The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-08-06

is my husband, and lhe iather Of my child.o
The Republican oilicer looked down upon
her without pity'or emotion.
i What had he to 10 with the agonies and
the outcries Of woman? In second he
had thrust her vioiesty from him and taxi
ing one step forward, had fired his pistol at
the head Of the grayihaired veteran.
The discharge 0, the weapon was echoed
BY cry wrung frors the very soul OF the un-
happy wife.
"George, my child. where are your Your
mother calls you. Come"
AT the well-knoSn voice, lovely boy,
scarcely three years of age, who, as he saw
his father fall, had concealed himself, pale
and trembling, beneath that fathers bed, ap-
preached his mother, and having reached her
side buried his facein the folds Of her dress,
as if to shut out tie frightful scene around
him. But frenzied BY despair, she plucked
him from his new hiding place; and leading
him 10 Major l., said in tone as hard
and emotiouless as though il had proceeded
from lips of stone:
Coward Your work is not yet done.
You have still his son 10 tomurder."
At this moment loud acclamations were
heard from without; and French general,
surrounded by group of officers, appeared
upon the threshold ofthc blood stained apart
ment.
Major = turned pale as their eyes
mel; but the young widow, as il suddenly
inspired, rushed towards the new conner,
exclaiming:
"Reyenge him-reyenge me"
"Calm yourself. Msdame," said the gen.
eral, in an accent so low aud gentle that il
thrilled 10 every heart; 81 must understand
what has taken place before can pledge my
self to anything. War is a fearful ordeal
for woman and doubly so for one so young
and helpless as yourseiE"
lie had scaEeeelIE re- ..eeessed speaking. howev-
brow. aud dark light sHdnr' nj Hfsae, ,bss
ALI he saw revealed the truth at once; the !
major, with his pistol still grasped in his
iron hand-the disfgured corpse. its white
hairs dabbled in biood-the frantic woman,
careless of all the conyentlOnalIties OF her
ser, though surrounded By horde OF ruth
less soldiery-ihe child, pale but fearless,
calling TO his father TO awake from the dream
less sleep from which there IS no waking up
on this earth. After one rapid eagle.llke
glance, he understood all aud at once felt
that there was room neither for doubt nor
Justification. His ewes flashed as he crush
"a his glove in his tlasped fingers, and turn
ing abruptly towards the murderer, who
stood before him trembling, stupetied, and
stammering out few iucUhereni words OF
explanation aud excuse
;.You are a coward, Sir" he exclaim-
ed yehemcntly; You have assassinated a
wounded and dclcnreless mana brave SOL
dier--in the very presence ol his Miie, who
cried 10 you for mercy. II was the action OF
a felon =,
General gaspcd the culprit. who felt
that he was lost,
"Can YOU dcny The charge that | have
brought against your Can YOU produce one
witness 10 prove that | have accused you
wrongfuIlys Oh do il, Sir; do It ; that |
NAV be spared the shame oi knowing that
murderer has for fifteen years been sheltered
beneath the fag oi France"
General, | was ordered 10 perform my
duty in lace ol the enemy, aud have per.
formed il. lie would have taken my life,
and have taken his. The game was an
even one"
"Silence. Sir, silence 4 was the stern re-
ply;" A fallen foe should be as sacred as a
friend. Face 10 face, and foot TO foot, every
loyal soldier should meet his foe but to
shoot down an unarmed man-io murder in
cold blood one who is incapable Of resistance
-Pah! Il Is sickening. You arc no longer
worthy 10 serve the Republic nor shall YOU
do SO another hour. Deliver 10 me upon
the instant your sword. your epaulettes, and
your decoration. From this moment you
cease TO belong to the 22d brigade:
you cease to belong 20 the army Of Italy"
The Major looked up haughtily.
General" he exclaimed steadily. but
with the concentrated emotion Of one who
was yielding up the better portion of bis ex-
isienee here are my cross aud my sword.
nov demand Court-martial."
You shall have one, Sir; yol shall have
one aud no later than 70. morrow" was the
reioinder. Then, turning towards the ON.
GERS who had remained silent spectators Of
this exciting scene, the general approached
Inc rornsc Of the Austrian veteran, and re-