Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-09-07
it not unfair to let him be tried by OIL

Eleventh. but he knew it we'll enough
to say no to the first part of the queS-
ton. As TO the other, there were only
two officers from that regiment on the
court. and one was Noel'S old friend and
colonel-RiggS.
1t was i'm the midst of this talk that
Mr.. Amos WitherS had suddenly appear
ed and begged few words in private
with Mr.. Bowen.
WitherS was in state of nervous ex-
element, As any one could see. He
talked eagerly, even pleadingly, with
the silent lieutenant, and at last sud
denly arose and, with Il look of defeat
ed discounted man, left the club house,
entered his carriage and was driven rap
idly away.
That night an officer from the war de-
partment arrived in the Queen City and
was clOSeted for n while with Lieut.
Bowen. after which the two went to the
chief Of police, and in company with
him visited the cell where Taintor, de-
Serter and forger, was cnnfned, took his
statement and that of the chief, and
with these documents the officer went
ON To division headquarters.
Meantime the campaign had come to
an end. Capt. Noel had reported, in ar
rest. TO the commanding officer at Fort
Gregg, and Mrs. Riggs had tearfully
greeted him: ''She would So love TO
have him under her roof that she might
show her sympathy and friendship; but
so many officers high rank were coming
on to the court that the colonel was
compelled TO give every bit of room he
had TO them" Noel thanked her ner-
vouSly. and said he could be comforta-
BILE anywhere, but his wife was coming;
she had telegraphed that she could not
be separated from him when he was
suffering wrong and outrage. Capt. and
Mrs. LOwndeS, moved 10 instant Sympa-
thy. begged that he would make their
quarters his home. and IRaced their best
room AT his disposal.
Two evenings afterward he was per-
mitted - 90 himself TO the railway TO
meet poor Mabel. who threw herself in
TO his arms and almost SObbed her heart
out at sight of his now haggard and
carcwOrn face. Mrs. LOwndeS then
came forward and Strove to comfort her,
while Noel rushed of 10 send some tele-
grams. Then they drove out TO the
post. and then MabelS spirits partly re-
Ivived when she found il was not a
prison she came tOShare with her nus
band. Every one was so gentle and kind
| TO her. She began TO believe there was
nothing very serious i'm the matter after
/ all.
1t lacked yet five days To the meeting
of the court, and i'm the intervening
I time there arrived AT the post prOmi-
nent and distinguished lawyer from the
east. sent TO conduct the defense by Mr..
/ WitherS' orders, and many a long talk
did he hold with his client and the Off
GERS who were gathering at Gregg.
The charges of misconduct IN face OF
the enemy had been preferred 10y the
department commander, who cited as his
witnesses Capt. Lane, Lieut.. Mason
| Lieut.. Royce. the guide and two or
three non-commiSsioncd officers. To
the charge of conduct unbecoming
am officer and gentleman there We're
specifications setting forth that he had
caused To bee circulated and published
reports to- the effect that ia was his COM
maud that had been severely engaged.
aud his command that had rescued the
captivcS and defeated the Indians, which
statements ne well knew TO Doe false.
Two or three correspondents and rail
way employees and the telegraph opera
tor were witnesses. This would be a
hard one 10 prove ailirmativcly. as the
iudce advocate found when hc examined
his witnesses as they arrived. and the
great lawyer assured the accused officer
that he could secure him am acquittal ON
that charge. The real danger lay i'm the
testimony of Capt. Lane and Lieut..
Mason. who had not Yet come.
And now. lour after hour for two
DAYS. Mabel was reading i'm her huS-
bands face the utter helpleSSnesS that
possessed him; nay. more, the truth was
being revealed 20 her i'm all It's damning
details. 10 might be impossible for the
prosecution % prove that he had act
ually caused the false and bo3Stiul
stories to bee given 20 the press and the
public. but how about the kilograms
and letters Mr. Withcrs had SO proudly
come 10 show her? How about the tele-
grams and letters she herself had re-
cciycd? What impression could She de
rive from them but that he was the hero
of the whole affair. and that he was ~
ing painfully wounded when ne wrote?
/ The rash through the beautiful white
arm turned out To be mere scratch
upon the skin that pin might nave
made. It was Greene command from
Fort Graham that had rescued Lane,
and Lane with his men who had res
cued the captivcS and then fought so
/ q ] al
full odds. and sustained the greatest
loses while her hero-her Gordon-with
nearly fifty men, was held only mile
away by half dozen ragamuifinS in the
rocks. She had almost adOrcd him, be-
/ lieving him godlike in courage and mag
nanimity: but now on every side the
real facts were coming TO light, and She
even wrung them from his reluctant
| lips. And yet-and yet-he was her
/ husband, and she loved him.
Again and again and again did she
question Mr.. Falconer, the eminent
IcounSul, As TO the possibilities. This
gentleman had fought all through the
| war of the rebellion, and had won high
commentator for bravery. He had
taken the case because he believed, on
| Withers' statement, that Noel was Il
wronged and Injured man, and because,
possibly. fee of phenomenal proper
| tons could be looked for. He met among
/ tbc old captains of the Eleventh men
whom he had known i'm Virginia in the
war days, and learned from them what
/ Noers real reputation was, and beyond
peradventure how he had Shirked and
plaved the coward in the last campaign;
80 that he, who had known Mabel Vim
cent since her babyhood and loved her
old father, now shrank from the sorrow
of having TO tell her the truth. Yet she
demanded it. and he had to say that her
husbands fate hinged on the evidence