The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-05-23
CHAPTER II.


death which many believed he deserved
CHAPTER IL Ek IA
The following afternoon found me
with my troop at camp Dick Robinson
when / at once reported to the com
mandant, my old friend, General Boyle.
The General had known Frank Brent
since that unfortunate young mans
childhood, and found him in soro dis
tress over tho execution, which was to
take place before ten o'clock tho follow
ing morning.
81 am powerless to help Frank" said
the General, after wo had been talking
a few minutes, ''for the evidence is all
against him. 1t was any other man--if
j, had not known him since he was a
child and his mother since she was a
schoolgirl should say without hesita-
ton that he richly deserved his fate"
Recalling the fact that mon on our
side as woll as on that of tho South
often had to disguise themselves in or
der to get through to see their friends
when on leave or furlough, said:
| "Under the circumstances, it seems
pretty hard to charge Kentuckian with
being spy"
"Do you know the circumstances?'
| asked the General.
"Only in q general way" ! replied.
SHE was captured in citizens dress
near Lebanon" explained General
Boyle: ''but wo might overlook that
were it not for the fact that on tho trial
it was proved conclusivcly that Frank
Brent, few weeks before his arrest,
wantonly murdered an old and re-
spected Union citizen over on Chaplin
creek, near Perryvillo. He had fair
trial, and there is no getting away from
the evidence"
Sand has he offered no defense?"
asked.
"He made statement, but there was
nothing to confirm it,
"Then there is no hope for him?''
81 fear not" said the General, COM
pressing his lips and shaking his head.
"But," he added, after pause, IL am
making an effort to get the date of the
sentence postponed"
"What have you done?'
81 have tclcgraphed the President and
uhi Ca POOtihB % iSPiJ az any uOiShO.
"And if favorable answer does not
come by tomorrow morning?"
"Thcn," said the General solcmnly,
81 must do my duty as soldier; in
deed, am powerless to stay tho cxecu-
ton"
"And Miss Brent is here?"
eyes, poor girl. ] have given her my
private quarters. You will find her
there or at the prison." replied tho Cen
eral.
Feeling my holplessness moro than
ever, and drcading the meeting, which
had recently been SO anxious to bring
about, went to the Generals quarters,
whittier the boy, Ike, had preceded me.
/ will confess to having trembled and
felt nervous when in the past heard
the irregular rattle of rifles along the
skirmish line, that always impressed
mo like prelude to the opera of death;
but such experiences were calmness
itself compared with my sensations on
once more standing in the presence of
the girl, who, from the hour of our
cruel parting under the locust and tulip
trees before her mothers house, had
never been out of my heart.
1t is not love that leads me to extol
Carrie Brent; for in land famed for the
beauty Of its women she was an ac-
knowledged belle. Two years had
passed since last we met, years of march
and battle, that had solaced and aged
me, and changed my character from a
light-hearted boy to that of bronzed
and bearded man whose soul was aflame
with sense of duty and desire to
bring about peace with Union-that or
an eternity Of war.
had made up my mind to stand on my
dignity. l recall the last words had
heard from her lips, words that cut me
and panied me moro cruelty than the
she'll, which subsequently at Benton
Vile tore off my right arm; go, Harry
Watts, and join the Lincoln hirelings if
you will, but after you have taken that
step wish never to see your face
again."
repeated these words to myself, as
neared the place where knew should
find Carrie, for she was reckoning to
me rs l approached. But when l saw
the beautiful, palo face and the express
sion of unutterable woe in her eyes, l
forgot the dignity had promised my
self, forgot the indignity with which
she had dismissed me, and feeling only