Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-09-21

bered my warning, though her eye
streamed and her hands strained in thci
grasp.
"'Oh, sir, but he isn't guilty, the poo
boy. Think how tired he was. Up tn,
whole night; ordered on duty again thu
moment he was relieved. 1t was inhu
man. No wonder he dozed without
knowing it,
"'But'--
"'Oh, sir, know what you would
say: 1t couldn't be. But it was. Tho
orderly sergeant has always hated him
On the day before he had ordered Tom
excuse me, sir, Thomas-whon he was
or duty to clean the equipments OF
another soldier, which Thomas refused
to do
He was perfectly right there.
$50 Thomas says. Besides he was
expecting to see me. But that night
when he came off his post, oh, so tired,
the sergeant ordered him right ON again
to take the place of the soldier whose
arms he wouldn't clean
"lf this is SO, no court will punish
him for falling asleep
"I'm SO delighted. That's what
Thomas said he knew you would say.
You are so learned in the regulations.
But he didn't mean to-oh, no indeed.
He's SO ashamed. when he has been so
anxious to distinguish himself for me.
And here blush deepened through poor
Mary's cheeks.
"'He shall have the chance, never
fear. But why didn't you 20 to his cap
tain? Does he know these factsY
"Again Mary blushed and far less
transiently. Her fingers picked her dress
uneasily.
"'Captain Johnson she faltered. He
doesn't like Tom; he-he-likes me-
"'Oh, he! Here was little drama.
l recalled the captains repulsive face
and sullen ways and recognized the
villains part.
'Besides,' she continued. the order
ly is his brother-in-law.'
"'And he tells far different story,
suspect
"'Indeed, yes; there is no hope for
Thomas from either of them.'
NOi1 u1y uCdI, odfO yOuI tcdIS lI.C
keep stout heart. 1 like your soldier
and like you. believe the story and
you shall have my aid. But be cautious
and secret. The court is now in session,
you say?'
eyes, sir; all this week. But Thomas
case was only reached this afternoon
just before adjournment
T Il
now; you may rely ON me- And with
God bless you, which it seems as if
could feel even now, the girl withdrew.
Yet with a sudden inspiration 1 called
after her, What is the name of the
soldier whose place Thomas took?
Joseph Brant.'
"Here surely was difficult situation.
The sergeant hostile, the captain vindic-
tive-what hope CLEANED for Marys
soldier? Yet followed the inspiration.
The proof-if l only could get the proof!
1t existed unless cunning had destroyed
1t. Again I arrayed myself in full fig.
Again hastened over the ferry to the
camp, ] Isought the sergeant's tent and
l found him within and alone. Too
stupid to be provident, was my mental
glance. Sergeant, your detail book at
once commanded. The man stared
and gaped and then handed it to me
without a word.
81 went to retired spot. l turned
the pages with trembling fingers. All,
fate had favored me. There was the
record for the night in question, and
among the reliefs didn't find the name
of Thomas Browne, but did find that
Of Joseph Brant
"Then visited the judge advocate, a
friend of mine, fine fellow, now su-
preme court judge of this state. Put
that in your civil pipe and smoke it.
"'What sort of man is Captain John
son? 1 asked.
my friend shrugged his broad shoul-
ders.
"'Humphr he replied. with all there
is back Of him he ought to get the single
star in six months
"''Fluence. hey?
"'Great. But, man to man now, why
do you ask?
"'You needn't go any further, old
fellow, your scruples reveal more than
they conceal. But to change the sub
ject. I am going to put hypothetical
case to you, and want you to tell mo
just how you would act regarding it.
And detailed the facts of Mary's SOL
dier's troubles, using of course assumed
names.
''The judge advocate deliberated. "A
difficult and delicate matter he said.
The man is innocent, but he would be
condemned. The sentence would bo
commuted on review; still his career
would be ruined. 1 think I should do
this: l should lay these inside facts con-
fidentially before the president of the
court. Then, if he approved, at the
next session l should announce that the
main witness, the officer of the day, was
absent-and he would be too. And in
view of the stress of other business, and
of the grave doubts as to the defendants
culpability, should ask that the case
be dismissed
"'You would surely do thisY
"'Certainly. 1t would be the quick
est and most prudent way out of nasty
rush.
"'Then listen, old fellow And l ex-
planned my parable to him. And here's
the proof, I said, in conclusion, and
showed him the sergeants detail book.
"'The villainsp he exclaimed. I'll
stick to my word, never fear. It's the
wisest course too. At this present crisis
the friends Of that captain must not bo
offended. His time may come. But
that sergeant should be punished in
some way
Leave that to me. Ho shall lose
his chevrons, promise YOU
every well. I'm off to see tho
president
1.-The next morning came. The court
convened. Mary was present, anxious
yet hopeful, with her gaze fixed on the
erect, manly form of her soldier. So,
too, were the captain and tho sergeant
In attendance, the former exultant, tic
latter secretly worried. But looked
in vain for the officer of the day.
1.-The judge advocate was faithful to
his rehearsal and letter perfect in hi,
part.
''I do therefore suggest he said in
conclusion, that this charge against