Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-16

AAhAh NhhA AiiVNttN AhAA Nn - f
capture; bat your wal Ia and clothes
have no cam to-
Thank you, lieutenant; said the
doctor, as a. returned the me piece
10 his 20 ket. Now. my friend, viii
YOU eulighten ne 18th regard 10 your
i|ntentiOl to ne3'
Yes. SIR. if You are DESTROYS 10 know.
| was ordered 10 scout in the vic nifty
of the Yankee lines, TO capture Just II n
fellows as YOU s. no are buying mp our
cotton. And my ord r. are to either
hang or shoot YOU. Now, old fellow.
You can take your choice. Will YOU be
choked to death with a grape vine; or
would YOU prefer 10 die Ike a soldier?
We'll, 10 tell the truth, lieutenant,
just now I'd rather not die at all said
Watson with "A poor attempt at %faceti-
BUSINESS Hanging j. the death OF q
felOn, that You know ! am not; and
death by shooting is by no means
agrceable'
ell. sir, You have but one hour in
which to make YOUR choice; for my
orders are imperative is an unplcas-
ant duty. SIR. but L must c done You.
Yourself ran this risl when you ycntured
from your mes
Aud walking away, the guerrilla
lieuterantcalled for hs orderly sergeant
To prepare for execu ing the prisoner.
Ioor Watson was conyin ed tat the
guerrillas were in ga nest, and really
intended to carry out the orders TO the
letter. Death was staring him i'm the
face ard : Xty minutes tleeting rapidly
away was all that stood between him
an ctern ty.
Yet he resolved to Il G manfully. lie
was patur lily a brave man. This wa
evident enough, or he would not have
been in his present Il lemma. He was
to be- murdered in cold blood; but he
won Il show his assa SINS that a Yankee
could die without e,rayal OF fear. And
he calmly AVA ted the preparations
which TIE orderly was the max ne.
The lieutenant had given him his choice;
and e. had decided 10 bee shot to death.
While these prcparat ons were being
mad. tire doctor was guarded ty a
single sentinel VINO appeared 20 regard
him IS IN rOmmi~cratiun.
is pretty t'rd SIR. ! know, he
said. 'Rut lieutenant sharp s orders
are very STREE. m certain he hates
the roo as hai as would but it's as
" uch as his own neck, worth 20 let
you or
sharp sharp repeated the doctor.
is hr a Miss ppiau?'
es. Sir rcpl ed the man why
do Won ass? 10 you think You even
knew him?
40, ( never saw him before. Fu'
my fir end. VIII von 90 me the favor t.
call your v'fccr?'
Certainly. r
And caliilgto a comradr. he request
ed h m to say TO the eutenant that the
prisoner wished to speak to I'm ;
moment
The officer came. We'll, my friend,
said he. ~ al ctn do for you?'
Your name Sharp askei watson.
Yes. thats my name.
= ormcrly of Benton. Yazoo county +
persisted the doct +
Yes, whom at home, | live in Iazo'
county.
'Are YOU the son of John B. Sharp,
cotton planter Of Tat county?'
Yes. But why do you ask thes'
cue ito s?'
Re ausc | think | know your father
Was n "a captain in the First NJ ssis
sippi ri es. under command of col
Jef Da in Mexico?
Yes Sc was
Did he not re Give nine differen
wounds az the battle of Buena Vista?
continued the doctor.
Yes. sir replied the lieu enant now
for the first time, showing an interes
in WatsonS questions Ny father wa,
severely wounded in that bait G. Fol
weeks, h. told me, lie lay balancing
tween life and death in the hosp tai "A
Sati 10, AID but for the skill and kin I
ness of the sur con in charge OF him h,
never would have reached nome
We'll. lieutenant. answered the doc
tor, Il was his surgeon ! picked hin
up upon the field after some If hi
company had rescued h shot
lance and trui e 10y the enemy-anC
bore him to the rea and afterWard
dressed his wounds AMI attended IA n
81 well enough To- be sen 70 his homo
! in Mis,issippi.'
NV od sir, What is your name?
deml ded the officer now much cX
cited.
WATSON
Doctor Watson Give me your
hand. ST. | We heard my father speab
of YOU a thousand times and grasp.ng
the doctors hand. the young :dan eX.
pressed the utmost surprise and cOrdI
ality. Doctor, I'm g.ad % know YOU
Tut | wish I'd never seen YOU, at least
as a rriso or. Pu' You may as,ur
yourself. sr. that you shall rcce We a
my hands none but the k ndest treat
ment
Then | am not to he choked to dealt
by a grape vine?' sad the do tor,
laughing; for he was sat SIZED that hi
had found "a friend in the young mln.
and there was n decided improvement
in his prospects
NO, sir. Not by me; but l am
deucedly sorry. doctor, my men hap
pened t. take You. So kind a friend
Of my fathers. however. i, safe while
with me-; but regret to say rhat fear
it W II II I be vel, for YOU when | turn
YOU over TO col. ROdd e.. who is my
superior
But Lieutenant replied the doctor
why turn me over 10 the tender mcr
ces of that nun? What if | should
make my escape and ct inside the