The herald., 1893-02-19
A BROKEN PAROLE.

"'Yes," said my friend the general, "you
may boast of the forms and solemnities Of
your civil tribunals, of your oaths and afii-
davits and rigid cross examinations. What
are they but retrenchments which prove
that perjury is an active foe2 Now III the
army it Is pride, not fear, that is the safe
guard. The word of an officer en- his honor
rs soldier apd gentleman is never
doubted"
yet an officer is human?"
'There are men and men, sir. 1t is q
matter of education, which becomes an in
stinct. A soldiers word is sacrament,
and is SO recognized by the army regula-
tions."
"Oh, well, the Roman soldiers did some
times desert their standard turn their backs
on the enemy and abandon their general.
Catiline and Antony lived as well as
Brutus and Scipio. Come now, did you
never know an officer to break his word?
Hump The general looked serious and
even sad. Il do remember one case; but it
was excusabie, sir, most excusable. Poor
young fellow, so handsome, 30 gallanti
After all these years can see him as he sat
erect and manful on his horse, his face livid,
his lips bitten, the drops of agony stream
ing from his brow. He was tempted be-
yond mortal strength and he yielded-a
grievous fault, for which he woefully
atoned."
"Tell me about it, pray, not as it i'm
pressed you, but from the beginning"
From the egg to the apple, eh? You
zee, we old soldiers are not forgetful of cur
Latinity. Well, will, though the task is
q melancholy one During one of the latter
years of the rebellion was stationed in d
southern Atlantic state and had command
of the outpost. On either side of us was y
river; beyond these, dense 1norasses In
front, about seventeen miles distant, was a
city, held by the enemy and filled with
military stores. And twenty-five miles
beyond was another hostile town. A rail-
way ran between the rivers. and furnished
communication between these two places"
docs an outpost require any definite
forcef"
mo. That depends on the extent of the
country to be guarded. In this instance
my front covered five miles, and had
brigade-two regiments of infantry, regi-
ment of cavalry and four pieces of artil-
lery-a fine command. also had few
men from the engineer corps, and one OF
these-at the peril of his life, too, for he
would have been shot if captured-had
drafted Typographical map of the sur
rounding country. From this planned an
expedition on the enemy's outpost
II detailed an officer Of tried intrepidity
Captain Brown, to make a debour with / T..
company to the right flank and rear Al
night they marched through the sw;I
and impenetrable thicket, distance
over twenty-five miles, and yet kept
serve of strength and pluck for the nlo
rows fighting. 1t was most gallantly
achieved. Meanwhilei / set out two hours
before daybreak with 1900 men, marching
in three columns along the three practicable
roads, Everything transpired in accord
ance with my fondest anticipations As
soon as we engaged the enemy Captain
Brown seized the bridge in their rear and
advanced boldly, making a tremendous
noise"
"a la Chipese?''
.'The Chinese are no fools with their ket-
tledrums, sir. Warfare is a royal game,
in which finesse often wins. Captain Brown
left a portion of his scanty command in the
rear, which assumed the appearance of a
reserve to the bewildered foe. They b
lieved that they were surrounded and
an overwhelming force, and SO they yield
When the captain Joined me we found Il
we had bagged a southern brigadier [
eral, with his staff, several pieces of az
lery, fifty horses, among which was .
nous black stallion renowned from thl
James to the gulf, at least hundred men,
besides an immense quantity of military
stores. We dismantled the bridge as well
as we could, and then we made off, and
quickly too"
why sos"
Because re-enforcements had been tele-
graphed for to that farther city on our ap
proach and were hurTying thither as fast as
steam could urge them. We had done toe
well to risk Py-rhic victory. Well, be
fore we started Captain Brown brought tn
brigadier general before me, a fine appea
ing fellow, splendid With new regala.
Ppm sorry for yon, general, said '''Tis
the fortunes of war;
"'Rather malignant ones for me- he re
piled, with grim smile. / had just won
my star. Still
"'We will make your comfort our pleas
ure, l protested. II you and your staff
will give me your parole you shall know
mo restraint He laid his hand on his
sword. No, nor continued. Keep your
side arms end your horses
"T pledge you my word on my honor as
an officer and gentleman that ] will not
attempt to escape said the captive chief
tain, and SO likewise repeated each one OF
his staff.
"''Tis sufllclent, gentlemen / replied.
I'VE must now ride briskly to camp
cat this juncture Captain Brown ad-
vanced With another prisoner who had
been held by his reserve guard
"'Good God, Macrane' exclaimed the
brigadier, did they take your My poor fell
low, how unfortunate how terriblep
"'Yes, general The Clergyman had just
finished bis prayer. had just kissed my
wife for the first time, said the young Off
Ger as he sat erect and soldierly, as I have re.
tcalled him, but the personidcation of de
}Apair
, "His comrnaptler looked at me wistfull
% n Jernptous 10 make 1nJerceSslon. tt
kfs 8ace grew stern. ''Tis the fortune
war,' be repeated bitterly. Give your
xo1s, Macrane.'
"The young officer placed his hand on
sword, bnt threateningly. He glanced abol4.
him. There was no lane of escape Through
the masses of blue.
:" I pledge my word, on my honor as al
o1lcer and gentleman, that will not at
tempt to escape he said, and as he spoke
his f.....e' .s-ggrs ~ :, '..@aS Rf-,.-..