The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-05-06
yATIMELY SHOT.
DY ROGER srARBrcE.

Soon afLer tne duCuOE was uO""j
fine youny sailor, named Henry Mel
ton, a man of refinement and educa-
ton, who, however, had shipped as
foremost hand, made application to
the captain for permission to go
ashore to visit his old mother, who,
anticipating the vessels arrival at
the trading port, had sailed in a
trading vessel all the way from Eng
land to Calcutta for the sake of see
ing her son.
Too i'll to go aboard the sloop, she
had sent word to Henry of her arriv-
al, begging him to come to her.
Old Captain Knowles, of the yes
sci, was a strict Gisciplinarian. Al
though. his beautiful daughter Syl-
vccn, girl of eighteen, who had
joined her father at Spanish port,
where she had been staying with
her brother, besought her stern pa
rent to grant the sailors request,
yet it was decidedly refused.
The consequence was that Henry
Melton, who had finally learned that
his mother was not expected to live,
deserted on certain dark night, in
boat in which he went ashore from
the war-vessel, as one ofthe crew, for
provisions.
The young man was just in time
to receive his mothers last blessing,
and to close her eyes in death. He
had with him a sum of money; part
of this he took to an English mer-
chant of whom his mother had hired
her lodgings, and from whom he OBJ
tanned a promise that the remains of
his parent should be decently buried.
With the cash he had left, he pur-
chased a small pistol, which he load
ed with powder and ball, and con-
cealed in q secret pocket of his jack
ct.
The instrument was one of the
best of its kind. Herbert, in his
prosperous days, had taken lessons
of a celebrated professor of pistol
practice, who had not only taught
him how to al,caw hit his mark, but
also how to choose good weapon.
He knew that he would be arrest
ed, and be condemned either to q
Jogging with the fearful "cat-o'ninc-
tails" or death, for his desertion.
Should the sentence against him
prove to be punishment with the
lash, he now hadwith him the means
of AVOIDING it.
Sooner than suffer the disgrace of
a tlogging, he would shoot himself
through the head with his pistol.
He resolved to endeavor to avoid
capture until his mother was buried,
that he might at least have the sat
isfaction of seeing that cold form de-
posted in its final resting place.
He therefore struck far out into
the country, and finally concealed
himself in cavern.
Toward night of the next day, who
should pass his retreat but the cap
tain and his daughter, who had been
out all day, accompanied by guides,
for stroll?
Unfortunately for Henry, there
was with the party a small dog,
which soon discovering the young
man, set up a loud barking.
The captain, with his Hindoo
guides, attracted to the cave by the
noise, saw the sailor.
Hal exclaimed the old comman-
der. $50 here We are! Arrest him
guides! lie is one of my men-a de-
serter."
Melton was soon prisoner.
elbow far are we from the city,
inquired Captain Knowles of one of
the guides.
"Six miles, was the response.
"Then We will pitch our tents in
that plain wonder, and encamp for
the night. Keep a goodwatch on the
prisoner, guides"
ooh, papa" pleaded Sylvecn, with
tears in her beautiful blue eyes, set
him go" ........ ..-.~.....
"Humph~ growlcd the captain.
"A pretty navy we'd have of it if We
took the advice of the women. No,
ma'am, that man must not go. He
has deserted in time Of war. He
will be shot"