The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-07-01
DISGRACE is WIPED OUT
BY JAMES w. JACKSON.

to welcome a visitor
Can you read in the embers the
fortunes of tho 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 | may never sit together
like this again, Cortwrtght. I'll tell
you story. Once there was a young
military cadet proud of his calling.
But one day when girl was very i'll
and he was denied permission to go 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 a common thi-f. 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. Cortwright nodded In
! silent sympathy
so | came into the army as a
private. to offer myself and my life
In atonement. Something tells me the
sacrifice will be required tomorrow
| wouldn't have you wonder about my
secret. If | go you will know | went
as a soldier won't you?" He turned
his head beseechingly and his com
rade nodded reinsurance.
They did not talk again until the
iau hrnnuht oil bA
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
were 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-swe on toward an
obliteration as swift and utter as IL
they had faced the shriveling blast
Of 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
a piano. The front staggered and
reeled
And the officers went down as
thickly as their men before the mur-
derous scythe of war Those that re-
mainSd, however, pushed on with Bur
ger and his fellows at their heels,
with the scream of shells, the mad
roar of musketry, the up-flying clods
of earth, men staggering on in
drunken line or reeling as into the
gutter, the air trembling with the
fierce passion of war, the sky lurid
with wild flashes and a wall Of lead
impeding the advance. Yet the com
mand pressed on-Burger pushed for
ward on a 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 a 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
The fates were eager to give Burger
his chance. With yell he snatched
at the sword and swung it high.
on" he rallied, with an exalted
turned toward the men.
With tall figure erect, his head
thrown back and a strong arm, steel
pointed showing the way. he held the
wavering line for the critical mo-
nent.
Then, with sublime faith in his fol
overs, he turned his back and leaped
or the stone-wall ehtrenchments. The
squad did not fail him. Led by a de-
nonized chief it swarmed the enemy
n a rush and staked the game on a
conflict.
And the spirit behind that charge
Won. The enemy fell away. The
.dges OF the line thus broken weaken
ID and bent backward Then an at
ack in force was hurled through the
freak, sweeping the enemy into a
Ieap upon itself as whirlpool might
ircle driftwood into a central spot.
The opposing army retreated. The
attle was over and the day was won.
There was respite then for the ranks
nd a chance to count the survivors.
rome on the ground Burgers men
ound him, an officer in a private's un.
'orm. They carried him back to the
eld hospital, where he lay for hours.
DO far from the world OF understand
lg to know that the charge he took
p had been the most fortunate move
the whole battle.
But the commanding general vowed
lat his commission should come as
lst as the mails might bring 1t. And
Is nurse was empowered to tell him
lat as soon as his eyes were open.
They opened at last on her. And
icy rested in a long. wondering stare
n her anxious solicitious and blush .