The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-06

'nough, but if them what's bone O. yer bone s
a-starvin', an a-callin' for We, reckon We
wouldn't be a-thinkin' bout country" said
Jim, as he strobe off to Disadvantages quar-
fers.
is it any use, general, do We think. akin
fur pardon? Knows as it's a mighty bad
case, but jes' We think what was pullin the
pore feller t'other way"
IN see, ! II see," said the general, with a
tremble in his voice, MY God, wish had
given him the leave, and taken the risk
myself"
And "see'' he did, for he got up petition
which was signed by halt dozen brigade
commanders; but all to no effect.
"beserter John Rowsey to DO shot at high
noon, was the sentence issued.
The prisoner set i'll tho guard house, trying
10 write letter by the dim light of slut, as
they call the lights used in the mountains. II
Is rude, IRON cup on stem, and is filed with
lard, in which twisted strip of cotton serves
lof a wick. as he was writing, General Breck-
enridge opened the door and came in.
My poor fellow, l am sorry for this!'
u knowed you'd be, general, | llnowed
you'd be. love my country too, but
couldn't help dom it. l was bound ter go,
you see"
as there anything can do for you?''
y you'd find my Mary, general, an tell her
now tried ter come, an give her this letter,
an if you could help her bit"
II will, will" was the answer. 81 will
find her myself"
An general, you don't think [ run away
cos was n coward %
"a coward? Mop and the kindly blue eyes
shone with moisture
81 amt aieard ter fight, an amt afeard ter
dle' but there's some things as takes the heart
outer feller.'
I'll tell Mary that you died like a brave
man, said the general, as he grasped the
horny hand of the soldier.
BLESS you fur that world" cried the other,
tNfrI,Nt L., 4 > n -
an alwiz, an keep you frum trouble like
mlhe! And there they stood hand in hand,
the general and gentleman, and the uncouth
mountaineer, whose ideas were limited to his
native hills of one blood hath He made all
the inhabitants of the earth.
Around large, partially cleared space
where the stumps of the trees show that the
wilderness had but lately given way before the
advance OF man, the battalons were drawn up
to see-What?
One solitary man standing in the center OF
the circle, with eyes blinded, Il target for the
bullets OF half dozen bright, glttering rifles
fifty yards away.
I'm not do it,, said one. ~ came to fight
the enemy, and not to murder defenseless
man"
Orders is ORDERS" said another, "and he's
q deserter."
"Deserier indeed! Wouldn't you have done
the same in his placer"
NSl1t Nhon L Ill ulS uidCe anu now 90 L
know what | would have done il had been ?"
with which piece of philosophy he turned
away.
The signal given, a FASH a discharge, q muf-
iied scream, and all was over. No one noticed
raj one OF the shots was fred into the air "a
General Breckenridge's face grew white and
winter, as he sat immovable on his horse at the
head OF his troops and watched the prepare
tons. And when the faint cry was heard, lie
fell TO the ground in dead faint.
What mattcred it to the thousands in that
camp, who might themselves meet death in
the next twenty-four hours, that one soul had
gone on before? But, happily there is One
who says that not sparrow falls to the ground
without His knowledge. The ''extenuating cir
cuinstances' that awaited naught ut the camp
on the Cumberland may have weighed heavily
at the bar of heaven.
When General Breckenridge sought out that
once happy little home on the spur of Pine
Knob, he found only an empty and deserted
cabin. Whether Mary had Heard the sad
tidlnSs, and gone to the settlement in the val
ley away down below, or whether she had
wandered into the wilderness in pursuit of
sustenance for herself and little ones, and per-
ished there, no one will ever know.