The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-03-14

was led away.
ssThat has been his plea ever since they
brought him back" explained Old Joe to me,
as they led the condemned man to the stake.
:. He swears he was never in the army before
that he never had musket in his hand
and he pretends not to know any of his old
companions. When they call him by name
he makes strange of it, and tells 'em he never
saw em before"
''Why, that is curious plea, said l, "for
man to make, who, you say, has been two
years in the service"
every curious, returned the host. with
shake of the head which seemed to leave
room for doubt concerning his meaning.
i But we conversed no more for our attention
was now turned to the prisoner The priest
now approached him and knelt at his side.
+ MY son, remember the fate of those who
die with lie upon their lips" commenced
/ the fat churchman. ERE you die let us have
the truth. Why did you desert your
post ?"
81 did not" persisted the youth; but his
tone was low now, and there was shade of
hesitation.
81 will not urge you," the priest said, for
of course you know; but your assertion is
strange and unaccountable. Your compan-
ions all know you-your officers swear to your
Identity and l recognize you as one who has
been often with me in our church with your
company"
The priest asked no more questions. The
prisoner had made his confession, and it re-
manned only for the holy father to pray which
he did quickly and methodically. The SER
geant, holding watch in his left hand, and
heavy pistol in his right, now approached
and directed that the prisoner should be
blindfolded The bandage was passed over
his eyes, and then secured to the stake SO
that he should not dodge his head At this
iuncture I asked mine host if they only had
six men to fire. He informed me that that
was all they ever employed for shooting de-
serter. Three of the guns were loaded with
balls, and three with blank cartridges and
when they fired they moved up and placed
the muzzles of their pieces to within two feet
of the condemned mans head.
The priest had arisen and moved back, and
the colonel had ordered the sergeant to pro-
coed.
"God have mercy ]" uttered the unhappy
youth Until this moment his whole frame
had been nerved up to an anxious listening at
titude, but now his muscles relaxed, and with
deep groan he gave himself upto his fate.
The sergeant had spoken the word Ready"
and before he could proceed there was a
movement near the centre of the long line of
men, and in moment more soldier broke
through and rushed to the spot where the
condemned man was bound.
"Hold." he shouted, as he reached the
spot. placing himself between the prisoner
and the executioners, q You would kill an in
nocent man am Philip Cervera II am the
deserter, as you think Look at me-look at
me :"
sit is! 1t is! 1t is Philip"
Such EXPLANATIONS fell from the lips of those
who stood around. found that he SO nearly
resembled the prisoner, that I should not
have dared to venture even an assertion upon
the identity of either. In fact, one was the
exact counterpart of the other.
The colonel leaped from his saddle and
fastened to the spot.
81 am Philip Cervera, senior colonel, the
newcomer cried out "Do you not recog-
nize me?'
The commandment gazed first upon him and
then upon the prisoner, and at length he
said:
"By our lady but this is most strange
Sergeant, what think you of it ?"
"Why, sir" returned the man thus ad-
dressed, touching his cap. g don't know
I think I should have to take their own word
for it."
=" You are right, sergeant. At any rate,
you may unbind the prisoner"
The colonel reflected upon this few mo-
ments, and then ordered both men to be con-
Quoted to the barracks.
Collins and myself accompanied our host
back to his house. We tried to get him in
conversation on the way, but he was moody
and silent, sometimes answering in monosyl-
tables, but entering into no conversation.
1t was after dark, and Collins, the host, and
myself were playing a game of billiards,
when the door was opened and in walked one
of the men whom we had seen at the Place