A Soldier's Sacrifice (1910)
As he bade his young wife good-bye and rode away to join his company, Sergeant Hale's heart was stout and brave, and little did he dream that in six short months he was to be a deserter, yet such he proved. It was just before their camp was attached that Sergeant Kelly had handed Hale a note. His wife was dying and implored him to obtain leave of absence and come, for her and their baby's sake. Sorrowfully, Col. Bennett shook his head, a soldier's duty bade him remain upon the field of action. The young Sergeant withdrew. Then the camp was attacked, and as Hale mounted his horse the wild desire to see his wife grew too strong. After all, he would but be numbered among the dead or missing and might at any time return, so with a quick glance around, he headed his horse for the road. All might have gone as he had planned had Captain Gordon not returned as the Sergeant dashed down the road, and straightway ordered the deserter captured, dead or alive. Hale's wife had just died in his arms, after giving their baby to Mrs. Bennett, for adoption, when faithful Aunt Liza gave the alarm that the soldiers were upon them and hastily pushed her master up the uneven stove chimney, where he would shortly have been discovered, had not his old friend, Sergeant Kelly, been sent at the head of the capturing party, and seeing the dead and the Colonel's silent wife with the tiny baby, sent his men solemnly from the room. As soon as all was again quiet, Aunt Liza persuaded the grief-stricken husband to mount the horse he had secreted in the woods and make good his escape. Eighteen years passed. Hale, now a feeble, broken-down wanderer on the face of the earth, returned to take a last look at his old home, and, if possible, his little daughter; but little he no longer found Co. Bennett's adopted daughter, but such a perfect picture of her mother that to mistake her would have been impossible. For one mad moment he contemplated revealing his identity to Leona; then sanity returned. To what purpose? To bring shame and sorrow upon the girl? Never! With a mighty effort the old soldier squared his shoulders and with a reverent salute to his Colonel passed on; and later, worn out with a lack of food and exposure, smilingly, as in a dream, he beheld his old comrades of Company 'D'; he passed still onward, onward to the great Unknown. Sergeant Hale had answered his last roll-call!
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| David Horsley | Producer |
