The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1921-06-02
Lieut.. Richardson's
Sacrifice

By WILLIAM FALL.

la the thinning ranks, he was un-
scathcd. And the more he sought
death the harder II seemed to die.
With a mere handful Of the seventy
nine who had been cut on from the
main forces By the cunningly CON
triyed ambuscade. Richards had fal-
len back upon a hill, one Of those
smOvth. Isolated hills that emerge
here aud ,hcrc la the northern region
OF Luzon There. hard pressed, the
little remnant uf squadron u were
holding their own against the enemy
marksmcn. waiting for the arrival %
Tie relief column frum Santa Cata-
lima. 10 was strange how IL seemed
10 Richards a. hc lay On his face Ia
the blist.ring sunlight. His mind went
travelling back to other S-encs, other
days--to that last day Ia Washington
lsfure he sailed away
lie had sat all the cool afternoon
with Lucy Graves on the porch of
the club house Lucy was an old
sweetheart u his buyhood
Ca that last afternoon he had asked
her 10 be- his wife. 10 walt for him.
Then Lucy. whom be had never seen
discomposed. broke down and sobbcd
Ia his arms She vas engaged TO a
fellow soldier. whom she loved 10
longer. hut the traditions % her
family forbade her to break with him.
She did not tell him the name. But
Richards had imagined that IL was
some officer be- knew.
The memories vanished with the
sudden cessation of the kissing above
them. Richards knew what that
meant. The enemy was preparing 10
charge. They came upward. and.
finding that the defenders made no
reply. swoopcd In with zest. nags
dying. keen. ruzoT-edged bOlos flash
ing back the light OF the declining sun.
Next moment IL was hand 20 band.
For a full minute-hOurs, IL seemed
the fighting was fierce Then the
attackers were sullenly retiring and
the besleged drew little closer to-
scther
Richards stoopol and raised
wounded man az his side. lilo knew
him Sergeant Hutton. one Of the ~
crults
Sergeant. I'm going ~ put you be-
hind this rock" said the lieutenant.
Hutton was ftlmbling at his throat.
lie Opened the blood. stained tunic and
disclosed little locket Of gold. open
H." he whispered. Richards obeyed
and found himself looking upon the
face ~ Lucy Greaves.
"She gave II to me-" the sergeant
whispered we were 10 have been
married the day before I sailed. II
was postponed at IN. last moment. TIL
came back II die you'll carry my
love TO herf'
"Ill tell her" he said. 'liut you'll
pull through Sergeant. Now lie still
behind this rock and wait TIL the re
lief arrives"
A Wild yell burst forth from beneath
the hin. r,.-echoed from $40 threats.
The FilIpinos were charging again.
And this time they charged home.
suddenly. far down the valley, the
clear notes 81 n bugle rang through
the air. Then. over the stiffness n
the afternoon came the faint sound OF
iangling bits.
snow. men," Lieut.. Richardson
shouted. each Of you take n wound
ell man On his shoulder and retir.
down the trail. I'll stay here and COW
er you until you reach the road" And.
stepping behind the rock. he seized
the rife Of the wounded sergeant. aud.
crouching over him. began pumping
bullets into the ranks % the enemy.
and then. catching up the wounded
sergeant. crept down the hill. II was
whole minute before the natives
discovered that he was gone. Wen
pull through. Sergeant he shouted
Cheerily 10 the man ON his back. and
stumbled onward. A yell from the
ridge answered him and renewed
yolleying. Then SIS a red-hot wiz,
seemed TO be pressing against IN,
lieutenants arm. and. looking down
Richards saw that the pale yellow OF
his coat was turning a bright claret
color. Zip That one nippcd him
across the cheek. Gradually a deliriuu
took possession ~ him. The sky the
earth. the trees spun round him. II,
seemed Ia be IN Washington again
seated az Lucy's side. under the oaks
only the thought of her sustained hin
sbr few yards more. Then. quite sud
denly his legs crumpled beneath hin
aud be rceled and fell forward. Lucy's
face was shining out ~ the blackness
- night.
TELL her IL wish YOU all happi
ness. Sergeant" he muttered
out II the profundity he ros'
through region peopled by spectre'
"a consciousness OF his surroundings
lie was lylng in a bed and a man Ina .
white linen suit was bending over
him.
WELT" be said you're doing IN
mously now. Wen have you rouns
IN short orlrr. Captain
Captain -
"Ah, you haven't seen the Gazette
That was special order of the Presi
dent And they're talking about the
congressional medal for you"