Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-04-12

me Walk would have been sheer cruelty.
Take him to headquarters" my cap
Tor or my rescuer said. in short voice,
as soon as l had eaten and drank greed
lily the bread and meat and brandy the
first man had brought up for me.
They carried me to headquarters and
brought me up before three officers. The
officers questioned me closely and in
creduloCsly. They would hear nothing of
my being Federal prisoner. The uni
form was enough TO condemn me.
Take him away and search him." they
said, peremptorily. The sergeant took
me to tent and searched me, and found
nothing.
l knew then what would happen next.
They would try me by rude rough
anG-r1ady court martial, and hang me
for spy that very morning.
AS | marched out from the Sergeant's
tent again, absolutely Respondent with
fatigue and fever, an officer in majors
uniform strolled casually toward u.s.
Promotion was often very quick in these
days. The major, l saw at a glance,
was Claude Tyack.
He stopped and gaZed at me sternly
for moment. Not muscle of his face
stirred or quivered Sergeant" he said,
in a cool, unconcerned tone, eyeing me
from head to foot, who's your prison.
err"
"One of Lees spieS,'' the sergeant an
swered careiesSly. Took him this
morning out in the Wilderness. Fourth
we've taken this week, anyhow. The
Rebs are getting kinder desperate, l
reckon"
looked Claude Tyack back in the
face. He knew me perfectly, but never
for an instant quailed or faltered. "What
will You do with him? Shoot him." he
inquired.
"String him up" the sergeant replied,
with quiet grin.
| stood still and said nothing.
They took me back and held a short,
informal drum-head court martial. 1t
all occurred in five minutes. A mans
life counts for so little in war time. |
was half dead already, and never listen
ed to it. The bitterness of death was
passed for me long ago. l stood bolt
upright, my arms folded. desperately in
front, and faced Claude Tvack, without
ever fiinching. Claude Tyack, who only
looked on as a mere spectator, faced me
in return, muted and white, in solemn
expectation.
do you admit You are Spy?" the
presiding officer asked me.
NO." replied, Il am Federal pris
oner from Richmond, late sergeant in
the Massachusetts contingent"
In Burnside's division yes; hundreds"
The presiding officer smiled grimly.
"Burnside's division is a long way off
now," he said calmly at moved a
month ago. We can't bring men all
the way from Kentucky, you know, to
look at you"
p l bowed my head. 1t mattered little.
l was too wearied out to fight for life
any longer l only thought of Elsie's
misery.
Then | became aware that Claude
Tyack had joined the ring a little closer,
and was looking at me with fixed and
rigid attention.
Nobody nearer" the officer asked.
l kept my eyes riveted on Tyack's. l
could not appeal to him; not even for
Elsie He would not help me. never
knew till that moment was thought
reader; but in Tyack s face | read it all
all he was thinking as it passed
through his mind; read it, and felt GER
tain read it correctly.
If he allowed me to be shot then and
there, he would not only wipe out old
scores, but would also in time marry
Elsie
l saw those very words passing rapid
ly through his angry mind-"If it
weren't that / love Waiter Ponsard with
all my soul, think, Mr.. Tyack, for very
pity should have to marry yOu!'
She would have to marry him! He
would 90 back, certain of my death; lie
would tell her all save this one episode;
he would plead hard, as he had pleaded
before: and then, for pity, Elsie would
marry him!
Our eyes met still; l returned his
stare; tall and pale he stood confronting
me; he gloated over my misfortune; we
spoke never word to one another; and
yet we two men knew perfectly in our
own hearts each what the other was
thinking.
There was deadly pause. The pre-
siding officer waited patiently. The
words seemed to stick in my throat.
moistencd my lips with my tongue, and
wetted my larynx by swallowing. Then
I said slowly, Nobody nearer"
Clearly he was 10th himself to condemn
a man so weak and i'll as was. At last
he cleared his throat nervously, and
turned to the court with an inquiring
gesture.
Then Claude Tyack took three PAGES
forward and stood before him. The
man seemed taller and paler than ever.
Great drops of sweat gathered on his
brow. His lips and nostrils quivered |
with emotion. A ffightful struggle |
was going Oh within him. The demon
of revenge-just revenge, if revenge is
ever just-foT an undeServed INSULT |
recognized that-fought for mastery in |
MS soul with right and mercy. 81 need |
not identify him." he cried aloud, clasp
ing his two hands one over the other,
and talking as in dream. 81 am not
called to give evidence. He has never
asked me!''
81 will never ask you,' l replied with
dogged despair. You have found me,
oh, my enemy! l have wrOnged you
bitterly. know it and regret it. 1
will ask your forgiveness, but never
your mercy"
Claude Tyack held up his hands, like
a child, to his face He was rugged |
man now, though still young and hand
some; but the tears rolled slowly, very
slowly, one after another, down his
bronzed cheeks. You shall have my
mercy" he answered at last with Il grOan,
"becauSe You do not ask it; but never,
never, never my forgiveness. For FL
- I. y, =