Gilpin observer., 1913-07-10
SONG IN THE NIGHT
BY JAS. WILLIAM JACKSON.


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
a 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. he
fore darkness fell the discovery was
made that the enemy numbered four
times as many men as supposed. 1t
would be madness to hope for more
than drawn battle, the lieutenant re.
f1ected; and yet-the colonel had Civ
en- his orders. At daylight the com.
mander would march on the assump-
ton that the work was DONE
4 can't go back and say l was
afraid" the boy told himself; "but it
would be murder to charge with this
little band. If l had to think only of
myself"
There was another hour before he
need act.
and I wonder" he thought, in
listless way. II wonder where she is
tonight?"
A few hundred yards behind the gul.
ly 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, a light
shone out across the wet field from a
window of the house. A moment later
the distant, sweet tones of piano
were audible. The lieutenant heard the
opening chords with a sense of their
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 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 g
hne old room, glorious woman,
fascinating voice. 1t was not a song
that lulls; it thrilled and lifted-high
and higher it exalted, until the irnpos.
sible seemed easy to grasp.
AS the song proceeded the lieuten-
ant felt the full strength of its quick.
eEing impulse; and gradually he put
away from himself the weak and un-
nerving dependency. Almost before
the last note died away on the night
he had the squad afoot, confident that
his own spiritual intoxication was
shared in some measure by his follow
ers.
Just beyond the woods faint indi-
cation of sentry was discerned in a
half defined shadow
The little band, deploying, came out
of the deeper shadows in long line,
ranged against the whole face of the
opposing force.
At that instant just one thrilling
"Charge!" was ordered 1t came from
the lieutenant. and it was keyed in
the sharp, enthralling harmony of the
song.
1t 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
headlong into the soft mud and lay
STILL while his men hurried on.
1t was hours after, anG another day,
when the lieutenant's eyes opened
with intelligence. For few minutes.
his glance ranged about 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
himself a quiet figure came quickly
to his side. Then his eyes looked
straight up into those Of a woman.
There came another wondering ques.
ton into his glance and great. glad
! astonishment to find her there. But
his lips formed a different query.
"The fight?" he asked. weakly. and
with the brevity of spent strength.
"YOur colonel Is here" she said.
with a smile. as she drew little nea-.
er, land he bids me say that this day
surely makes you q captain and
! hero"
"And the men-my men?" he
begged.
1.-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, in a
whisper.
Last night. 1t thrilled me to con.
quer an army, II need be; and now II
makes me bold for myself. Last night
cursed the fates that took me from
you before could tell you how cared
for you. would have lost that fight
heaven forgive me! would have
murdered my men In my weakness
and homesick longing. 1t was your
song. that wonderful song. which gave
| me strength; and 1t gives me courage
now to brave your verdict-to tell you
that love you better than anything in
all this world. Are you glad? Say
you are"