The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-04-01
The
Soldiers Bride
BY HAZEL SMITH
20. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.)

Saunders, chewing at his steel-gray
mustache and for the first time dur
ing forty years of active service he
actually trembled. The horror of this
was more overpowering than the hiss
of the Moro bolos when, drunk with
bhang, they closed in upon the Skin
mish line. "ImpossibleI p he muttered,
and sank back into his chair.
Outside the hot sun of the Philip
pines burned the parched land send
ing its scorching rays into the white
washed house in which he sat. Upon
the table in front Of him his orderly
had placed a closely typed document
of five pages. 1t was the findings of
the court-martial which had sat on the
preceding day. 1t had passed SEN
tence of death upon a certain William
Gilfoy for having joined the Moro
forces and fired upon his former COM
rades. If Colonel Saunders affixed his
signature to the document the death
sentence would be carried out-not
year hence, nor a month hence, nor
day hence, but now.
There was death in the quiet air, in
the hushed expectancy of the camp;
in the rows OF white-washed cells in
the barracks also, and in the barrack
yard, where grim post, like an enor-
nous carpenters square set upright,
creaked as the eXecutioner tested the
mechanism of the trap.
His sweetheart! ' muttered the
colonel again. Il can't see her-I
won't see her, Walters. Tell her"
May l come in?" inquired gentle
voice outside, and a girl entered-a
typical American girl, such as is to be
met in thousands in the little towns
and villages Of the New England
states.
Il am Miss King" she said, smiling
happily at Colonel Saunders. Il sup
pose William has told you that-that
we are to be married here, now that
his term has ended" A slight blush
suffused her face. But they told me
in the barracks that Mr.. Gilfoy had
gone to Manila to meet me there" she
said. 1T seems dreadful mistake,
doesn't it?"
Inwardly the colonel blessed the
forethought of his men.
But l am SO glad that he has
served his country with honor, and
has come safely through these terri
BILE dangers" Miss King continued.
He was-well, little wild. But he
has redeemed himself, as | knew he
would. Congressman Lathrop-" she
hesitated. Then, seeing the coloners
look, and mistaking it, she continued:
He told my father that William
would be safe under your care, Colo
mel Saunders. That is what everyone
says about you at home
In the brief moment that elapsed |
before he answered her thousand !
thoughts rushed through the colonels |
brain. A minute ago he had actually |
dipped his pen into the ink prepara-
tory to signing the death warrant. |
Now the act seemed impossible. He |
thought of Gilfoy-he had been wild, |
but a good and brave soldier. cOnspic- |
uous in many engagements until the |
devil of loneliness that was eating out |
his heart summoned the drink devil |
to his aid and the two together fud- |
died the boys brains until he turned
traitor and disgraced the regiment and |
his country.
He might have saved him by a few
kindly words.
Excuse me, Miss King" he said
abruptly. pray be seated. l will be
back in a few minutes"
Inside his cell William Gilfoy was
seated beside his cot, staring vacantly
through the bars at a wisp of blue.
When the colonel entered he started
as man awakening out of dream.
The colonel sat down beside him upon
the plank he'd.
"Gilfoy," he said quietly, your
sweetheart is here"
Gilfoy looked hard at him.
"She hasn't been told?" he said Inn
passively.
mot yet Gilfny.'
The boy smiled bravely. II think
IT would be best to have 1t done as
soon as possible" he said. "But, sir
must she know?"
"She shall never know" answered
the colonel. Then he bent forward
and took the boys hand in his.
'GilfOy," he said, you have taken
no life. 1t was not you who betrayed
your country-it was your devil. A
cavalry troop leaves for Santos this
evening You will accompany IL and
there take the train for Manila"
Gilfoy half rose. and suddenly sat
down again and burst into tears.
Il ought to die" he sobbed. "She
will never"
"She will never know anything" the
colonel answered, completing the sen
tence He called TO the jailer.
Private Gilfoy is pardoned." he
said. Bring him his uniform and set
him free"
"Yes, Miss King. you will have to
20 back to Manila" said Colonel ,
Saunders five minutes later. IF we
had known you were coming-well we