The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-09-09
- Jefferson looked up again.


would be rcmitted.'
go have no such information to gave
you,' told him.
ferson recognized me. / could see il in
his eyes. But he only said:
Precisely. That is the exact lie
expected you TO tell
"And then he added:
"'Sergeant, take your men outside and
leave the prisoner alone with me-
"Thc men filed out, and the Sergeant
followed them and closed the door. AS
soon as it was shut, Jefferson got up from
the table where he was sitting and gripped
me by the hand.
Arthur he said, Il haven't seen you
these last five years. But Pm not mstak-
en-. You are my brother Arthur, aren't
your
II hadn't meant to tell him who
was. You see he'd got TO order me
TO be shot anyway, and it seemed
better he shouldn't know he was sem
fencing his own brother. But it wasn't
any use trying TO deceive him then.
He wouldn't have believed it, SO |
owned up.
"'Yes, Jefferson, said. Tm Arthur
Langley right enough. was in hopes
you wouldn't recognize me. But you
| have
"Then we sat down and talked Of
many things while the soldiers waited
outside.
"He asked me for news OF you, and
wanted to know il you had forgiven him
| for running away from home. | told
l. a L. 10 tl..t L..
back TO you after the war was over; aud
he promised that he would. And then
we both cursed the war that had brought
us together so strangely and so terribly,
and poor Jefferson seemed even more
distressed than | was by our awful meet
ing. He broke down and sObbcd, poor
boy.
God knows, Arthur he said, I'd
let you go right away back 50 Stuarts
camp if could. But can't
"And nc couldn't, mother.
~ know you can't do it, Jefferson, l
told him. You're men wouldn't let you.
II you tried they'd mutiny'
'He allowed that it was more than
likely.
"LikelyP said. It's dead GER
tainty. I'd be shot just the same if you
tried and your second in command
would put you under arrest, and your
Colonel would see that you were shot,
too. No, Jefferson, you've got it to
do, and you'd best get it done right
away
"The poor boy sat down and covered
his face with his hands, sobbing, 'Oh, my
God my God y
IL tried to calm him bit, telling him
that it was only the fortune OF war, and
that when started | knew | was taking
my life in my hands. But it didn't seem
to comfort him. He kept pacing up and
down the room saying. / can't do it! |
can't do it
"But / told him that he must do it
there was no way out of 1t. Then he
made great effort and calmed himself.
He sat down ut the table and struck the
gong, and then the sergeant came into
the room again.
"'Sergeant,' nc said, the prisoner
will be shot Mt daybreak. For the pres
cnt you will lock him in the room oppo
site to mine
"And SO they brought me up here and
left me"
There was break in the letter here.
Arthur Langley began several sentences,
only to strike his pen through them
again. But presently he went on thus:
"You will be angry with Jefferson,
mother. You will think that am max
ing excuses for him, and that he might
have saved me if he'd liked. Then read
on, mother | have something else to
tell you When you have read it you
will never think badly of Jefferson again.
"Two hours ago Iheard some one tap
ping gently at my door, and voice it
was JelIerson's voice-spoke to me in n
whisper.
Arthur! Arthur he said. Don't
answer me. Arthur, or some one may
hear you, but listen carefully to what |
say
al listened, and this was what he
said
"'If you put your hand into your
wash hand jug you will find key that
will unlock your door. In h passage
you will see Federal uniform and an
overcoat Put them on and walk right
out through the front door, and make
straight for the clump Of trees to the
west. Button your coat well over your
face, and you will be mistaken for me.
| usually visit the sentries about this
time. If you are challenged, initiate my
voice and give the password Peters
burg" Good-by, Arthur, and God bless
you
"There mother you see what Jeiler-
son was willing to do for me. | wonder
if you understand why I'm not going to
LET him do itl 1t is because know Just
what the offer means. 1t means that
jefferson will be arrested for conniving
at my escape and shot instead of me. l
mustn't allow that to happen, must i?
Jefferson and | weren't as good
friends as we should have been in the old
times; but l always allowed there was
grit in him. and now know it. | hope
there's grit enough in me to stand out
against this temptation. It's tempta-
tion to think that there's that uniform
waiting for me all the while, and I've
only to put it on and get clear away. l