The Washington times., 1913-08-17

pomp and circumstance OF which tn
poets sings, on which the romance
dwells, were not in evidence. Thes
men meant business. The only bit o
! tering battle flags. Each lire of dust,
men was capped with a hedge of steel
| The sunlight sparkled from polishe'
| bayonets or was reflected from glitter
| ing blade. The shouts with which tn
| order to march had been greeted CAV,
! place to silence. Quickly, firmly. silent
| ly the men pressed on.
| Grafton's heart was beating like {
| drum. The excitement of the advance
| was getting into his blood. The still
ness 1eSs. seemed en appalling to him; H, =,
lence would be broken by the roar OF
a gun. His soul crayed the instant
when the common time would be quick
| ened, when the march should become
run, when into the blue smoke, bayo-
net in hand, he could throw himself
breast to breast with the enemy. Any
thing was better than this slow. de-
liberate approach.
He glanced down the line taking note
other engored with blood. Here and
there lip was drawn back over the
teeth in an angry, tiger-like snarl.
Some faces wore grim smiles of pleas
ure. There was a forced gayety about
others. Some marched with frowning
brows. dogged lines about irn. tense
mouths. They went slowly down the
hills. and the descent was easy, yet
some already breathed heavily. pant
ing as II after a hard run.
cruit, why In h don't they begin?"
Wait bit. you'n get all you want" 1"
a veteran replied.
And twill be h. all right" whis-
pered another as they stumbled over
the uneven ground.
Silence in the ranks" cried an off,
Ger. closing the files. His voice was
much as usual, but to Grafton il sound
ed shrtll and high. as IL a premonitory
note Of warning ran though it. Nothing
mad yet happened to cause any con-
fusion, but the men instinctively began
to crowd together a Httle-the natural
craving Tor human touch in emer-
gency. The front wavered. curved in
Back on the left. therer said Graf
ton sharply from his position on the
right as his eye ran down his COM
pany front. Open out and keep your
dress. Let those Yankees see that we
can march as we'll as fight. Easy, now;
that he could speak easily and ,natu-
rally. and more gratified to see the men
relax their pressure and line dress on
the guide again.
So that devoted band went down the
hill carrying the hopes of six millions
every soldier on either side. Presently
they had advanced far enough to un-
cover the crest they had just left. They
could hear quick movements back there.
the trampling Of horses, the creaking
of wheels sharp word of command
Guns were coming after them, a battery
OF light artillery hastily gathered to-
gether was following them And the
cannon on the ridge behind them were
making ready. Hark! What was that?
A roar from the rear of them, the
scream OF shell through the air close
above the advancing lines. The recruit
ducked his head.
That's from our own guns, bow"
said the veteran, composedly; they are
covering the advance. You needn't fear
that"
Il don't fear anything" cried the re-
well. by c., sonny, / wish I could
say the same, returned a nervous
looking man who always went into bat
tie chockful of the most unpleasant
emotions. which he promptly forgot
when the actual fighting began
Wlsht L was a woman or a baby"
exclaimed another with a low laugh.
His reputation for bravery was as high
as any In the regiment.
why don't the Yankees begin?'
asked the recruit manfully, trying to
keep his teeth from chatterinE.
silence, there! Silence"
Inc talking stopped instantly. Truth
10 TELL others than the newly-enlisted
were wondering why the enemy de-
iayed opening on so fine a target as
tne Long gray lines presented.
What was that?
Continuation Of This Story VIII
BE Found In Tomor-o,.;.