The Marshall republican., 1913-09-12
SONG IN THE NIGHT
BY JAS. WILLIAM JACKSON.

dened with q terrible responsibility.
The enemy was close at hand and abb
tontesiltnce imperative. The colonel.
a few hours before. had detailed this
little force to cut out a detachment Of
the enemy.
sFof'hours they had plowed through
the mud, eager for the encounter. Be-
fore darkness fell the discovery was
made that the enemy numbered four
lime as many men as supposed. IL
would be madness to hope for more
than a drawn battle, the lieutenant re-
fected; 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.
Il cant go back and say I was
afraid" the boy told himself; but II
would be murder TO charge with this
little band. IL had to think only Of
myself"
There was another hour before he
need act.
"And I wonder" he thought, in a
~listless way. Il wonder where she Is
tonight7"
A few hundred yards behind the gul.
iy loomed up an old masslon. As tho
men now lay In silence. save for the
dreary. pattering preudle OF the rain
and the slushing OF mud as ono
changed his position slightly. n light
ehone out across the wet field from n
window OF the house. A moment later
the distant. sweet tones OF n piano
usaro auaihia The u..I...., h...a A..
opening chords with n sense OF their
familiarity.
Some one began n 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 It's mesmeric harmony.
Granton called to mind a certain day
before his uniform grew ragged. Tho
settings OF the song then had been a
fine old room. n glorious woman. n
fascinating voice. II war not a song
that lulls: Il thrilled and lifted-high
and higher II exalted. until the impos-
sibie seemed easy TO grasp.
AS the song proceeded the lieuten-
mt felt the full strength OF It's 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 night
he had the squad afoot. confident that
his " spiritual intoxication was
shared In some measure by his follow
ers.
Just beyond the woods n faint indi.
cation OF a sentry was discerned In q
hair defined shadow.
The little band. deploying. came out
OF the deeper shadows In n long 3ne.
ranged against the whole face OF tho
opposing force.
AT that instant just M thrilling
CHARGE" was ordered. II came from
the lieutenant, and . a keyed in
tho sharp. enthralling harmony Of the
song. .,.u
II was over soon. The charge ITSELF
became a wild pursuit. The lieutenant
still led way until--the sword
slipped from his fingers and he sank
headlong into tho soft mud and lay
still. while his men hurried on.
Il was hours after, and another day.
when the lieutenant's eyes opened
with intelligence. For a few minutes
his glance ranged about n 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 urn
himself n quiet figure came quickly
70 his side. Then his eyes looked
straight up into those Of n woman.
There came another wondering ques-
ton into his glance and a great. glad
establishment to find her there. But
his lips formed a different query.
"The fghtf" he asked. weakly. and
with the brevity OF spent strength.
"Your colonel Is here" she said.
with a smile, al she drew a little ear
er. "and he bids me say that this day
surely makes you a captain and O
hero"
And the men-my men7" he
begged.
1.-TWO wonderland yourself; moth
ing worse" she replied. softly.
insf It was the SOM we, heard In the
rainhand. The Risht," he told her. in a
aLast night " thrilled ,rne to con-
quer an army; II need be: "ind now It
makes me bold for myself. Last night
: cursed the 'fates that took me from
, you before l could tell you how | cared
. for you. ! would have lost that fight
heaven forgive me! would have
, murdered my men In my weakness
and hop,esick longing. 1t was your
song. that wonderful song. which gave
me strength; and It gives me courage
|. now to brave your verdlct-to tell you
!, that ! love you better than anything In
. all this world. Are you gladf Say
. you are e3tHs% ffit4@
I. Il am glad.' she murmured, With q
!. world Of ea~rnestness, "The souS was
. all Cor You. i vas thinking Of you
through 10 aikr sser
!. She looked at him with great-eyed
I pride for an instant. Then she laid her
. cheek on his pillow. Ono cool. soft
hand atola IN hia fare and thu vehita