The Red Cloud chief., 1895-04-12

C000 0hu U6bn AOuuus hhnPo uAoy -
been made ont in duplicate. The latter
superstition was the most likely. His
offense could not be ignored. Indeed he
could not afford to have IL 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 IL 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 vas no longer in the army3
General Thomas could do much for him,
but there was not a general in the army
who had q higher sense OF a soldiers
obligations than he. How was It posi-
BILE that 70 great . leader, 50 rigid q dis.
ciplinarian, one with such high ooncep.
tions, could do aught in his case but
approve the SENTENCED? 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 10 preoccupied was he that
no left his horse standing without fas.
tening her, but Jakey rode forward and
seized the rein. Maynard gave his name
to an orderly and in q few minutes
stood before the man whose very pres.
once was quite sufficient to strike terror
into the heart Of a delinquent.
But the first face on which Maynard's
eyes rested was not that Of the general.
Another was there to greet him, one
who, he knew. whether he were honor
cd or d~isgraced. would never love him
the less. 1t was his wife. The thought
flashed through his brain, "She Is here
to comfort me when the blow falls.
He wanted TO fly to her embrace. The
impulse was checked. He saw that she
burned to fly to him. but she, too, re-
strained herself, for there, between
them, lowered the figure Of the general.
Maynard gave him a quick glance, but
could discover nothing in his counte.
nance to indicate what his fate would
be. These glances, these surmises, last.
ed but for q moment, for the general
spoke:
II have sent for you to inform you Of
your status in the army"
! Maynard bowed his head and waited.
1.-THE offense for which you were
| tried tho general spoke slowly and
impressively, Twas too grievous to be
overlooked. 1t would have pleased me
in the case Of so brave q man to set il
aside, but such o course would have con-
doned that which, If it should 60 unpun'
ished, would strike ut tho very founda'
tion of military discipline. In liberatinl
a spy intrusted to your care You violat
ed O sacred trust and assumed an au
thority such as is not accorded to any
one save the president Of the United
States"
Maynard did not raise his eyes from
the ground. He knew what was coming
and o shiver passed over him.
"A new set Of papers were prepares
and sent to me. l forwarded them
Maynard's ayes were almost s~tartinl
from their sockets.
with my approval"
"Oh, generalv' gasped the stricken
man. catching at the tent pole for a sup
port. Laura could with difficulty kee'
her seat, SO eager was she to fly to him
"They have also been approved by tn
president, and you have been dismisse'
from the service of the United States
with forfeiture Of all pay and emolu
ments."
Maynard tried to speak. He wishe
to say that he could not complain Of tn
sentence-that, considering the otfenst
it was merciful-but his tongue woul
not obey him.
$50 much for your punishment, tn
general went ON after q slight pause
"There are other matters, however, I
DO considered. These are your youth
the circumstances under which you wei
placed, the voluntary sacrifice Of you
self made to q v another and in obed
once to your own Interpretation OF yor
/ duty in repaying a sacred obligation
, While these considerations do not d,
+. stroy the act or its pernicious effect
, an example, they show conclusively TIL
it did not spring from base motives, b'
/ rather in obedience to q strong sense
honor, which a soldier should hold
I highest esteem"
r When the general began to speak
0 these p~alliating circumstances, Maynal
did not hear him. AS he proceede'
however, his attention was arrested.
Furthermore, there are your bri
liant services, both as q scout and y
!, more recently in the battle throut
$ which we have just passed. Ihave TAX
pains to learn of your services in Z
r ranks Oh the 10th of September and W
o myself q witness to your. gallantry
II the ridge Oh the 20th. ! cannot find
% in my heart to fail in my acknowled
1t ments to any man, however he may ha
). erred, who engaged in that despera
struggle, which was q turning point
our fortune and may be said to ha
10 saved us all from rout or capture.
\. Besides for more than q year l ha
Ia watched your career with interest.
~ am sure that You are possessed OF q