The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-03-14

'Aas'asSaa,sS sSaa,sSs SsssssS
THO pairs Of eyes met and clashcd.
trco without moment's dolay, and
above all thcro was about her divine
consciousness Of having dono n duty, a
look Of triumph under defeat, that COM
pelled his reverence as well as his adj
miration.
"Aro you aware" he said, "that
with these dispatches in your posses
sion, and beyond our lines, you would
hold this army at your mercy?"
II am"
"And that captured with them OH
your person your life is forfoited?"
"Cortainly.'
There arc people who cannot brool, a
steady stand i'll ono who may bo natu-
rally expected to break down in their
presence. Tho general was ono Of these.
In proportion as ho admired her firm
ness was his desire to force her to show
somo giving way. He did not analyzo
his feelings and attribute his desire to
any such cause Ho yielded to it without
realizing that tho cause existed.
''The natural method Of procedure
In this caso," ho said, looking at hor
sternly, sis for mo to report your oap-
ture and the circumstances attending 1t
to headquarters Word comes back to
try you by 'drumhead' court martial
and hang you to tomorrow morning"
"Woll2'
"Woll, that is the end Of tho story. !"
There was silence for n few moments
whilo they regarded each other.
''It is not tho ond Of the story, gen
eral. The story Of life has no end.
Death is but transition. Itploasos tho
Great Commander to assign mo fruit
less task. 1t is not for mo to ask why.
I am but ono Of his soldiers, fighting
with my brothers for my pooplo."
She had conquered. There was some
thing SO forcible in her words, somo-
thing so truly grand in her manner,
that tho man who would break hor
spirit desisted He regarded l.or admir-
ingly and was silent.
All ask, general, " she said pres
entity, seeing that ho did not speak, "is
that thore bo no greater delay than nec-
essary. Now havo strength which
may bo worn away by long waiting,
with death staring mo in tho faco.'
Still tho officer did not spoak. He
was hinling-thinlling how he could
get rid Of so unpleasant duty as the
trial and execution Of this splendid
woman. Ho feared that should he 70.
port her capture to headquarters he
would get tho same reply as in tho case
ho had cited.
II will not harm you. no said pres
cntly. Some ono tiSo must take the
responsibility Of this complication Of
death and woman. /"
''It docs not matter who does the
work, SO long rs it must DO done. "
"Pcrhaps not to you. 1t matters a
great deal to mo. My hands are clean
I don't caro- to stain thcm.'
While this conversation was going on
Corporal Ratigan was listening and oh.
serving tho speakers with q palpitating
heart There was something so cold
cut in tho generals tones that tho cor.
poral folt ropugnanco ut his prisoner
being III his especial keeping. Ho pro-
forred that sho should bo sent to some
one olso and was relieved when no an.
nonnccd his intention to shift tho re.
sponsibility. Besides the corporal
hoped that no would himsolf bo intrust-
ed with her keeping until sho should
afrlVo at some camp whero tho COM
mandor would DO willing to receive hor.
shall Oi take her to headquarters,
gcncral?' ho asked.
An, my mani" said tho general. as
though awakened from revorie "are
you horo' had forgottsA you"
"Oi can conduct her to hoadouortora
If you dosiro it, general. - 1''''A wa
II am not in tho habit oq rooo;,,;,,,
suggestions from my briaado ~ rooi'
mental commanders. much less a cor cor.
poral." Z" 0oi
Ratigan saw that ho had made , ,n;..
take and said nothing The general ~"
garded him with his shrewd evoa =.
was plain to him that tho man was T., '
terested in his prisoner.
Corporal, you may 60 to your Damp. "
eyes, sir. !"
{ "Orderly," oallod tho general to n
man standing near, ''take this woman
to tho ambulance"
As Miss Baggs passed. out the eves ~
tho two were flxed again on each Other
While the general did not use ,vorda
he could not resist last attempt viii
his presence, his mastorful oountonnnco
his piorcing eyes, to overawo his nria.
oner. She met that gaze firmly, nm.
fiinohingly, till sho was without The
tent; then with Q final glanoq Of con.