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Show THE DIXIE OWL 4 tains tent and reported as having neglected his duty by sleeping at his post. The officer ordered him to he put under guard for the resl of the night. Next morning when Fred awoke he began to realize the seriousness of his offense. lie had neglected the duty he had promised to perform and by so doing had risked tin1 welfare of the whole army. Such conduct usually meant, but one thing court martial and then a firing lie would prefer any squad. kind of death to that. To die thus he could not bear to think of it! And yet he did think of it; and with it he thought of his mothers feelings when she should hear of it. Iler parting words came vividly hack to him, but it was too late now! If he could only get another chance! Ilis reflections were cut short by the entrance of the Captain who had come to tell him that he would be court martialed at. ten oclock. Fred was in a very bitter spirit, as he was being conducted to General Grants headquarters. It was not his fault that he had fallen asleep. He would not for the world have done so could he have helped it. And yet he must suffer the penalty; that was the decision reached at. the court martial. Justice is a strange he thing, thought bitterly as he went back to his tent. His execution was set for the following day at sunrise, but for some reason unknown to him it was delayed; and during that day fate intervened and saved his life and gave him a chance for anew beginning. That day the Union forces attacked the Confederates who were almost impregnably encamped at Cold Harbor. There the Federals suffered one of the most crushing reverses of the war. Even General Grants rustic countenance was clouded and it above the din of the battle. .They began to rally and soon orIn good order the troops marchganized a formidable defense ed to the attack. The attempt which stopped the rebels in was repulsed with great slaughttheir mad rush. The tide was er, and before the panic stricken turned and soon the Confederates Federals could recover themwere racing for the sheltering selves a seething mass of gray earthworks. With thousands of ovclad Confederates had poured voices echoing the inspiring er the tops of the entrenchments hymn, the soldiers returned to and started the Union troops on their camp. a run which was fast becoming a At the lime kiln, Captain rout. In vain their officers tried Brown had found Fred wounded to rally them. It seemed that and bleeding, and unconcious. their only thought was to escape No, he will not die, the surthat dreaded human avalanche geon said a few hours later and that was upon them. Through with a voice full of enthusiasm the Union Camp they thundered he added, I have never in my and Fred and his guard were life seen anything so plucky and carried along with the great inspiring as that boy, singing-whilrush. he held the flag in all that And now came the chance to hail of lead; and Ive been in a redeem himself. Before him the good number of battles in my color-bearwas taking great day, too. His deed reminds me strides and at the same time of what. I have read about Genshou ting Bun boys, run for your eral Washington when he was at lives! These were the last the battle of Princeton and his words he uttered; a bullet crashpulled his hat over ed into his brain and he fell dead. his eyes so that he might not see Fred caught the flag before it his chieftan die. reached the ground. Waving it I said the (Lplain, Yes, will revoke it that death high he shouted encouragement guess to the troops, Near by he saw sentence and give him a promoa small mound on which a lime tion in place of it. Such as these kiln had been built and amid a are the ones who have preserved hail of bullets he rushed to it. the Union in the past and who Reaching the kiln he thrust the will save the Union in the future. flagstaff between a crevice in the Karl Larson 20. rocks. Like a flash there came If all the talking and vim and into his mind the memory of his school days when his teacher had energy which Elson has produced for the last three months, dont said to him, You have a wonderful voice for singing. The result in a grandly successful Year Book, whats the use of any thought of it gave him an inspiration. Standing with his head body ever trying anything any more. hare, chest thrown back, a target for the enemys fire, he burst If anybody says that Frank into the grand old song: Harmon isnt the livest, most inOh say can you see by the terested class president in the dawns early light, school well were from Missouri. What so proudly we hail at the College Class. twilights last gleaming? Into the words and music he a scientist, he has a sense of humput all the strength of his love or which should lead him in for the flag. The soldiers heard Mark Twains footsteps. troubled after that terible dis- aster. er aid-de-ca- |
