Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-03-22
u am no thief LIr Yank. if | have

capture; but your wat and clothes l
have no claim to-
Thank you, lieutenant; said the
doctor, as he returned the time piece
10 his pocket. Now, my friend, will
you enlighten me with regard TO your
intentions to mep
Yes, sir, if you are DESTROYS to know
/ was ordered to scout in the vicinity
of the Yankee lines, to capture just such
fellows as YOU who are buying up our
cotton. And my orders are to either
hang or shoot YOU. Now, old fellow,
you can take your choice. viii you be
ehoked to death with n grape vine; or
could you prefer to die like solderP
We'll, TO tell the truth, Lieutenant,
just now I'd rather not die at all, said
Watson with a poor attempt at faceti-
BUSINESS. Hanging is the death of
felon, that you know | am not; and
death by shooting is by no means
agreeableP
- ell. sir, you have but one hour in
which to make your choices; for my
orders are imperative. It's an unpleas-
ant duty, sir, but it must be done You,
Yourself ran this risk when you ventured
from your lines.
And walking away, the guerrilla
lieutenant called for his orderly sergeant
to prepare for executing the prisoner.
cor Watson was couvin ed that the
0uerrillas were in earnest, and really
intended to carry out their orders to the
letter. Death was staring him in the
face and sixty minutes fleeing rapidly
away was all that stood between him
an eternity.
Yet he resolved to die manfully. He
was naturally brave man. This was
evident enough, or he would not have
been in his present dilemma. He was
to be murdered in cold Blood but he
would show his assassins that Yankee
could die without betrayal of fear. And
he calmly awaited the preparations
which the orderly was then making.
The lieutenant had given him his choice;
and he had decided TO be shot to death.
While these preparations were being
made, the doctor was guarded by a
single sentinel. who appeared to regard
| him with commiseratiOn.
It's pretty hard sir, | know he
said. But lieutenant Sharp's orders
are very strict I'm certain he hates
the lob as bad as ! would; but it's as
much as his own neck's worth to let
YOU of.
Sharp! Sharpr repeated the doctor.
'ls he Mississippian?'
- es. sir, replied the man. why
do you ask? 10 you think you ever
! knew him?
40, I never saw him before. But
my friend, will you do me the favor tc
call your Ufficer?'
Certainly, sir
And calling to comrade, he request
cd him to say to the Lieutenant that the
prisoner wished to speak to him
moment.
The officer came. well, my friend,
said he. 'wnat can do for youP
your name Sharp" asked Watson.
Yes, that's my name.
Formerly of Benton, Yazoo county,
persisted the doctor.
Yes, when at home, live in YazoC
county.
Are you the son of John b. Sharp, ;
cotton planter of that county,
Yes. But why do you ask these
que,tions?'
Because think 1 know your father
Was he captain in the First Missis
sipp Rifles, under command of Col
Jef Davis in Mexico?
Yes. he was
Did he not receive nine different
wounds ut the battle of Buena Vista?
continued the doctor.
Yes. sir, replied the lieutenant now
for the first time, showing an intcres
in Watson's questions My father wa;
severely wounded in that BAIT e. Fol
weeks, he told me, he lay balancing
tween life and death in the hospital a
Satillo, and but for the skill and kind
ness of the surgeon in charge of him he
never would have reached home
We'll, lieutenant, answered the doc
tor, Il was his surgeon! | picked hin
up upon the field after some of hi,
company had rescued him shot
lanced and brui,ei by the enemy-anC
bore him to the rear; and afterward,
dressed his wounds and attended hin
till well enough to be sent to his home
in Mississippi
MY sod sir! What is your names?
dema ded the officer now much eX
cited.
Watson
Doctor Watson! Give me youl
hand, sir! I've heard my father speal
of you a thousand times and grasping
the doctors hand, the young ;han ex
pressed the utmost surprise and cordl
ality. Doctor, I'm glad to know you
but wish I'd never seen you, at leas
as prisoner. But you may assure
yourself, sir, that you shall receive al
my hands none but the kindest treat
ment'
Then l am not TO be choked to dealt
by grape vineP' said the doctor,
laughing; for he was satisfied that hi
had found Il friend in the young man.
and there was q decided improvement
in his prospects.
No, sir. Not by me- but l am
deucedly sorry. doctor, my men hap
pened to take you. So kind a frienC
of my fathers, however, is safe Will,
with me; but regret to say that feal
it will not be well for you when turf
you over to Col Roddie, who is my
superior.
But lieutenant, replied the doctor
why turn me over TO the tender mer.
cies of that manP What If | should
make my escape and get inside the