Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-06-19

should have his triumph-quite as
generals to the Roman-now always
included vision Of the captain, slen-
der and straight and bright-eyed, at
the head of the line; and he always
could see the captain, later in the
day, presenting him to his father
Here's Sergeant Spruce, who has
coached us ALT" He had overheard
those very words once said to girl
visiting the camp, and they clung to
his memory with the persistent sweet
ness of the odor Of viOlets.
Today he was thinking much more
of the captain than of young Dan
vers, though Danvers ranked next in
his good will. Danvers was college
lad who had begged and clustered his
mother into letting him go. He would
had the captain write to his married
sister, in the same town but not the
same house. She, in sore perplexity,
wrote to both the captain and Spruce
and kept her trunk packed. expecting
a telegram. Danvers used to talk of
her and of his mother and of his lit
tie nepheWs and nieces to Spruce, at
first in mere broken sentences-this
was when he was so i'll they expected
that he might die any day-later in
little happy snatches of reminiscence.
He was perfectly aware that he owed
his life to Spruce's nursing; and he
gave Spruce the same admiration
which he had used to give the great
man who commanded the university
football team.
Spruce's heart, simple and tender
affair, as a soldiers is. oftener than
people know, swelled within him, not
for the first time.
We'll. guess | done right to come
here" thought he, land | guess all
the G boys will be out Of the woods
this week, and then | don't care how
soon We git our orders"
Danvers stopped him when he re.
turned. Il want to speak to you,
Chris" he next said, and new note
in his voice turned Spruce about alb
ruptly.
whats the matter, Dick?"
oh nothing, I only wanted to be
sure you'd come back and say goodby
before you got off. The regiments
got its orders, you know?"
NO" cried Spruce. He swallowed
a little gasp What are you giving
me?"
"Oh It's straight: I heard them talk.
ing. Colonel has the order; the boys
are packing today"
Spruce's eyes burned. he was mind.
ed to make some eXclamatiOns of pro
fame joy. but his mood fell at the
sight of the boys quivering smile.
Great, isn't it," said Danvers. 81
wish they'd waited two weeks and
given us fellows show, but dare
say there won't be any show by that
time the way they are after the dons
at Santiago. Can't you get off now TO
rack? But--you'll be sure to come
back and say good-by, Chris"
81 amt off yet" said Spruce, "and
] am | lbO sure ! Will We. hty lc dI
ways Citing orders and making an
everlasting hustle to pack up. and
then unpacking You go to sleep"
He was about to move away, but
Danvers detained him, saying that he
wanted to be turned; and as the sol
dier gently turned him. the boy got
one of his hands and gave 1t a squeeze
He tried to say something but was
barely able to give Spruce a foolish
smile. Spruce, you're a soldier and
gentleman" he stammered He
turned away his head to hide the
tears in his eyes. But Spruce had
seen them. OF course he made no
sign. stepping away briskly, with
little pat on the lean shoulder.
He came back softly in little
while. He looked at Danvers, who
was Stimulating sleep, with his dark
lashes fallen over red eyelids, and he
shook his head. During his absence
he had found that the orders were no
rumor. The regiment was going to
Porto Rico sure enough. Spruce stood
a moment, before he sat down by
Danvers' side. But he barely was
seated ere he was on his feet again
in a nervous irritation which none had
ever seen in Spruce. He walked to
the door of the tent and gaZed, in the
same attitude that the nurse had
gazed an hour earlier. at the low.
white streets.
Them boys'll be all broke up If
go!' said Spruce.
He frowned and fidgeted. In fact,
he displayed every symptom Of man
struggling with a fit of furious TEN.
per. What really was buffeting
Spruce's soul was not however, anger,
1t was the temptation of his life.
The boys needed him. But if he stay.
ed with the boys, there was the legi-
ment and the company and the cap
tain and the chance to distinguish
himself and march back in glory to
his town.
II guess most folks would say I'd
ought to follow the colors,' he
thought; "raw fellers like them they
need a steady, old hand. Well, they've
got Bates" Dates was an old Regu.
lar, also, of less enterprising genius
than Spruce, but an admirable sol
der) II s'pose, ,"-grudgingl
Bates would keep 'em steady. And
captain can fight, and the colonel
was West Point man, though he's
been out Of the army ten years, fool
ing with the milish. | guess they don't
need me so awful bad this week; and
these ere boys-Oh, damn it ALL" He
walked out of the tent. There was a
little group about wagon, at which
he frowned and sighed. Poor Max.
well!" he said. Then he tossed his