Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-06-21


"Yes, says he, the young one
"What. poor Ned2 says /, and the though
made me faint and sick like, 90 that | sudden.
fell of into a swoOn again.
Il must have stayed Il good while in this state
for when | came around again we were in iul
march, and was in an ambulance.
Il sat up and felt myself to see If [ was sound.
found was all right except my head and that on
ly ached little. When we halted to feed fel
almost as well as ever, so shrkcd the go-car
and took my place in the squadron. As | rod,
along to my station | took squnt at the prison
crs, and there sure enough, WAS Ned KentOn, witt
his hands bound and his hat slouchcd Tar dowI
over his eyes.
Corporal, says sergeant Bilos to me, few mo
ments later, the major'll hang young Gcnton wher
we halt to camp, you may bet.
Il didn't answer just then, but presently saws
halfto myself wonder where his brother is.
ooh. says the sergeant, didn't you know2 He
laid out. We found him with hole in his head
last hight. He was killed in the fight
Itis strange how dry story telling makes me, >
said Jukes nterrnpting himself again, and speak
ing little hoarsely. | beg your pardon, lieuten
ant but must take another putt at the cantcen
"Tc'l join you," repiiel Bead. gravey suitine
the action to the word.
"Well, to shorten M my story" resumed Juke
-"sure enough. Ned was sentenced to be h,ins
that evening. tie couldn't. or wouldn't give any
account of himself further than that he deserved
his fate; but he begged that he might be shot in
stead of hung. The major. however, shook hi.
head and remarked that shooting was too rood for
hm. About hour before the time appointed TO,
poor Ned's execution. he sent TO me TO come &c
him. had kept away on purpose, for | was
afraid should make baby of fmvselfifI had an,
talk with him. However, as he sent an earnosf
message to me, put on a stiff upper lip and went
Corporal Jukes," said he, in a low but iru
voice, lyon have acted very friendly to me alway:
and want YOU to do me a last act OF friendship
want you to intercede with the major to have me-
shot"
81 darent do it. says I, choking down nv feel
ings; its contrary to military discipline. Why IN
thunder did you desert Us p / asks, as mad as bIa
Zcs.
Corporal" says he, after looking at me a.
while in silence, "if you will, by any means, get
your commander to order me shot instead of-of
You know, | will tell you a secret; otherwise
not a word more shall pass my lips -
Il looked at him FOR a moment, and rushed on,
Of the tent
"Maior." says |. presenting mysclfas 4 messen.
ger from the condemned mIn-'major. what I am
going to say is contrary 10 discipline, know, and
| must bear the consequences; but if | was to be
beat with the ramrod the next minute, would beg
you to let Ned ken'on be shot instead of hung;
and told him what Ned had said.
"The major had an easy disposition at bottom
and besides, he was ~ curious a woman. Our
discipline, too, not strict as in the regular
line--we being sort of gueTillas ourselves, YOU
know. w ell, the end oft was, the major agreed
that Ned should be shot, Bat said be, Il shall
order you to be Of the shooting party Corp5r
Jukes, in return for your interference in tie
matter. No words; co. sir
"When told Ned the result of nv mission he
seized ny hand and said, eagerly, so much the
better Jukes. You can be my friend to the very
last, for YOU give me easy death by shooting
me straight through the heart. The other men
may fire badly, YOU know; said he, with a smile.
but you dead shot, and look for you to put
your ball right here and he PIT his finger on the
spot.
''This gave me such turn that I felt as if I
was suddenly sea-siek. and for awhile couldn'tut
ter word; Ned. however. went on to prove
how tins was in truth an act Of friendship, and
last l.began to tsipk maybe he was right, though
still felt very pale about it.
'Now Corporal says he, al promised TO tell
you secret AMI here il IS: George kenton was
not my brother; he was no kin OF mine. His name
was not Kenton- He deserted 20 YOU because he
had received mortal injury at the hands of our
own people that is, of one of the chief Confcd-
crate officers, and finding it impossible to obtain
satisfaction, rather, revenge, except by
sination, which he scorncd. he Joined you in the
hope OF meeting the man who had wronged him.
in some fair fight, and Staying him fairly"
"But, says /, he seemed to late all the rebS prct
ty badly, and
"He cared nothing for them one way or the 9th
er. lie was-l think, alas. that he loved car
mage. He had monOmanil for battle-or. no!
think his wrong had made him mad, and he SAW in
every Southern soldier he encountered. 4 man who
stood betwe N him and vengeance. He was not
Il native Of the South himself he was born in
Barbados of English parents. and came to the
South five years ago To-. But all that is Of no
consequence"
but, says I, il he or your kith why
did you come over with himl And why did you
both desert again? BY thunder! cant see it at
ALL cries as much puzzled as ever.
"TIe deserted you." SAYS Ned, "because he
found that your course was carrying him away from
his object. He this as you were order
ed on the present expedition, until the period of
that skirmish, there had occurred fitting op-
portunity to escape; and besides, as long as you
were in the State. he hid still hope.'
And you? says |, seeing that the poor fellow had
stopped.
my secret" murmurs he. "you may guess,
perhaps. after my death. You Yankees are good
at guessing says he. with a melancholy smile.
"This stumped me completely.
swell. says |, what made you both Join that
squad of bu>hwhacking devils? That don't set
your--your friend ahead any, should think.
"They arrested as spies, and We had no
choice. But he will leave them rs soon as"
The poor fellows feelings seemed to overcome
him completely, and he covered his face with his
hands and sobbed. / noticed, for the first time,
think. how slender his hands were. / also saw
that he did not know of his comrades death.
'At this moment when was pretty far gone
myself. and unable to stand it much longer, the
word was suddenly passed for Corporal Jukes.
went out. The hour for the execution had arrived
and the shooting party was drawn up. | needn't
describe the details to you; you've seen the thing
more than once And rs describe my feelings
l can't do it any more than | could describe the
battle of Waterloo.
''But Just as the word wasygven, "Make ready"
n thought flashed across me, and nerved my
and steadied nv eye wonderfully. II it hadn't
been for this lightning fl lsh OF idea, could no
more have drawn clear bead poor Ned's
heart than l could have sighted musketeer at
thousand yards. But when the Aim came drew
a. sure a bead on the poor lads life spot as ever
old Misunderstanding Gid Huron Injun.
"Then came the fatal 'Fire.' and pulled the
trigger.
1T was over The lad who called himself Ned
Kenton was but shell, with the filing of life all
gone out of him in fash NJ thought--the Cne
that had steadied my am-nade me very anxious
to examine the body. | found bullet through
the brain; this had killed him. Two more through
the shoulder, one in the high, and one which had
just grazed his side. The others were wide OF the
mark. These. however, only discovered after
wards. NV first impulse was to look for my mark
on the breast. In my hurry forgot that the ball
must first pass through the jacket. which was light
y buttoned from skirt to throat, and hastily tore