Catoctin clarion., 1921-08-04
Lieut.. Richardson's
Sacrifice
BY WILLIAM FALL.


All through the hot forenoon Lieu
tenant Richards had fought like
leader of heroes, Drawing death
dozen times from the spiteful Fill
pino bullets that hssed overhead;
yet, though man after man had fallen
in the thinning ranks, he was un-
scathed. And the more he sought
death the harder it seemed to die.
With a mere handful of the seventy
nine who had been cut off from the
main forces by the cunr&lgly CON
trived ambuscade, Richards mad fall
len back upon hill, one OF those
smooth, isolated hills that emerge
here and there in the northern region
of Luzon. There, hard pressed, the
little remnant of Squadron B were
holding their own against the enemy's
marksmen. waiting for the arrival Of
the relief column from Santa Cata-
lima. 1t was strange how it seemed
to Richards as he lay on his face in
the. blistering sunlight. His mind went
travelling back to other scenes, other
days-to that last day in Washington
before he sailed away.
He had sat all the cool afternoon
with Lucy Greaves ON the porch of
the club house. Lucy was an old
sweetheart of his boynood.
On that last afternoon he had asked
her to be his wife, to wait for him.
Then Lucy, whom he had never seen
discomposed, broke down and sobbed
in his arms. She VAS engaged to
fellow soldier, whom she loved no
longer But the traditions of her
family forbade her to break with him.
She did not tell him the name. But
Richards had imagined that it was
some officer lie knew.
The memories vanished with the
sudden cessation of the kissing above
them. Richards knew what that
meant. The enemy was preparing to
charge. They came upward, ana,
finding that the defenders made no
reply, swooped in with Il zest, flags
nyng. keen, razor-edged bolos flash
ing back the light of the declining sun.
Next moment it was hand to hand.
For u full minute-hours, 1t seemed
the fighting was fierce. Then the
attackers were sullenly retiring and
the besieged drew little closer to-
gether.
Richards stopped and raised
wounded man at his side. He knew
him-Sergeant Hutton, one Of the re-
cruitS.
Sergeant, I'm going to put you be
hind this rock" said the lieutenant.
Hutton was fumbling at his throat.
He opened the blOod-stained tunic and
disclosed little locket Of gold open
it," he whispered. Richards obeyed
and found himself looking upon the
face of Lucy Greaves.
"She gave it to me-" the sergeant
whispered. I'VE were to have been
married the day before l sailed. 1t
was postponed at the last moment, till
came back If die you'll carry my
love to herT
"I'll tell her." he said. "But you'll
pull through Sergeant. Now lie still
behind this rock and wait till the re-
lief arrives"
A wild yell burst forth from beneath
the hill, re-echoed from 500 throats.
The Filipinos were charging again.
And this time they charged home.
Suddenly far down the valley, the
clear notes of bugle rang through
the air. Then, over the stiffness of
the afternoon came the faint sound of
jangling bits.
"Now, men," Lieut.. Richardson
shouted, leach Of you take wound
ed man on his shoulder and retire
down the trail. I'll stay here and COW
er you until you reach the road" And,
stepping behind the rock, he seized
the rifle of the wounded sergeant, and
crouching over him, began pumping
bullets into the ranks Of the enemy,
and then, catching. up the wounded
sergeant, crept down the hill. 1t was
whole minute before the natives
discovered that he was gone. "Wen
pull through, Sergeant" he shouted
cheerily to the man on his back, and
stumbled onward. A yell from the
ridge answered him and renewed
volleying. Then s-s-s! red-hot wire
seemed to be pressing against the
lieutenants arm, and, looking down
Richards saw that the pale yellow of
his coat was turning a bright claret
color. Zip! That one nipped him
across the cheek. Gradually delirium
took possession of him. The sky, the
earth, the trees spun round him. He
seemed to be in Washington again,
seated at Lucy's side, under the oaks.
Only the thought of her sustained him
for a few yards more. Then, quite sud
denly his legs crumpled beneath him
and he reeled and fell forward. eLucy's
face was shining out of the blackness
Of night.
"Tell her IL wish you all happi-
ness, Sergeant" he muttered.
Out of the profundity he rose
through a region peopled by spectres
to consciousness of his surroundings.
He was lying in bed and man in
white linen suit was bending over
him.
"Well" he said, you're doing fa-
mously now. Well have you round
in short order, Captain"
Captain? +"
"Ah, you haven't seen the Gazette.
That was a special order of the Presi-
dent. And they're talking about the
congressional medal for you"
"But-Sergeant Hutton?"
"Ah, poor fellow! guess you'll
have to know, Captain. You had been
carrying corpse from the first, He