The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-06
SONG IN THE NIGHT
BY JAS. WILLIAM JACKSON.

The young lieutenant crouched IN
the mud Of the gully. Every man Of
the squad was wearied to the limit OF
endurance. and the leader was bur.
dened with q terrible responsibility
The enemy was close at hand and alb
solute silence imperative. The colonel,
few hours before, had detailed this
little force to cut out detachment OF
the enemy.
For hours they had plowed through
the mud. eager for the encounter. Be.
fore darkness fell the discovery was
made that the enemy numbered four
times 40 many men 40 supposed. II
would be madness to hope for more
than . drawn battle. the lieutenant re-
dected; and yet-the colonel had Civ.
en- his orders. At daylight the com
mander would march ON tho assump
ton that the work was done.
Il can't 60 back and say waa
afraid" the boy told himself; but II
would be murder to charge with this
little band. II I had to think only Of
myself"
There was another hour before he
need act.
"And I wonder" he thought, in q
listless way, II wonder where she II
tonight"
A,few hundred yards behind the gull
~ doomed 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, a light
shone out across the wet field from 9
window Of the house. A moment later
the distant, sweet tones Of a piano
were audible. The lieutenant heard the
opening chords with a sense Of theil
familiarity.
Some one began song. The words
! were 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
ness and power, the lieutenant remem
bered its mesmeric harmony.
| Granton called to mind certain day
before his uniform grew ragged. The
settings Of the song then had been 9
fine old room, a glorious woman, 9
fascinating voice. 1t was not song
that lulls; it thrilled and lifted-higt
and higher it exalted, until the impos
sible 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 un
nerving dependency. Almost before
the last note died away on the nigh
he had the squad afoot, confident tha
his own spiritual intoxication wa.
shared in some measure by his follow
ers.
Just beyond the woods faint indi
cation of sentry was discerned In ,
half defined shadow
The little band, deploying. came on
Of the deeper shadows in a long line
ranged against the whole face Of tn
opposing force.
At that instant just one thrilling
"Charge!" was ordered. 1t came from
the lieutenant, and 1t was keyed II
the sharp. enthralling harmony of tn
song.
It was over soon. The charge itsel
became a wild pursuit The lieutenan
still led the way until-the swor'
slipped from his fingers and he SAM
headlong into the soft mud and la
still, while his men hurried on.
It was hours after and another day
when the lieutenant's eyes opene
with intelligence. For few minute
his glance ranged about sunny room
in questioning way. From the coucl
where he lay he could see but part O
the room; and as he strove to turl
himself quiet figure came quickl
to his side. Then his eyes looke'
straight up into those Of a woman
There came another wondering ques
ton into his glance and great, gla,
establishment to find her there. Blu
his lips formed different query.
"The fght?" he asked, weakly, ant
with the brevity of spent strength.
"Your colonel is here" she said
with smile, as she drew a little near
er, "and he bids me say that this da,
surely makes you captain and
hero"
; And the men-my mem" h
begged.
1.-TWO wonderland yourself; moth
ing worse" she replied, softly.
1T was the song we heard in tn
rain and the. night" he told her, in
whisper.
Last night, 1t thrilled me to con
quer an army, il need be; and now
makes me bold for myself. Last nigh
| cursed the fates that took me from
you before l could tell you how care,
for you. I would have lost that figh
heaven forgive me! would hav'
murdered my men in my weakness