsied. With q hand clapped quickly
to his breast he bent Topping. his
sword fed from his hand. He dropped
to his knees, sank slowly to the
ground; and the command was com.
manderless!
The fates were eager to give Burger
his chance. With yell he snatched
at the sword and swung 1t high.
"On," he rallied, with an exalted
countenance turned toward the men.
With o tall figure erect, his head
thrown back and q strong arm. steel
pointed showing the way. he held the
wavering line for the critical mo-
ment.
Then, with sublime faith In his fol.
lowers, he turned his back and leaped
for the stone. entertainments. The
squad did not fail him. Led by de-
monized chief it swarmed the enemy
In q rush and staked the game on .
hand.to-hand conflict.
And the spirit behind that charge
won. The enemy fell away. The
edges of the line thus broken weaken.
ed and bent backward. Then an At
tack In force was hurled through the
break, sweeping the enemy into .
heap upon itself as whirlpool might
circle driftwood into central spot.
The opposing army retreated. The
battle was over and the day was won.
There was respite then for the ranks
and a chance to count the survivors.
Prone on the ground Burgers men
found him, an officer in private's un.
form. They carried him back to the
field hospital, where he lay for hours,
too far from the world Of understand.
ing to know that the charge he took