The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-02
TIE ROANOKE TIMES, TUESDAY, JULY ;, 1895

\ eNA'-itN "iiANO SAoNb tlSNIHS tLSlit I'M
man stood quito still Watching thom,
only the white cloth Ruttering in tho
wind.
"A flag of truce!" granted the cap
tain, sharply calling halt-he was too
true soldier not to regard such q sign.
what docs he want, 1 wonder? Lower
your arms there. men, there is plenty Of
time, lie added grizzly.
The robber came on again rapidly and
finally halted Il little distance above
them, with the baby still perched upon
his shoulder. Then he, too, lowered his
carsine and stood there with he,.d up-
raised. looking at them defiantly.
You have me!' he cried at last, his
voice ringing out clearly through the
still air. You have tracked me up here
you, a hundred against one man. Yet,
even now, you should not have taken
me calmly thus, even though L stand
alone-you should not have taken me
thus, but for the little one +"
He glanced up for a moment mt the
baby on his. shoulder and drew one lit
tie hand down to his lips and then faced
the soldiery again. speaking directly for
the first time to the old officer:
You arc brave man, captain" hc
added almost appealingly, "and such
men do not make war OH infants. What
do you do with the little one, my can
tain?'
Tho captain shrugged his shoulders
"Tho child is nothing, Andreano," he
said sternly. "Sho may die with you. y
With "a bound tho bandit had sprung
back from them. and i'll an instant the
child was off his shoulder and behind
him, and he knelt there with his car
binc levelcd, fiercely facing them.
Beasts !" he cried. 81 come to YOU
under the white flag, we'll knowing that
must die, and asking nothing for my
self 1 crave only that you should spare
the innocent little one. Know this, then,
since you will mott will kill the child
rather than she shall fall beneath your
murderuus blows, and will die such Il
death us few men have died, with q
dozen coward souls to bear mino own to
hell Now, what say you?'
He knelt there quite calmly, with his
carbine leveled and with the child
thrust behind him. But the old captain
had stepped forward and raised his hand.
''Stop, Andreano" ho cried. "You
are right. We mako not war on babes.
This hunting down of one man is but
little to my liking, and will not foul
it more. The child is safe. -
The man rose and laid down his car
bine and took up tho child again.
And the little one shall go with you
down into the valley in safety?" he
asked slowly.
bnCo ri ,f,, INV .,o-J
shall come to the little one Give it to
me. -
Tho robber kissed the baby's soft face
observation-disclosures, twice, thrice-and
then moved quickly toward the captain,
down the rocks, and passed tho child
into his arms.
II thank you. my captain" he said
gravely And now you are to shoot
me?"
Such arc our orders, Andreano
The other shrugged his shoulders.
$50 be it,, he said softly, "ouly cover
the face of the little one that she may
not sec -
The captain passed tho child into the
hands of tho little soldier Of tho swarthy
face, and they took it quickly out Of his
eiSH'< iAcA CuIHc I'LL oHuef rapidly given
and another; yolley rang out startling
the echoes ON those lonely hills for a
moment; there was n half sobbing cry
! and Andreanos course was run.
So it came about that when the SOL
dicrs marched down into tho valley
again one of them bore upon light
| pole the head of the notorious bandit,
for all the wide eyed peasantry to gape
ut, and, strnngcst sight of all, upon tho
front of the captains saddle, with the
captain s arm about her, sat a'laughiug.
Growing, dark haired baby -Fincdg