Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-10-27

eAN manu- oubN|n ~ WoA N---o AAo1 =
of kindness moved the condemned
man and tear started to his eyes, bui
quickly regaining his composure, he
brushed it away, and addressed those
who were to lay him low in DEATH
"Comrads, ! have come here to die
like man and a soldier. l am guilty
of no crime; 1 have fought by your side
in the thickest Of the battle, when the
guns Of the enemy poured bot LEAD intc
our ranks, and moved our brsss s4pn-
trymen down like the cha6 befere the
whirlwind Ydu can affirm fhAd did
not fsisT sttsE den The grim monster
stared me in the face, and should ]
tremble now when l am TO die by the
hands of my beloved comrads? No, ]
consider it an honor, and the last sound
that will ever greet my ears, will be the
glorious dying music of your own true
guns as l fall. know that you will
not suffer my ashes to remain una
venged. Let not your hands tremble,
but with firm and steady aims level
your pieces at my breast when the word
FIRE is given, for / would have the
mark of every man if you love me-
Comrads, farewell! and may we meet
where warriors rest from their battles
and their victories"
The soldiers brought their pieces to
their shoulders, but stopped suddenly,
as frantic Cadeline rushed into the
arms of her lover.
"Oh, Anthony, Anthony, you must
not die. Colonel LaviIier will have
mercy; he cannot be so cruel as to muir
der you" --f-- Hrs
"Cadeline, there is no hope. 1 had
prepared to die, but this meeting un-
nerves me. l could have wished you
had been spared this scene; but calm
yourself, and do not weep when 1 am
gone. You will not want for defenders,
for my regiment will protect you, and
it will go hard with him who offers an
insult to Cadeline, be his rank what it
may" H o.I
"Commandant," said Colonel Lavi-
lier, in an impatient tone, sit is past the
time ordered for the execution; have
them parted, and perform your duty"
With great difficulty Cadeline was
torn from the embrace of Martel, and
conveyed to distance from the spot.
The word READY was given, and soon
followed by the command PRESENT.
"AIM," and the fourth and last fatal
word FIRE, was on the lips of the com
mandant, when a stern voice from a
person who stood at short distace, and
closely muffled up, gave the command
to
Recover arml"
So sudden and abrupt was that order,
that every eye was turned on the per-
son who had dared thus unceremoni-
ously to countermand an order on so
important an occasion.
"Order that man under arrest" said
Colonel Lavilier, as the person rapidly
approached to where he stood, and
throwing his cloak from his face, the as
tonished officer beheld in him field mar
shal Macdonald.
"Well, Colonel Lavilier, inform me
for what offence the culprit suffers?"
"For an attempt on my life with a
pistol" was the answer.
"Are you sure he is the guilty one?'
eyes" r..
"Will you not pardon him?"
"It has been decided by the court
martial that he shall die" l
"Still you have power to pardon
him." .-s
81 decline all interference in the
course of justice" replied the Colonel.
81 do not" said Macdonald, "and l
therefore stop the execution. Anthony
Martelis not guilty." a e..
"May l then ask who is?" inquired
Lavilier, with an easy air. r ar
81 am" said Macdonald. .#I
"Will you please explain this myste-
ry" & sa
Eyes; having business of importance
with you on the evening of the assault,
| called at your quarters, but found you
not. On enquiry L learned the direc-
ton you had taken, and followed in
pursuit. Finding that you had entered
Cadeline's cottage, / arrived just in
time to be the unobserved witness of
your villainy, and the ball that only
shattered your arm was fired by me,
and had it not been for endangering the
life of the fair girl, it should have
reached your heart. Col. Martel, /
greet you in behalf Of the Emperor, to
whom l have related your case, and
who has been pleased to confer this
honor and title upon you. Col. Layi-
lier, your sword; henceforth you are no
longer an officer in the grand army,
and now you viii take Msrtel's place
and receive the fire of those guns,
which few moments since were aimed
at the breast of an innocent man." issn
Every heart beat with Joy at this sud-
den change. Poor Layilier; trembling
with fear and shame, was led to the red
flag; again. were the fearful orders
given, but the heart of the culprit sank
within him, and he implored for mercy
'sHow can you ask for that which but
few minutes since you refused to an
innocent mani"
81 own my fault" was the reply.
"Then 1 refer you to Col. Martel,
who has full power to pardon you or not,
as he shall think proper" said Mac