Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-05-26

AM XVI. 0AAHNAAAh W INV ~ NANAA 80"
C&DAA osity to see the "rebels." as those
~ monsters of distorted magma
ton went Gathering through on
their horses or stopped to rest in the shade OF the
trees which lined the streets. SalOme Myers was
working with her mother in the sitting room pre-
pairing the midday meal. Mrs. Myers was not one
to vail and weep at the approach Of armed men.
She proceeded calmly about her routine homework
without wailing.
For a time Salome wound the strips of linen and
cotton as rapidly as did her mother, and gave no
more thought to the outside noises than did the
older woman; but at length the girl heard a louder
noise than usual. It was the tramp Of a body of
infantrymen coming up the street. She was only
human. and ran to the front window and threw it
up. A large squad OF Confederates were bringing
some Federal prisoners into town.
There were signs Of increasing excitement
among the Confederates. Orderlies went clatter.
ing up and down the street, and men were clean.
ing rifles in anticipation Of immediate conflict.
Nothing happened that night. Salome slept little.
All night long the military shouts were ringing.
sharp orders and sudden challenges echoed
through the streets.
In the morning she darted to the window. There
was not a sign Of the Confederates. They had
gone. A little after breakfast another rumble and
CHATTER was heard. All dashed to the windows
peered out. then tore into the street yelling like
mad. II was the Union meE gallcping in. They
poured past in seemingly inexhaustible numbers
u htlsdbCto lbt " iulublb once more, ran about
e~Kcitedly. Salome soon found her place among
the girls Of her own age. who were as thrilled and
awed as she.
Suddenly the cry ran around: "Buford's cavalry
Il coming. They've ridden all the way from Vir-
ginia without a stop" and a cheer Of welcome
followed the news over the town.
When they had passed an orderly dashed
through the town calling upon all the villagers to
go 10 their cellars. The battle was about to begin.
As they were filing into their houses the first guns
roared out, and gradually grew in number and
volume until the windows chartered steadily in
their All day they crouched in the
cellar. Now and then a bullet would strike the
buildings, and sometimes the glass from a break.
ing window would tinkle so that they could hear
It from the recesses Of their retreats. Troops
went rushing by. sometimes silently. sometimes
with loud huzzas.
Late I'm the afternoon Doctor Fulton came to the
head Of the stairs and called down. He asked II
there we're any women below who could help
caro- for the wounded. Mrs. Myers replied that
OF course there were. and started up the stairs
6alome would have followed. but her father halted
his wife and tried to persuade her of the danger
But the good woman was determined, and conse
quently they all went up. The Catholic church
close by had been turned into a hospital.
The girl darted out of the house and across the
lawn. At the church door she halted. She die
not dare look inside. Horrible grOans, shrieki
and cries we're echoing I'm the interior. A couple
OF men ulunutu past = Will bA0 VA Az
srs between them. She glanced down. A face
covered with blood was all she saw. A weakness
grlpped her heart and she staggered to one side
Someone inside was cursing with persistent bias
phemy. Somehow the vigor and naturalness o
the act brought back her selfpossession and she
marched inside. The floor was covered with blood
Men with legs OF arms gone we're rolling and tum
bling over still, silent figures. Others we're scream
ing and clutching at their mangled bodies in help
less and maudlin suffering. A %sickening OdOr sen
the girls head Keeling again. At her feet q maj
lay watching her with duh bleared eyes. Sh,
dropped on one knee and tried to speak to him
Che had no voice. Her hand trembled and sh'
started violently as she touched him. Finally sh'
Hammered. What can / do for your"
Nothing" he murmured slowly. I'm going 4
die" and he smiled feebly. Il was too much. Shi
ned TO the church steps. quivering and sobbing Il
long gasps. go
Il was near shutdown and the end OF a horrible
day. The babel grew worse and worse. Doctor
"A bloody as any OF the wounded men hurriei
hare and there. Nurses ran In and out bearinl
bandages and buckets OF water. Slowly Salon
rose TO her feet She would go back in, she coul
hear 81 now she thought. and acting on the i'm
pulse. inspired by she knew not what she scurrie
back into the shambles. She avoided giancing a
che room. but knelt at the head Of the man :
whom she had first spoken. He was brighter an
amiled when she raised his head for a draft Q
water She opened his clothing and found
vound In his breast. She bathed II gently.
doctor passlng told her that the man had bee
ahot through the lung and that his spine was shat
tered. There was no hope. She looked down q
die doomed man with great eyes. He was tul
cling at his belt and pulled out q pocket Bible