Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-01-15

man, left the club house, entered his car
riage and was driven rapidly away.
That night an ofticef from the war de
partment arrived in the Queen City and
was closeted for a while with Lieut.. Bowen
after which the two went to the chief OF
police and in company with him visited
the cell where Taintor, deserter and forger,
was confined, 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 arrest, 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 OF
high rank were coming on the court that
the colonel was compelled to give every bit
of room he had to them" Noel thanked
her nervously, and said he could be com
Portable anywhere, but his wife was com
ing; she had telegraphed that she could
not be separated from him when he was
suffering wrong and outrage. Capt. and
Mrs Lowndes, moved to instant sympathy,
begged that he would make their quarters
his home, and placed their best room at
his disposal.
Two evenings afterward he was per
mitted to go himself to the railway to meet
poor Mabel, who threw herself into his
arms and almost sobbed her heart out at
sight of his now haggard and careworn
face. Mrs. Lowndes then came forward
and stroye 10 comfort her, while Noel
rushed off to send some kilograms. Then
they drove out to the post, and Mabel's
spirits partially revived when she found
that it was not prison she had come to
share with her husband. Every one was
so gentle and kind to her She began to
believe there was nothing very serious in
the matter after all
1t lacked yet five days to the meeting Of
the court, and in the intervening time
there arrived at the post prominent and
distinguished lawyer from the east, sent To
conduct the defense by Mr.. Withers' or
ders, and many long talk did he hold
with his client and the officers who were
gathering at Gregg.
The charges of misconduct in face OF the
enemy had been preferred by the depart
ment commander, who cited az his wit.
nesses Capt. Lane, Lieut.. Mason, Lieut.
Royce the guide and two or three non.
commissioned officers. To tine charge Of
conduct unbecoming an officer and Il
gentleman" there were specifications set
ting forth that he had caused 10 be circu.
lated and published -,ports to the effect
that it was his command that had been
severely engaged, and his command that
had rescued the captives and defeated the
Indians, which statements he well knew TO
be false. Two or three correspondents and
railway employees and the telegraph opera
tor were witnesses. This would be a hard
one to prove aflirmatively, as the judge adj
vocate found when he examined his wit
nesses as they arrived, and the great law.
yer assured the accused officer that he
could secure him an acquittal on that
charge. The real danger lay in the testi.
mony of Capt. Lane and Lieut.. Mason.
who had not yet come.
And now, hour after hour, for two days,
Mabel was reading in her husbands face
the utter helplessness that possessed him:
nay, more, the truth was being revealed to
her in all its damning details. 1t might be
for the prosecution to prove that
he had actually caused the false and boast
full stories to be given to the press and the
public, but how about the kilograms and
letters Mr.. Withers had so proudly come
to show her? How about the kilograms
and letters she herself had receivedS What
could she derive from them but
that he was the hero of the whole affair,
and that he was lying painfully wounded
when he wrote2 The cash through the
beautiful white arm turned out to be
mere scratch upon the skin that pin
might have made. 1t was Greene's com
I 1. L
Lane, and Lane with his men who had res.
cued the captives and then fought so hard,
so desperately, against such fearful odds,
and sustained their greatest losses while
her hero-her Gordon-with nearly fifty
men, was held only mile away by half
dozen ragamuffins in the rocks. She had
almost adored him, believing him godlike
in courage and magnanimity; but now on
every side the real facts were coming to
light, and she even wrung them from his
reluctant lips. And yct-and yet-he was
her husband, and she loved him.
Again and again did she question Mr.
Falconer, the eminent counsel, as to the
possibilities. This gentleman had fought
Ill 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 a
vronged and injured man, and because
possibly, fee of phenomenal proportion
could be looked for. He met among the
I'D captains of the Eleventh men whom he
lad known in Virginia in the war days, |
md learned from them what Noel's real
reputation was, and beyond peradventure
low he had shirked and played the coward |
n the last campaign: so that he, who had
Known Mabel Vincent from her babyhood |
md loved her old father, now shrank from |
he sorrow of having to tell her the truth. |
Yet she demanded it, and he had to say |
hat her husbands fate hinged on the evil |
lence that might be given by Capt. Lane |
md Mr.. Mason.
That very night these two officers ar |
lived, together with three members of the |
curt. The following day at 10 o'clock the
curt was to begin its session, and four of |
is members were still to come. That
light Mr.. Falconer and Noel were closeted |
With several men in succession, seeking evil
ence for the defense. That night there |
anne dispatch from Withers saying he
lad done his best in Washington, but that
seemed improbable that the president
vould interfere and accept Noel's resigna
ion from the service.