The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-05-09

uoHh W Iho reho1Vo CnaC ne would 20 to
tho army IN the cast, enlist under an
assumed name and await the coming Of
some missile to end his career, as ho
had intended at Chickamauga.
One morning an orderly rode up to
him and handed him an order to report
III 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 tho order.
What did tho summons mean? Some
thing definite in his affairs had come
about; that he folt reasonably sure Of.
Perhaps the papers of the court in his
case had been found. Perhaps they had
beon mado out in duplicate. The latter
supposition was tho most likely. His
offonso could not be ignored. Indeed he
could not afford to have it ignored. The
sontenco must be either set aside or car
rled into effect. Dismissal would be far
moro desirable than living in suspense.
All these matters rushed through his
mind whilo no rodo to respond to the
summons The nearer he drew to head
quarters tho less hopeful ho became.
After all, was 1t not absurd to expect
anything except that now papers had
been made, the sentence forwarded zap
Proved, and he was now to bo inform
cd that he was no longer in the army2
General Thomas GOULD do much for him,
but there was not n general In the army
who had a higher sense Of n soldiers
obligations than he. How was it posi-
bic that SO great leader, 80 rigid dis
oiplinarian, ono 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 oxpccta-
tions were at the lowest cbb He dis
mounted, and SO preoccupied was he that
ne left his horse standing without fas-
tcning her, but Jal1cy rotlo forward and
so1zod tho roin. Maynard gavo his namo
to an orderly and in q fcw minutes
stood before tho man whose very pres
ence was quite sufficient to strike terror
into tho heart O: q Delinquent.
But tho first faco OH which Maynard's s
eyes rested was not that Of tho general.
Another was there to greet him, ono
who, ho knew, whether no woro honor
ed or disgracod, would never love him
tho less. 1t was his wife. Tho thought
flashed through his brain "Sho is here
to comfort mo when tho blow falls. I"
Ho 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 tho general.
Maynard gavo him a quick glance, but
could discover nothing in his counto-
nance to Indicate what his fate would
be. These glances, these surmises, last.
ed but for momont, for the general
spoke:
II have sent for you to inform you Of
your status in the army"
Maynard bowed his lie Il and waited
'"The offenso for which you were
tried," the general spoke slowly anc;
impressively, "N:>s too crievous to
overlooked. 1t wOnll h: vo pleased mo
In the case of SO brave /, man to set it
aside, but such a course wosld have con.
donod that which, if it should 20 unpun-
ishcd, would strike at the very founda-
tion of military discipline. In liberating
spy intrusted to your caro- you violat-
ed q sacred trust and assumed All au.
thority such rs is not accorded to any
one save tho president Of tho United
Statos."
Maynard did not raise his eyes from
the ground. Ho knew what was coming,
and q shiycr passed over him.
"a now sot of papors wore prepared
and sent to me. I forwarded them''-
Maynard's eyes wero almost starting
from their sockets.
"With my approval"
"Oh, gcnoral!' gaspod tho stricken
man, catching at tho tent pole for sup
port. Laura could with difficulty koop
hor scat, SO cagor was she to fly to him.
'"They havo also been approved by tho
president, and you have boon dismissed
from tho service Of tho United States,
with forfeiture of all roy and omolu-
ments."
Maynard tried to speak. Ho wished
to say that he could not complain Of the
sentonco-that, considering tho offenso,
it was merciful--but his tongue would
not oboy him.
so much for your punishment, the
general went OH after n slight pause
'"There arc other matters, however, to