Morris tribune., 1914-11-13

ton, WIN the DARK, bright eyes, I0Q |
there. close to him. ever at his side,
firm as rock, true as the sun and
brave as Mars. would be certain to be
found while life beats in their hearts
that famous soldier, Sergeant Richard
Doubledick.
Eighteen hundred and five, besides
being the great year of Trafalgar, was
a year of hard fighting in India. That
year saw such wonders done by a ser
geant major who cut his way single
handed through a solid mass of men,
recovered the colors of his regiment,
which had been seized from the hand
of poor boy shot through the heart,
and rescued his wounded captain, who
was down and in a very jungle of
horses hoofs and sabers-saw such
wonders done, l say, by this brave SER
geant major that he was specially
made the bearer of the colors he had
won, and Ensign Richard Doubledick
had risen from the ranks.
Sorely cut up in every battle, but al
ways REINFORCED by the bravest of men
for the fame of following the old col
ors, shot through and through. which
Ensign Richard Doubledick had saved,
inspired all breasts-this regiment
fought its way through the peninsular
war up to the investment of BadajOS
in 1912. Again and again it had been
cheered through the British ranks until
the tears had sprung into mems eyes
at the mere hearing of the mighty
British voice so exultant in their valor,
and there was not a drummer boy but
knew the legend that wherever the
two friends. Major Taunton, with the
dark. bright eyes. and Ensign Richard
Doubledick. who was devoted to him,
were seen to go. there the boldest
spirits in the English army became
wild to follow.
One day at Badajos-not in the great
storming, but in repelling a hot sally
! of the besieged upon our men at work
in the trenches. who had given way
the two officers found themselves run
ming forward, face to face, against a
| party of French infantry, who made
a stand There was an officer at their
head encouraging his men-a coura-
geous, handsome, gallant officer Of five
and thirty. whom Doubledick saw bur
riedly, almost momentarily, but saw
WELL He particularly noticed this Off
Ger waving his sword and rallying his
men with an eager and excited cry
when they fired in obedience to GEES
ture and Major Taunton dropped.
1t was over in ten minutes more and
Doubledick returned to the spot where
he had laid the best friend man ever
had on a coat spread upon the wet
clay Major Taunton's uniform was
| opened at the breast and on his shirt
were three little spots of blood.
"Dear Doubledick," said he. 81 am
dying"
"For the love of heaven. nor ex.
claimed the other, kneeling down be
side him and passing his arm round
his neck to raise his head Taunton,
My preserver. my guardian angel, my
witness! Dearest, truest. kindest OF
human beings! Taunton! For Gods
saker'
The bright. dark eyes-so Very. very
dark now in the pale face-smiled
upon him. and the hand he had kissed
thirteen years ago laid itself fondly or
his breast
Write to my mother. You will SCI
home again. Tell her, how we became
friends. 1t will comfort her. as it com
forts me-
He spoke no more. but family signed
for a moment towards his hair as i
futtered in the wind. The ensign un
derstood him. He smiled again whel
he saw that and, gently turning hi
face over on the supporting arm as
for rest. died. with his hand upon tn,
breast in which he had revived a soul
No dry eye looked on Ensign Richard
DoubIedick that melancholy day. n
buried his friend on the field and be
came lone. bereaved man. Beyont
his duty he appeared to have but tw
remaining cares in life-one. to pre-
serve the little packet of hair he wa
to give Taunton's mother; the other, t
encounter that French officer who ha
LdAuSu tic u1Ou uAUGE WAOSS IRE 4duL
ton fell. A new legend now began.
circulate among our troops, and it wa
that when he and the French Office
came face to face once more ther
would be weeping in France.
The war went on. and through
went the exact picture of the Frenc
officer on the one side and the bodil
reality upon the other, until the battl
of Toulouse was fought In the r,
turns sent home appeared these words
Severely wounded, but not dangerous
. ly, Lieutenant Richard DoubIedick."
) At midsummer time in the year 181
Lieutenant Richard Doubledick, now
Drowned soldier seven and thirty year
of age. came home to England inv'
lided. He brought the hair with hin
near his heart. Many French Office
had be seen since that day; many
: dreadful night. in searching with me
and lanterns for his wounded, had
relieved French officers lying disable'
but the mental picture and the realit