The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-08-15

(By Capt. F. A. Mitchell. Late Z. S. A. Copy
righted by American Press Association. All
rights reserved)
"Darlin," he said, drawing her nearer
to him, "Oi'll replace what Oh We taken.
Oi'll give ye other duties, the duties
that belong to the mistress of fine es-
tate, the duties of woman of high de-
gree in country where birth is re-
spected far more than here. With your
vigor, your strong impulses''-
"Guided by your more steady light. "
eye may become one of the most in
fluential women in the three kingdoms. !"
In her eyes came that humorous
twinkle he had once seen before when
she stood in her buggy in the road up
in Tennessee and tantalized him for his
stupidity in having been duped by her.
''It would be nice to be-
ITO be what, darlin?'
Lady Rats, 2" and she hid her bushes
in the pillow on which his head rested.
The sun setting over Lookout noun
tain shone directly in the faces Of May
nard and his party as returning from
Ringold they rode into Chattanooga. It
was a glorious October evening, and the
heights towering them, covered by un-
seen Confederates, reposed about the
town like huge lions watching wound
ed animal, confident that at last it must
fall into their power.
Dismounting before his tent, Maynard
entered it, and there found letter
from his wife. She begged him to come
to her if it were possible, and if not to
write to. her. He read and reread the
letter again and again, and then made
an attempt at reply. After writing
half dozen, all of which he tore up,
he abandoned the task in despair. His
position was too uncertain. The SEN
tence Of the court martial hung over
him like a sullen cloud. What could he
say to her to comfort her? He we'll
knew that the only comforting she
needed was to know that he was not
miserable, and of that he could not as
sure her.
And so matters hung for week.
Having no duties to perform, the time
passed all the more slowly. The Con-
federates were sending occasional shells
from Lookout mountain, and as they
were harmless the reports were some
thing Of a relief to Maynard, breaking
the monotony Of the silence. He spent
much of the time thinking Of what he
would do in case the sentence of the
court were approved and carried into
effect He formed many plans, which
were all abandoned. At last he settled
down to the resolve that he would go to
the army in the east, enlist under an
assumed name and await the coming Of
some missile to end his career, as he
had intended at Chickamauga
One morning an orderly rode up to
him and handed him an order to report
in person at General Thomas head
quarters. Calling for his horse and for
his own orderly, Jakey, to follow. he
mounted, and in feverish mood darted
away to obey the order.
What did the summons mean? Some
thing definite in his affairs had come
about; that he felt reasonably sure of.
Perhaps the papers of the court in his
case had been found. Perhaps they had
been made out in duplicate. The latter
supposition was the most likely. His
ofense could not be ignored. Indeed he
could not afford to have it ignored. The
sentence must be either set aside or car
ried into effect. Dismissal would be far
more desirable than living in suspense.
All these matters rushed through his
mind while he rode to respond to the
summons. The nearer he drew to head
quarters the less hopeful he became.
After all, was it not absurd to expect
anything except that new papers had
been made, the sentence forwarded zap
proved, and he was now to be inform
ed that he was no longer in the army?
General Thomas could do much for him,
but there was not general in the army
who had higher sense of soldiers 8
obligations than he. How was it posi-
BILE that SO great a leader, 50 rigid dis
ciplinarian, one with such high concep.
tions, could do aught in his case but
approve the sentence? And now he was
sending for him to inform him of his
degradation.
Following this reasoning, by the time
he arrived at headquarters his expecta-
tions were at the lowest ebb He dis
mounted, and SO preoccupied was he that
he left his horse standing without fas-
tening her, but Jakey rode forward and
seized the rein. MAYNARD gave his name
Continued on 8th page)