The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-05-28

Harner's sarcasm went for naueht.
The soldier did not comprehend it and
apparently did not care to. His only
reply was vaguely put. Il suppose L
would" he said, but you'll do this for
me, won't your"
"Of course not"
"Why won't your"
Simply because won't" said Har-
ner with emphasis.
The soldier stood as If undetermined
what to do. Then he looked up and
said: well, never mind, for you'll
have to do it anyhow"
Il hope not" replied Harner, and
more seriously, you're too young to
die. Your country needs you even If
your sweetheart doesn't"
Blushing deeply and stammering
something which Harner did not I'M
derstand the soldier turned and walk
ed rapidly away.
The battle was fought. Throughout
the conflict Harner was here, there
and everywhere getting facts and
names and details. There was no time
In that awful slaughter to notice
trifies. Human lives were as cheap as
grass and were moved down as mer-
cilessly. So 1t happened that 1t was
not until several days later when the
papers containing the reports reach
ed the moving army that Harner OBJ
served his own report:
"Monson, William H.-Private Com
pany G. Enlisted from Spring Falls.
Shot through the shoulder while saw
ing company's colors."
In the next issue was a dispatch
from Spring Falls saying that Mon
son was one of the best young men of
Spring Falls and that his death was
universally deplored.
swell that beats me-" said Harner.
II wonder II my memory served me a
trick. I'll see." The command had
moved many miles but the company
was still with it and he Immediately
sought out the captain and asked
him about Private Monson.
"Poor fellowp was the reply. "He
was the bravest fool ever saw.
suppose they buried him with the
rest"
After the war Harney did not return
to his paper. The editors who had
mutilated his copy and against whom
he had an accumulated antipathy
equal to that which the war CORE
spondents, whose usefulness Harner
could prove was first pointed out by
General George Washington, were
still In charge and he did not feel like
coming directly under their orders. So
he tried other things, but as the years
went by and the other things did not
make him rich, he succumbed to the
inevitable and entered journalism
again. To him was given a rowing
commission to visit and write I'D the
places where the cOnquests of industry
were making the wealth that was to
pay the debts Of the war.
In the course of time his duties took
him to Spring Falls, a village which
had become a city, with It's splendid
water power utilized, with great manu-
factories on every side. He saw it
all and finally he saw upon the side of
large mill, william II. Monsoon" The
name seemed strangely familiar, and
yet he could not place 1t. 1t was gone
amid all the thousands Of forgotten
things in the crowded years.
But the next morning it came like
a flash.
And then the story. Colonel Mon
son told 1t at his own fireside after
Harner had been presented to his wife
as the man who refused to report him
dead.
"Bnt did report you Dead" insisted
Harner.
Eyes, but 1t was all mistake. They
thought was, but wasn't. In fact it
was almost as untrue as the report
which reached me the day before the
battle that certain young lady had
thrown me over"
And after that came the experiences
so Interesting to hear in time of peace
that were so hard to know in the days
of war.