Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-09-24

tnnt nnu rOuSeu me up. Ills Ihce WIS
very grave, and behind him stood two
sergeants, with long slips of paper
and pencils In their hands.
awake up, laddie," said the major,
quite in his old, easy fashion, as II we
we're back on Corriemuir again.
eyes, major" stammered.
II want you to come with me. I feel
that owe something to you two lads,
for II was I that took you from your
homes. Jim Horscroft is missing"
gave start Mt that, for. what with
the rush and the hunger and the weari-
ness, had never given thought TO
my friend since the time he had rushed
Mt the French Guards with the whole
regiment at his heels.
II am going out to take a tally OF
our losses said the major, land II you
care TO come with me shall be very
glad to have you"
SO Off we set, the major, the two SER
geants. and ], and, oh! but IT was a
dreadful, dreadful sight-so much so
that even now, after 80 many years,
had rather say as little Of II as pos
sible. II was bad to see In the heat
Of the fight, but now, In the cold morn
Ing, with no cheer or drum-tap or
bugle blare, all the glory had gone out
Of II, and II was Just one huge butch
er's shop, where poor devils had been
ripped and burst and smashed, as
though we had tried to make a mock
Of Gods image. There on the ground
one could read every stage of yester-
days fight, the dead footmen that lay
In squares. and the fringe of dead
horsemen that had charged them, and
above. on the slope, the dead gunners
who lay round their broken pieces. The
Guards column had left streak right
up the field like the trail of a snail,
and at the head OF II the blue-coats
were lying heaped upon the red ones,
where that fierce tug had been, before
they took their backward step.
And the very first thing / saw, when
got there, was Jim himself. He was
lying on the broad of his back, his face
turned up toward the sky, and all the
passion and the trouble seemed to
have passed clean away from him, so
| that he looked Just like the old Jim as
! had seen him I'm his cot n hundred
| times when we were schoOlmates to-
| gether. / had given a cry of grief AT
| the sight of him, but when l came
again to look upon his face, and to see
how much happier he looked In death
than l could ever have hoped TO see
him In life, It was hard to mourn for
him. Two French bayonets had passed
through his chest, and he had died In
an instant and without pain, IL one
could believe the smile upon his lips
head. in the hope that some flutter OF
life might remain, when heard a well
remembered voice at my side, and
there was De Lissac, leaning upon his
elbow. among a litter OF dead Guards
men. He had great blue coat muf
fed round him. and his hat, with the
high red plume, was lying on the
ground beside him. He was very pal,
and had dark blotches under his eyes
but otherwise he was as he had evel
been, with the keen. hungry nose. the
wiry mustache and the close-croppet
head, thinning away 10 badness upor
the top. His eyelids had always
dropped, but now one could hardly SEE
the. CLINT of his eyes from beneath
them.
"Halloo, Jack !" he cried. II dldn'
thought to have seen you here, ant
rd | might have known II, too, when
saw friend jim"
I'll = YOU that have brought all this
trouble" said |.
TIA. IA. tat" he cried In his old,
impatient fashion. at Is all arranged
for MS. When was in Spain learned
% believe In fate. II is fate which
has sent you here this morning"
This mans blood lies at your door, "
said l. with my hand on poor Jim's
shoulder.
And mine on his so we have paid
cur debts" lie flung open his mantle
rs he spoke, and | saw with horror
ihai 4 great lump OF clotted blood was
hanging out ~ his side.
This is my thirteenth and last"
said he. with smile. "They say that
thirteen is an unlucky number. Could
ynu spare me drink frcm your flask T.
The major had some brandy-and-ws-
ter, De Lissac supped II up eagerly,
Ills eyes frightened. and little heck
OF color came back into each of his
haggurd cheeks,
1T was Jim did this" said he. 81
heard some one calling my name, and
! there he was, with his gun against my
tunic. Two OF my men cut him down
| Just as he fred. Wen, well, Edie was
worth II all You viii be In Paris in
less thar % month Jack, nm YOU Will
see ner. iou sod. u.D ma number
eleven of tie Rue AIrme5uu, which
Is near the Madela'ac Break it very
gently to her Jack. .ur you cannot
think how she loves me = N her that
all | have is IA two b,G HVuks, and
that Antoine has the keys. You will
not forgetp