St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-08-23
" Look, Charles, poor Gerald's in

''SutiI ShciilIo its dIl OlllccI Vi
the 4Oth dragon guards was returning
to camp he was shot at from behind a
clump OF bushes the bullet struck him
in the thigh and lodged in the saddle.
Although wounded so severely he had
sufficient presence of mind to ride straight
to the bushes, and there found one of his
own men, corporal of the troop, nick
named ''Gentleman Jack" by his COM
rades, whose rifle was still smoking from
the discharge. Fortunately, at this mo-
ment, the guard arrived, and the man at
once arrested. A court martial will, of
course, be held at once, and, although
the man has previously borne good
character and is reported to be respect
ably connected, it is to be hoped he will
receive the proper reward for so abomin-
able crime"
son. | said, "this is all nonsense
Gerald's no murderer, or else he's very
much changed. I'll see what they say
at head quarters"
"Do for Gods sake, &C. If anything
has happened to Gerald | should never
forgive myself, for if | had run away
with him when papa was SO cruel he
never would have enlisted at all"
''Don't talk nonsense, Maggie, but 90
home, and I'll come with the telegraph
news
| went to headquarters they gave me
permission to use the telegraph for a
question or two. The report was not
encouraging.
1t was our Gerald-the officer had
seen the flash and heard the report-an
extremely loud report, as if there had
been two charges of powder in the car
bine.
The bullet was found in the saddle.
and one cartridge was missing from his
twenty rounds. COurt-martial had de-
clared linn guilty, and the generals con-
tirmaton OF the sentence had Just arrived
Fifty lashcs in the camp square and four
years imprisonment in the civil Jail. Sen
tence to be carried out on the l2th.
Everybody very sorry, but quite con-
WINGED he had tried to murder his superb
or officer. No one could understand with
what motive.
did not know what to thiuk there
was more evidence forthcoming in 4 day
or two, when we had the papers.
His statement in defense was. that he
had rIst been returning from Guard. when
lie remembered that he had forgotten TO
bring in book one of the officers had
asked him to bring in from the town.
some three miles distant. Without stop
ping to think he walked off at once; got
the book, and was within half mile of
the camp. when he fancicd he saw a
tiger. lie got behind the bushes to
watch, and saw one making for the dis
tant camp. Anxious to secure the prize.
he incautiously broke open one of his
packages and loaded, to have shot at
it. He had covered the beast, and was
firing at the tiger, when he heard anoth-
er report simultaneously with that of his
own carbine. He saw the tiger roll
right over as if shot. and then bound
away. In another instant the officer
came round the tope bleeding, and order
ell him into arrest He was quite sure
that he hit the tiger. and equally sure
that another rifle was fired at the same
moment that he pulled the trigger.
OF course such a lame statement had
no effect, and he was sentenced.
| could not help thinking that there
was flaw in the evidence. How was
it if there was. as agreed. Il loud report
which meant full charge Of powder
that the bullet stopped at the saddle
instead OF going through both saddle and
horse. There was great discrepancy
a full charge would have made u loud
report, and sent right through anything
at a distance of POO yards. felt there
was something wrong, and made up my
mind to 90 on the spot. had but six
| days to 60 in, but much might be done
l Margaret insisted on going with me in
: spite of all | could do to keep her
away.
! ''llave not done all YOU wished Inc
to do since we have been out here Do,
: for heavens sake let me have my way il
| this"
Y SO we went up country in post haste.
| was, of course, as one of the staff,
l admitted TO see poor Gerald, whom
h found terribly cut up.
81 don't mind the Imprisonment its
a the disgrace. The lashes BY God ,
shall kill myself directly if | get loose
f after it, know SHALL
''No, no." said Maggie: "don't for
= my sake, Oh, Gerald if you knew
5 how | have suffered for weeks past, you
e would live for my sake. do not care
about the brand and lashes | know
t you are innocent, and that there has beer
: some horrible blunder committed in this
# matter. Oh, Willie, dear, do think Of
e something to save him."
: "Oh, do, there's good fellow get
me some stuff that will make an end OF
= me-
: 'Dcn't talk like that, Gerald, there's
a some Internal mistake in it. Don't des.
|. pair yet. Let's be over the ground again
: step 10y stept," and l made him tell me
:, the whole story over again.
at seems to me, Gerald, we want moi
+ a few things to show YOU are not guilty
: We want the tiger you shot at, and thai
we shan't get and we want the clue tc
: the mystery of the other rifle
y "Oh, I've thought of it all till In
: sick. l don't care what happens now
=; I'll wait till the day before it's to come
IS off, and then break my head against the
walls"
It "Don't be fool, Gerald I'm SURF
Is you are innocent. So is Margaret"
g "Ies; so are hundred others: bu
l. It's all no use. In three days l am dis
Is graced for life, if | live"
well, must leave you now, and se'
" what | can do