The herald., 1893-02-19

woodland ike Paul and Virginia. Agnes
that is the girls name, God bless her, l love
her as my dnughter-is an orphan and prac-
tically homeless.
"'Their marriage had been the plan and
dream of months, and had at length seemed
feasible. For while, of course, we had
heard Of you, general, and warningly, we
did not anticipate SO daring foray. Poor
Macranel He was crszed with despair
Had the foul fiend offered him freedom in
exchange for his soul he would have jumped
at the bargnin'
"'Ah, thought to myself, the foul fiend
did tempt and the unfortunate young man
did yield. Too late will he learn that the
stains of dishonor are indelible.'
"Time passed by rapidly, as it always
does in warfare. Perhaps it is the presence
of death that makes it SO fleet. The brig
adler was exchanged. Whether he salts
factorily explained his capture SO soon aft
er promotion l never heard. The follow
ing spring brought me on official business
to the fortress, which was the department
headquarters. AS concluded the matters
required of me the general commanding
said; BY the way, we have had curious
courtmartial case here lately, concerning
which you must know something
What is that, prayP
ga young southern officer has just beer
tried and condemned as a spy. His nama
is Ralph Macrane.'
'Macranel A spyp
"'Yes, he was captured leading his men
in desperate-a forlorn charge 'Tis a
marvel he was taken alive He seemed to
court death. No WONDER though; he must
have appreciated the consequences of ar
rest. He had broken his parole and returned
to open warfare, and you know that this
rendered him liable to be treated as a spy
under the articles of war of every civilized
nation, and suppose the confederacy is as
much civilized rs it is a nation
"'Yes, but
"'Oh know. You will claim that they
were extraordinary and mitigating circum.
stances that private matters and not fan
atheism were the cause of his dishonorable
conduct. So l thought at firs5 but moth
ing of the sort We were about sending
for you when he. saved US from further
trouble, and uncertainty, too by openly
avowing that he gave you his parole with
the deliberate design of breaking it; that
he had used his eyes to an advantage while
at your camp, and had furnished valuable
information to our enemy You had a
sharp engagement three days after his es
cape, did you not%
Yes, indeed. Almost surprise
"'It would have been com plete surprise
for any officer except you,' said the depart
ment commander graciously. Well, he ad-
mitted that the tidings he brought were
the cause of it,
'Impossiblel The villain'
'Ah, you see. After this what could we
do but condemn him. Our findings have
been approved, and he dies tomorrow at
daybreak'
"Here my friend the general paused again
and putfed as If his cigar was true con
soler
i don't like your articles of war; pro
tested. They are q Procrustean bed in
which one is either hewed or stretched ]
can easily imagine how Needless young
man who broke his parole but gave no com.
fort nor assistance to the enemy might be
condemned unjustly'
Had such been the case Macrane un
doubtedly would have been reprieved, but
he pleaded guilty. And believe even in
your civil tribunal the judge dons the
black cap when this occurs, No, no; the
articles of war are blameless. They could
not provide against the agony of bruised
heart Despite my horror at his conduct,
from a sudden impulse l asked the com.
mander if / could see the condemned. He
acquiesced at once and sent me to him
under direction of his orderly.
II shall never forget the expression OF
the young officers face as / entered. He
was standing by a small grated window
gazing up into the western skies all radi.
ant with the glories Of sunset. That look
SO ethereal, SO exalted, was go pitisble in
the intensity of it's yearning that the tears
coursed down my cheeks as l spoke.
'Macrane, MacraneP | cried. What
have you done? Why have you destroyed
yourself? He turned. He grasped my
hand. He smiled. And my tears gushed
forth anew
"'Agnes is dead, he said.
"'You never played the spy. You never
betrayed my post protested.
"'She is dead he repeated. MY fair one,
and we were SO happy together. 1 sought
death at the head of my command and it
fed from me. Yet even through its escape
shall l find it again
1T shall not be-
"'Goodby, general. reiterate my treach.
cry to you And remember, too, that to-
morrow 1 shall go to my death as blithely
as 1 rode to my bride on tho fiery black stall
Lion through the mazes OF the woodland,
for there also she awaits me-
''He turned once more to the window, and
in the rrddy glow Of the sunset, which al
ways seems pledge of returning day, l
saw him for che last time What could
do? had no proof. My suspicious would
be laughed to scorn. After sleepless night
an hour before dawn I mounted my horse
and, rode rapidly from the fortress. Yet,
just as the east was repeating the glow Of
the west and announcing the benehcsnt
promises fulfilled, heard the sharp crack
of musketry, and I knew that Macrans
once more had bem faithful TO his tryst.
'''Twas the fortune of war; quoth my
friend the general, for love is the conflict
in which the vanquished never breaks his