Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1875-12-23
AaAME FOR LIFE AND DEATH
An Incident Of the Macmillan
CAMPAIGN In Mexico.

sides, Tor soldiers are ever wont to
indulge in pleasure, regardless of
what the morrow will bring forth.
In a tent in the inner circle of
the camp sat two officers at a rude
table, upon which was marked, with
lead pencil, a chess, or checker
board, while black and white but
tons served for the "men."
Around the tent were stationed
guards, and both of the officers
were unarmed, while not a weapon
of any description was visible in
their canvass room.
They were prisoners; soldiers IN
the service of Jaurez, captured the
day before; but their appearance
indicated that they were not Mex
leans.
Both men were OF tall, command
ing forms, and of easy, graceful
address; but where one had dark
blue eyes, and light hair and nous
tache, the other had eyes that were
large and black, with brown hair
and mous:ache.
Both men were e-,eedinolv
handsome, and their faces
bore the Impress of noble souls
snG hearts that knew no fear.
A love Of adventure had caused
them to leave their homes in the
north after the close of the civil
war, in which both had fought
bravely, and cast their swords with
Jaurez, to aid in driving from Mex
lean soil a German emperor.
Caponl Montieth, the blonde of
hcer, was q young man of wealth
aRd good family, a New Yorker,
and a pet in society.
Garnet Weston, the brunette,
was a poor man, young lawyer in
New York, of good, though poor
parentage. He was possessed of
superior intelligence, and was fast
winning a name, when he crossed
the path of Mable Montieth, the
sister of Capoul, and beauty and
an heiress.
So deeply did Garnet love Mabel
that he was miserable when not
in her presence, and he believed
she cared for him; but he would
not offer a pauper hand to belle
and an heiress, and so struggled
hard to win fortune and fame in
his profession.
One day, an evil day for Garnet,
pretended friend told him that
Mable was his promised wife, but
that their engagement had not yet
been made public.
Like one in a dream Garnet Wes-
ton listened, and then in despair
determined 10 seek some more stir
ring field, where the image of his
lost love would not be ever before
him.
A month later found him a
cavalry captain in the army of
Benito Juarez, where, a few weeks
later, he was surprised to be joined
by Capoul Montieth, who had also
offered his services to the Mexican
Il lCSluChO.
In an engagement, two days be-
fore they are presented to the read
er IN their tent, they had been cap
tured and carried into the lines of
Macmillan.
That night in camp they were
playing game of checkers, pour
PdsSer te temps, and Capoul, who
was an expert player, was surpris-
ed to see how readily he was beat
en- by Garnet,
Suddenly heavy tread resound-
cd without, the sentinel challenged,
there was response, and the next
instant three of MaXimilian's of
ticers entered the tent, one of whom
was an American, a Republican
fighting for Imperial Mexico,
against the Republic; another was
heshylooking Frenchman; the
third was Il Mexican colonel.
''Gentlemen, 1 am sorry to dis
turb you; but news has come to-
night that Benito Jaurez has exc
cuted n captain of our army, and
l have orders to select one of you,
and march you forth to die in re-
taliation," and the American I'm
perialist looked sad over the duty
he had to perform.
"Iou cannot mean that one of
us must die for an offence against
Maximilian by Jaurez," said Ca
poul Montieth, rising.
"Even SO are my orders, sir, but
| know not which to select, for my
duty is most painful"
Let the gentlemen play a game
for the choice-the loser to die"
suggested the young Frenchman.
"a good idea, monsieur. Gen
tlemen, l observe you were play
ing a game of checkers when we
entered, so set to work and play
three games, the one who wins two
Of them to escape, the other to die"
"When is this execution to be?"
asked Garnet Weston.
within the hour, sir"
"Very well; Capoul, 1 am ready
for the game of life and DEATH"
Capal Monteith paced to and fro
the tent with quick, nervous
strides; he was young, handsome,
possessed of vast wealth, and fond
of life, and he cared not to be thus
shot down like dog; but he was
a brave man, and thought of Gar
net Weston, whom he had always
admired, and half wished to be the
loser rather than TO see his friend
die.
81 am ready" he at length said,
and the two friends, strangers in
strange land, sat down to play
the game for life or death.
Capoul Monteith played with
the utmost caution, for, ''If one
mast die, have as good right to
struggle for life as has Garnet"
he thought.
Garnet Weston played with in
difference, a quiet, sad smile upon
hls face. and around them stood
the three officers, and the platoon
that we're TO be the executioners of
the losing one.
Ten minutas Dassed twenty and