The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-31

them in Then the rctracing Of those
sams STEPS
A few. sorely weakened. gava up the
struggle and dropped out Of the ranks.
Some became deranged and. wAnder-
ing on. slipped down the rocky rayfnes
and were killed.
On the evening Of the tenth day they
were met by body OF Mexican cavaI-
~ and hidden 70 halt and give up their
arms
After three days rest, Ia which their
half-spent lives were restored by those
arts Of healing the Mexicans know so
we'll. they were carried. Ihandcuffed In
pairs into saitillo and thence 10
Salado
The hoary walls Of the old hacienda
looked down In sinister strength as the
thinned ranks fled ia. Eight Mexicans
were outside digging trench. Ned
exchanged a look with Harvey. his
companion in irons, and whispered:
THAT means death lie was not
wrong Al tive o'clock 81 the same
day the prisoners were ordered ont and
ranged In double line against one Of
the walls,
The officer in command then read
the written decree Of Santa Ana, pres
ilent Of Mexico, decree which pro
nonnced for these men fate 80 in
genious in Its torture to mind and body
that IL might have been conceived in
the subtle brain Of a Herod
Every tenth man was TO be killed,
tho decision 70 be made by lottery
Into a Jar were To be dropped one
hundred and seventy beans one hum
dred aud fifty-threc white and seven
teen black.
Each man was to take out bean.
Those drawing the black ones were to
be shot before the sun went down; the
rest spared death, but retained as
prisoners,
II was dark and cloudy day, this
goth of March, with high winds that
whipped the sand into great waves and
blew it across the plains
Beyond the door Of the courtyard
nothing could be seen but the flying
sand.
Over all spread the dnsky canopy n
the heavens.
Mexican soldier mounted stool
The roll was called
As each hand was slowly lifted and
poised for one single instant above the
mouth Of the jug life and death must
have met and made salute,
The game was for souls, and the die
was a Mexican beanl
Fosters name was called near the
last and he carelessly dropped in his
left hand, with perehance a reminis-
cence OF childish days when he had
done such things for luck. and found
he Ind picked up white bean.
As he returned TO his place Harvey
passed him, aud Ned saw in the white.
drawn face Of his friend no sign Of
fear. but the mental anguish Of Geth-
semane
What was 1t he had said las night In
one Of the pauseslof that long march?
That perhaps, even now. baby
voice was waking faint echoes In his
little home, and that the anxiety he
was bearing for another was sharper
with pain than any physical torture he
had experienced
Ned locke ut thesmooth white oval
Of the vegetable seed in his hand and
made resolve,
When he looked up Harvey was lust
raising his hand Ned noticed how it
trembled
When the fingers were withdrawn
there was something black outlined
against their bloodless tips.
The change in his face was that Of
death
With quick movement toward his
friend. Foster made a sudden thurst
and gesture, and how it was no one
could ever explain but after the slight
confusion and peremptory orders to fall
in line Harvey was seen standing ia hiss
old place staring with bewildered gaze
at u white object in his open palm, and
Ned. erect and calm, with brow Of
more than mortal beauty, awaiting the
signal Of death.
As soon as Harvey regained control
Of his confused faculties he made fran
tic. pitiable efforts to communicates
witl his friend. but was silenced at the
point Of musket and compelled To
throw himself face downward with tia
rest, while the seventeen doomed men
were led forth, bound together with
cords their eyes bandaged, and shot
repeatedly until life was extinct. They
asked the priviltgc.of being shot from
the front, but were refused and made
10 sit upon q log near the wall with
their backs to the cxecutioners
SIX were taken ont first. then six
more and then five
Darkness fell like a great funeral pail
as the last shots wore fred, and stars
shed their holy candle rays above the
lead; the dislonoral deal, lying in i
one gr at heap, body piled atop Of
body Nora c. Perry, in Omaha Bee.
spoany aud Dtlnft. care Who Knew 1t.
The newly welded couple boarded
the train At a village station and
crowd 81 bout hundred people saw
them of The eroom was Swapping
young Fellow, with sunburned face and
hands and bears grease on his hair,
willis the bride might have been tho
hired galH on the same farm They
had no sooner taken scat than he
put his arm around her aud began to
carcss one u her haadsy A1oiee in
rear u thea csicdeut ,'Spoonss' Int the
bridegroom gave no : gn Pretty soon
he pulled lcr head over on his shout
Il y -