Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-15

out by the events ana IaIIgues o
the last few hours, had fallen
asleep, with a letter aud photo
graph still grasped loosely in bin
hand.
AS Trevor Derriman gazed a
him it seemed as If he lived tha'
moment over somewhere before
and his heart yearned toward biz
fellow prisoner as the heart of q
chlldless man of middle age some
times goes out to a young man OF
twenty. II Marie and he had
married, he thought they might
have had son Ist like this boy
How he would have loved that
son, baye trained him up, haye
taught him have guided him the
right way, till his mind was as
steady, bis limbs as supple, bis
heart as true as this lads must
be.
DerIlman rose, aud advancing
toward Aloncour took up the letter
and photograph that had now
dropped from the sleepeI's nerve
less hand. He looked at the
picture first.
Marle'>! Hers! He should have
known, thought, at time like this,
with death perhaps within two
hours march, men are surprised
at nothing. No wonder, too, that
the lads face had haunted bin.
1T was Mares again. Tue face in
the portrait showed turrOws and
lines of care and trouble, but it
was still the sweet face lie had
loved.
He looked at the letter. 1t was
foil OF love and affection, cOniur-
ing her ouly child to do his duty
to his countrY, commencing bin to
the mercy of God and the prOtec
tion of the blessed Virgin, telling
him that he was the only JOY and
comfort and the light of her life,
and that she prayed night aud
day that he might he restored to
her.
The elder man, his purpOseless,
plans changed now,
kissed tho portrait AMI letter be-
fore he replaced them, and then
bent over gently and put his lips
tenderll to the fOrehea1 or the
stlll sleeping lad.
AT da, baeak file of men halt
ed outside the tent, and an officer
entered and hecKoned the two
priStuers. They drew themselves
up erect aud strobe away into the
presence of the general.
The bearded German smiled a.
the, entered and selected from
the heap Of chesSmen before him
the two bishops, which he placed
IN a helmet. He then undi'l the
lining aud arranged 1t in snch a
manner an to cover the whole OF
the inside and conceal the two
pieces.
"Tne black bishop gives death,
The white lite, YOu,." be turned to
DerrinaD, Gas the elder and senior
officer have the privilege Of draw
ing first Pray do so"
DerIlmsn plunged his hand into
the helmet, gazing steadfdstly into
the eyes of the g rman. Then b.
suddenly withdrew it and looked
at the piece it held.
"SacrisI" he cried fercely.
clinching the piece tightly in his
hand, "t is dea TIL"
The German placed the helmet,
with the inner part still covered
aud the other piece still in 1t, on
the table "Monsleur," he said, "it
is the fortune of war. Your com
rade will be dull exchanged or sent
to Byrlin. Sergeant, you have
your orders"
The two prisoners were led out
into the air agalu, and MOncour
spoke.
"CaptaiD," he sail, 'goodby
God bless you. Is there any mes
sage | can give to any dear onep
Il have none, my brave boy,
Tell our mother that you met me
l know her--Once."
The two men graspei hands,and
then Moncour was torn roughly
away aud Trevor Derrman left
standing, his left hand clinched,
his right hanging by his side, face
to tace with his death.
1t soon came. The word of com
mand rang cut sharply in the cold
morning air: Ready! Present
Fire!' Captain DerrIman, the bold
the brave, the resolute, the mer-
citul, lag dead, with his glass.
eyes turned toward the pltylng
hsaven, whittier his soul had flown
L..