The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-14

va MIN III come out with tho
company when he let's Kerr outp'
This was again the remarkable answer
gwen by Private Bill. Just Il tattoo with
MS heels, II grin on not too clean fnco
"''' shre"'l pair of eyes looking out I'M
uer an army cap. For the rest. II blue clnd
heurc remaining placidly seated OH tho
provision box.
onng Teller, you're too rapid. Tho
cnionePs business. He says it's mutiny.
ana us. DO you know what that meansf"
Know what that means" rejoined
PRIVATE Bill from the box coolly.
III you'll come along Off from That box
ana be sensible and save that nerve of
yours for your first battle, you'll come out
OF IL Il general" and the orderly hesitated.
Private Bill laughed
1T means-a court martial"
Private Bill leaned over and picked nm a
straw.
at mcans-death"
Pr%ate Bill nonchalantly chewed his
straw, made u wry face and said KS he ex.
perforated its chewed end:
HE won't shoot me'
And the orderly turned away.
blaze OF sunlight on the plaza of the
Ittic town. regiment drawn up to form
three sides of Il square A white ard crucl
brcathlcss, allowing the rcgimental colors
to hang like n wilted tulip on it's stem, and
the only bit of scarlet in n picture where
all was hlue-blue sky, blue river and the
oiue oil the arny men. And n little church
Str'lttfuS like Il bnntam with shining comb
crowed out IL hymn.
And facing tall alone ndomitably, with
the spiteful look of n cornercd mo,isc I'm
his half shut eyes, stood Private Bill.
For it had indeed come to- this.
lie WIS to be shot for the most prcpostcr.
Gus bit of unreasonable folly which had
ever entered into n youngsters head. He
wash tribe whitehall was all. Assohnn
as young owl he stood, every frccklc
showing plainly from his pallor, but dis
playing the same ridiculous grit.
Then II detachment of men were singled
from the rest, each whittier than tho man
they faced.
And Private Kerr was still in the guard,
house.
"Rcadyr'
"Talle-aimr
Fire.
The cr',sh-the rattle of bullets followed
and then the smoke cleared. disclosing
Private Bill with his frccklcs IL bit more in
relief, but still standing
Each man had fired into the mir.
They'll never shoot .mc" called ont
Private Bill
Around behind the detachment of men
rode the colonel. He was CHASTITY and
hoarse with emotion. That small nl.rt
figure was strangely imposing, but mutinv
is an ugly thing. and he was a colonel in
the United States army
He drew his sword
You level those guns or I'll OF with
your heads!" he beloved, beside himself
with rage.
They won't do itr' pipcd up Private
God have mercy on your soul. Won
Young fool"' responded the colonel, turn
ing his head away-for the fellow was but
IA Ind
Now.
Ready"
"Take--nimn'
Fire"
But not sound. Only deathlike ST.
lencc. followed by several deep drawn
brenths like the signs of the dying. Slowly
the colonel turned his head
This is whit he saw:
Three sides of II square of men in army
bliI" standing oppositcn bantamlike church
which was Growing out Il hymn A small
detachment Of men, with puzzled. foolish
faces. resting on their arms, rs they looked
from one to another and then at him.
And facing it all Private Bill his face
crimSorcd i'll glorious blush which had
eclipscd it's frcckles, and whose hands had
torn open the top buttons of his army coat,
exposing throat md breast rs white and
tender us the moonlight of n Mexican
night.
Private Bill was right; the men did not
fire. After one glance the colonel heard "A
sigh such MS had already saluted his ears.
81 ma AZ
"Wcll, I'll he -!'
He then added something presumably
less emphatic TO the chaplain, after which
Private Kerr was produced from the guard
house looking very subdued-not to saw
silly.
do You see that young man? ?" asked the
colonel of him savagely, pointing mean
while to Private Bill.
Yes sir"
lie WAS brought here to be shot"
Yes, sir" But Private Kerr's color was
sckly.
II have decided to do worse"
yes, SIR" And Private Kerr grows
He shall not be shot: but-he shall be
married."
Anu he-or she-was, then and there
ana when the moon shone on the ban
tam church, which seemed to sleep with
its head under its wing, IL great bass voice
muttered forth from the black pit of mn
adobe hut:
at takes - woman to mutinv
successfully"
Yes. SIR" said the little orderly at the
door.
Which goes to prove that the colonel
speedily recovered the Use of his favortc
language. JOHANNA Staats in Truth.
superb Marksmnnship.
Captain Frcmantle and Lieutenant OK.
ley in lSol, at Bisley,. while shooting for