The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-19

name by an orderly, and was soon ad-
mitted.
General" ne said. II have come to
prefer charges"
Indeed. |" said the general. "why
not forward them in writing in the reg
ular wayr
1T is because of the person against
whom ! am going to prefer thew
"And that is?''
Myself"
The general looked at him with o
Juzzled expression.
Colonel. are you ill?''
"No, general
~ suppose il would be ridiculous to
ask man IL he is all right hereG' and
he tapped his forehead with his finger.
81 am sound of mind and body"
"Well, well, colonel, what does it
all mean? It's too early in the morning
for joking" and the general yawned.
81 have to report that the spy left in
my charge has escaped and through my
connivance."
Good Lordp' exclaimed the general
THAT Is a serious matter"
Maynard remained silent
"And the explanation?'
''There Is none''
The general looked into the melan-
choly eye Of Colonel Maynard and felt
q cold chill creep over him. He knew
there was some reason for the act which
would explain IL not excuse it.
Colonel, you are dashing fellow,
with tinge Of romance in your nature
/ trust you have not yielded to an alb
surd notion as to taking the life Of
woman"
mo. Ihave not"
Then give me some explanation. /
fear il will 60 hard with you, but will
do all can for you il you can give
satisfactory reason.
II have no reason to give"
"Of course / must report the matter
Better speak now. 1t may be too late
hereafter. I"
''I have reported tho fact. That is all
the report have to make"
Then, colonel, il is my duty to or
der you to your tent under arrest. You
may leave Jour sword here with me, if
You please. An order will be issued
placing Colonel ----, next In rank, in
charge of your brigade T"
Colonel Maynard unlocked his sword
from his belt and handed it to the gen.
eral. Then he rode back to his tent, and
as he entered it he felt that he had left
his former self outside; that as in the
case Of fallen comrade he would nov
er see this being of the past again. As
for his present self, that, If suffered to
live. could only live life in death.
A court martial was convened to try
Colonel Maynard with as much dispatch
as had attended the trial of the escaped
woman. The charge was ''giving aid
and comfort to the enemy" the specifi-
cation himself aiding in the escape Of
spy in the service of said enemy
! The nourt met on the afternoon OF tine
day on which Maynard had reported n,s
act. Men OF his own grade, or near it,
sat about pine table in wall tent and
proceeded with the formalities attend.
ing the case. As Maynard pleaded gull
ty to both charge and specification there
was little to do except to come to ver
dict Before doing so the president ask
ed the accused if he had anything to
say in his behalf, any explanation to
make.
NO." was his reply.
Colonel Maynard, said the presi.
dent, ''you have served this army with
distinction. You have been respected,
trusted, beloved as few other men in it,
You have confessed to having commit
ted one of the most atrocious crimes
that can come under the jurisdiction of
a military court Nothing can excuse
it. There may be something to palliate
it, conjure you to speak before the
court brings in verdict and names
your punishment"
"Mr. President" replied Maynard,
"for my act toward this army am &C.
countable to you as court martial con-
vened to try me; for my act as one of
right or wrong, of honor or dishonor /
am accountable only to a tribunal with
which you have nothing to do Do not
waste valuable time Before the sun
sets twice, IL mistake not you will
have more important work to do in
the reception Of the enemy. Do your
duty as q court, and do it with dis
patch. I"
There was not an officer present but
looked at Maynard with curious ad-
miration. 1t was plain that he had sac
rifced himself, though il was not en-
tirely plain why. Even those who con-
demned him most bitterly seemed to
hesitate to bring in verdict which
would naturally carry with it the pun
ishment of death
"You are mistaken, colonel, said
one Of them, referring to Maynard's
predictions. 1.-THE enemy have been in
full retreat ever since we left Murfrees-
boro. only fear he's going to give us
the slip again"
II regret your confidence, sir, ;" re-
piled Maynard. II am aware that 9TH
ers feel as you do, and it is a mistake
| which will cost this army dear