The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-28

mounted. and in a feverish mood darted
away to obey tho order.
What did tho summons mean? Some
thing definite In his affairs had come
about; that he felt reasonably suro Of
Perhaps tho papers OF the court in his
case had been found Perhaps they had
been made out in duplicate. The latter
supposition was the most likely. His
offense could not be ignored. Indeed he
could not afford to have it ignored. The
sentence must be either set aside or car
ried into effect Dismissal would be Far
more desirable than living i'm suspense
All these matters rushed through his
mind while he rode to respond 20 the
summons. The nearer no drew to head
quarters the less hopeful no became
After all. was it not absurd to expect
anything except that new papers had
been made, tho sentence forwarded zap
proved, and he was now to be inform
cd that he was no longer In the army?
General Thomas could do much for him,
but there was not a general in the army
who had higher sense Of soldiers
obligations than he. How was il posi-
DfU tildJ ID SItdJ ~ ituutI, eO IiBlu u Olo-
ciplinarian. ons with such high concep-
tions, could do aught in his case bnt
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 expecta-
tions were at the lowest ebb. Ee dis
mounted, and so preoccupied was he that
he left his horse standing without fas-
tentng her, but Jakey rode forward and
seized the rein. Maynard gave his name
to an orderly and in few minutes
stood before the man whose very pres
ence was quite sufficient to strike terror
into the heart of 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
ed or disgraced, 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 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 a 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.
"The offense for which you were
tried" the general spoke slowly and
impressively, was too grievous to be
overlooked. 1t would have pleased me
in the case of SO brave man to set it
aside, but such course would have con.
doned that which, il it should so unpun-
ished, would strike at the very founda-
tion Of military discipline. In liberating
a spy intrusted to your care you violat-
ed 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,
"a new set of papers were prepared
and sent to me- forwarded them.
Maynard's eyes were almost starting
from their sockets
with my approval"
"Oh, generalr' gasped the stricken
man, catching at tho tent pole for sup
port. Laura could with difficulty keep
her seat, so eager was she TO fly to him.
-Ihey have also been approved by tho
president and you havo been dismissed
from tho service Of the United States,
with forfeiture Of all pay and emolu-
ments"
Maynard tried TO speak. He wished
to say that ho could not complain Of the
sentence-that, considering the offense,
it was mcrciful-but his tongue would
not obey him.
So much for your punishment, the
general went on after q slight pause.
There arc other matters, however, TO
be considered. These are your youth,
the circumstances under which you were
placed, the voluntary sacrifice Of your
self made to save another and in obedi-
ence TO your own Interpretation OF your
duty in ropaying a sacred obligation.
While these considerations do not de-
stroy the act or its pernicious effect as
an example, they show conclusively that
Jt did not spring FROM base motives, but
rather in obedience TO strong sense Of
honor, which soldier SHOULD hold in
highest esteem"
When tho general began TO speak Of
these palliating circumstances, Maynard
did not hear him. As he proceeded,
however, his attention was arrested.
Furthermore, thcro aro your bril-
liant services, both as scout and yet
more recently in the battle through
which we have just passed. Ihavo taken
pains TO learn of your services in tho
ranks on che 10th Of September and was
myself q witness TO your gallantry ON
the ridge or the Goth. l cannot find it
IA my heart TO fail in my acknowledge