The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-11-08

pie while men are offering their lives h defense of their hones.s
 "Colonel Wildess, we are-s "Why do you call me colonel ?" here interrupted the rider.
 Because ve know you are colonel in the Union army" said young Berkley. As was saying. you are mistaken; ve are not robbers. We would not take . cent from if you had a million of dollan. We will nos keep you in suspense. You are to die in five minutes If there is anything you wish to say, say < now." They had been riding for several min utes when this conversation took place, and had nov halted beneath large oak tree.
 My Godi what is my crime? Why am l to be murdered in cold blood like this? Even to kill me for gold would be better than to murder me without an ex- cuse at all Are you testing? am no coward, and would not fear to meet you on any field, though know you not But this is so sudden. am almost within hearing of my home. My darling wife, and sweet little boy, whom have never seen, are almost in my arms! And to be torn thus from them! Great God in heaven, is there no justice left in the world ?'
 Il know that it is hard, colonel, but the women and children of parish made the same appeal (, you when your men plundered them, and burned all that they lett; and outraged yemen, and Fuampled every idea of virtue in the dirt. Why did not you use .he power you had to prevent these atrocities It is nov too late to amend that by any act you can do, but your hie must pay the penalty of out ragged virtue, and for the deaths that re- suited from grief and suffering that it was you duty to prevent, but which you refused to do. know it is hard but we believe it is duty we owe to our country, and you must die. It is best that your wife should think you failed to return be- cause you gave your life to your county and would to God it could be the truth.n
 Sir, see that you arc in earnest, tell me who you are-but no, had rather go into eternity without knowing you. It would be unmaniy as well as useless in me to plead for my life. But will ask on. favor of you. Let me go to my home it is but a very short distance from here, and say farewell to my beloved wife, and bless my boy whom have pever seen. Il promise you, on the word oi maa who has never deceived anyone, or .old an untruth in his life, that vii make no effort to escape-that l xill subni. to your cruelty. But let ne take leave of my loved opes. O, if you are husband if you are a father, implore y,u to grant me but this request. ThiES of your own loved ones, and how it wo ,ld mar even the brightness of heavens sweetest hopes if you were to be pre- vented from seeing them just as you could almost feel their warm, loving arms around your neck and have their precious lips meet yours in loving kiss after long separationl Think what it must be to the wife to suffer as sine must when she waits in vain for the coming of her husband whom she expects every moment, and who will never come. Sir, in the name of heaven, in the name of all that you hold most dear, ask this l one favor 'eel like could gladly die | now, when l feel death so near, if 1 am but permitted to once more press my loved ones to my bosom. Will you-n
 In husky voice the captain said:
 am almost persuaded to grant what : ~sa ask. Men, shall we"
 No. no, captain" cried two or three, " our wives were among that number of plundered. We came home, or where we had left our homes and found that they were burned, and our wives and run away. Hawkins daughter was-well. it was better that she did not live long afterwards"
 "You see, Colonel Wilders," said Cap tain Berkley, could not do as you ask"
 In vain Colonel Wilders pleaded that while he was at fault in not restraining men who were bent on plunder in the name of "contraband," he could not possibly have foresold that so much misery and crime would have followed and that he should not be made to die ios what was, at most, grave oversight without any criminal intention, even in the remotess degree. He was given a lev minutes in which to pray. He knelt down and thaf hand If xes.en rnec k>>rA