Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1913-06-19
Song in The MIGHT
BY JAS. WILLIAM JACKSON.

4 endurance, and the leader was hnr.
Idened with terrible responsibility
4 The enemy was close at hand and an
solute silence imperative The colonel.
q few hours before, had detailed thie
little force to cut out q detachment 81
the enemy.
For hours they had plowed through
the mud. eager for the encounter. Pa
fore darkness fell the discovery was
made that the enemy numbered fon,
times as many men as supposed. Il
would be madness to hope for more
than drawn battle. the lieutenant q.
hected; and yet-the colonel had eiv.
en- his orders. At daylight the com.
mander would march on the assunnn
ton that the work was done. .
= can't 60 back and say | was
afraid. the boy. told himself: .'but Il
would be murder to charge with this
little band. II had to think only 8,
myself .-'''
There was another hour before he
need act.
And wonder he thought, ia :
istless way, Il wonder where she i
tonight?'' Il.
A few hundred yards behind the gul
" loomed up an old mansion. AS the
men now lay in silence, save for the
dreary, pattering preudle Of the rain
and the slushing OF mud as one
changed his position slightly, light
shone out across the wet field from a
window Of the house. "A moment later
the distant, sweet tones Of piano
We're audible. The lieutenant heard the
opening chords with sense Of their.
familiarity.
Some one began song The words
We're not distant; not even the music
was sharply defined at that distance,
But as the song proceeded, coming out
into the night with a mystic sweet.
Eess and power, the lieutenant remem.
bered it's mesmeric harmony.
Gfanton called to mind a certain day
before his uniform grew ragged. The
settings Of the song then had been
ne old room, a glorious woman.
fascinating voice. It was not song
that lulls; it thrilled and lifted high
and higher 1t exalted, until the impos-
slble seemed easy to grasp.
AS the song proceeded the lieuten-
ant felt the full strength Of its quick
ening impulse; and gradually he put
away from himself the weak and I'M
aerving dependency. Almost. before
the last note died away on the night
ae had the squad afodt, confident that
his own spiritual intoxication was
shared in some measure by his follow
ers. u
Just beyond the woods faint indi-
cation Of sentry was discerned in q.
half defined shadow.
The little band, deploying, came out
Df the deeper shadows in long line,
ranged against the whole face of the
opposing force.
At that instant just one thrilling
3Charge!" was ordered. It came from
The lieutenant, and it was keyed in
the sharp, enthralling harmony Of the
song.
It was over soon. The charge itself
became wild pursuit The lieutenant
still led the way until-the sword
slipped from his fingers and he sank,
neadlong into the soft mud and lay
still, while his men hurried on
! It was hours after, and another day,
when the lieutenant's eyes opened
with intelligence. For a few minutes
ais glance ranged about a sunny room
IN a questioning way From the couch
where he lay he could see but part OF
the room; and as he strove to turn
Inimself a quiet figure came quickly
q his side. Then his eyes looked
straight up into those of q woman.
There came another wondering ques-
lion into his glance and a great, glad
establishment to find her there. But
mis- lips formed different query.
| "The fght?'' he asked, weakly, and
with the brevity Of spent strength.
Your colonel Is here" she said,
with smile, as she drew little near
sr, "and he bids me say. that this day
surely makes you 8 captain and z
HERO ,ss.,
and the men my men p he.
begged. ri s.ss En-
Two wounded-and yourself; moth
Ing worse she replied, softly.
It was the song we heard In the
rain and the night, " he told her, II .
whisper. Il. ~
Last night, 1t thrilled me to con-
quer an army, IL need be; and now II
makes me bold for myself Last night
I cursed the fates that took me from
you before could tell you how / cared
Tor you. / would have lost that fight
heaven forgive me! I would have
murdered my men in my weakness
and homesick longing It was your
song, that wonderful song, which gave
me strength; and it gives me courage
now to brave your verde to tell you
that / love you better than anythingin
AL this world. Are you Elad7 Say
you are
Il am glad" she mnrmured, with
world Of earnestness. The song vas
al for you. ] Was thinking 81 you