Evansville daily journal., 1865-12-12

sumed JuKes--~ sure en0ngn, NED was
sentenced 70 be hung that evening. He
couldn't or wouldn't give any account
of himself, further than to say that he
deserved his fate; but be begged he
might be shot instead of hung. The
Major, how ever, shook his head, and re-
marked that banging was too good for
him About an hour before the time
appointed for poor Ned's execution, he
sent to me to come to him. / had kept
away ON purpose, for i was afraid /
should make q habysof myself if I had
any talk with him. However, as he sent
an earnest message to me, put on
stiff upper lip and went. "a
''h " Corporal 'Jnkss," said he, in a low
but firm voice, "you have acted very
friendly to me always, and want you
TO do me a last act of friendship /
want you to intercede with the major to
have me shot. n assa.
"I daren't do it, says T." choking
down my feelings; I" it's contrary to mill
tary discipline. ,WhyTin thunder did
you desert usfV I asks, as mad as
blazes,
eCorpofal," says he, after looking at
me while in silence, " If you will, by
any means, get your commander to Or
der me shot Instead of-of-you know,
Bwill etelloyou secret; otherwise, not
word more shall pass my lips" 4
aa y Hooked at him for minute, and
rushed out of the tent. liiw 9H doi.iP
d sass sc Major says I, presenting myself
as messenger from the condemned
man Major, what am going to say is
contrary to discipline, i. know, and !
must bear the consequences; but if !
was to be beat with famrods the next
minute, | would beg you to let Ned Ken
ton he shot. instead of hung, and /
told hi Ia what Ned hsd said. I'D .&s -,
"Ths Major had an easy disposition
at bottom, and, besides, he was as
curionsl as q woman Our discipline,
TOO, was not ssistrict as in the regular
line-7Tq being q sort of guerrillas our
selves, you know. Well, the end Of it
Was, tie Major agreed that Ned sheuld
be shot. ~ But, said he,s Il shall order
you to be one of the shooting party, Cor
poral ukes, in return for your inter
ference in the matter No words; 60.
Sirl 300
q '''Wheh I told Ned the result Of my
mission he seized my hand, and said
eagerly - Soymueh the better Jnkesl
You can be my friendato the. very last,
for, you can. give me an easy death by
shooting me straight through the heart.
The other men may FIRE badly, you
know said he, with a smile, but you
ars aidead shot, and look for you to
put yonr bali righthere, land he put his
anger on the spot 81, bsdaia1ni sl-laa
"This gave me such turn that / felt
.as.f- EasusnddsnlY ssa-siek, and for a
while I couldn't 1ptter "a word Ned,
however, went on 10 prove to me how
this was in. truth an act. Of friendship,
and at hast i began to- think maybe he
was right, though still felt very pale
about it.
"Now, corporal, says he, promised
to tell you RklsEereF And HereIit is:
George Kenton was not my brother; he
was no kin Of mine. His name was not
Kenton. HeA deserted to you because
he had received a mortal injury at the
bands ef our own psople-that is, of one
of the chief Confederate officers, and
findingit impossible to obtain satisfac-
tion, or rather, revenge, except by an
assAssih which he acnrned, he en-,
tered your service, in the hope of meet
ing the man who had wron yed him in
some fair fight, and staying him fairly.
q aBut, says /, be seemed TO hate all
the rebs pretty bad, and
."He cared nothing for them, one way
or the other, he was--I think, alas
that be loved carnage He had mo-
nomania for bsttle-or, no / think
his wrong made him mad, and he saw
in every Southern soldier he enconn-
tered q Imsna who stood between him
and bis veng geahce. he was not ma
tive Of the South himsslf+he was born
in sBsrbado does Of English parents, and
came to the South Ave ysars ago to o.
but all that is Of no consequence.
s,ls But says ], If he was none of your
kith, why did. yon come over with hins7
And why did you both desert again
BY thlnderJ ! can't see ii at all IL
cries, as much puzzled az ever. .loa
HE deserted You, says Ned, because
he found that your course was carrying
him away from his object he saw this
as soon. as. you, we're ordered on the
present expedition, but until the period
of that skirmish, there had not occurred
q fitting chance to escape; and besides,
as long as you were in the State, he had
still hope. .ssaos asrs
Ha'And you 2 says 4, seeing that the
poor fellow stopped. II ..,r, az
- - Ny secret, murmnrss he, you may
gness, perhaps, after my death. You
Yankees are good at guessing, says he,
with melancholy smile. E bsa p.
"This stumped me completely.
5, Swell, says /, what made you both
Join that squad of bushwhackipg devils7
That don't set your-yonr friend ahead
amy II should think. sarsi L aa.gia
: = isirbey arrested us as spies, end we
had no choice. q But herdwill leave them
asssoonias-S b The poor fellows feelings
seemed to overcome him completely, and
he covered his face with bis hands and
-sebbed. @f-notieed- for the FIRST time,
think, how slender his hands were. also,
saw that he did not know of his COM
.rade's death, ..............4srv.zr
AZ this moment, when / was pretty
far gone myself, and unable 10 stand il
mnch longer, the word was suddenly
passed for. CORPORAL Jukes. 4 went ont.
The hour for execution had arrived; the
shooting party was drawn up. / needn't
describe tie details to Ion you've seen
the thing more than once. And as to
daaorih;no NV faelin0a I can't do IL ans