Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-06-03


the camp and implored mercy for
him. but the Vermont colonel only
looked in grim denial at such 40
reached him. The matter was out
of his hands, he said. The court
martial had sentenced the prisoner.
The sentence would be carried out
in due course.
Rosie, weak, unable tn move, lay
in her own white bed, aud watched
her mothers tears, II was after
the sentsnee had been proneuneed.
while women stood weeping in their
dooryards, weeping for the boy they
knew, who might have been q son
to any of them-weeping ina com.
munity of sorrow which@ sought
comfort from the general grief
that Mrs. Miller found Rosie look
ing at her consciously.
Il know what has happened she
said. Harry was killed :
MY dear
Il would rather it had been so,
than they should have taken him.
A shudder went over her.
You must be calm
i will be. | am glad he was
killed, If he could not get away.
Will you send for Rose (: She is so
strong Rosie seemed to have for
gotten the estrangement.
Rose, dumb with agony, white
and miserable, was in her own room.
Il cannot go, cannot. she said.
but IN moment she rose and pushed
back her braids, and stepped across
the lawn.
Rosie looked up in her face, her
blue eyes dry. will you hold me.
Rose : They have killed Harry
and the stronger girl, the girl who
loved him too, and who had be-
trayed him to a shameful death,
took the gentle, suffering body in
her strong arms and held it.
1t was mid afternoon when down
the street came the sbund of fifes
and the solemn roll of drums.
Aunt Cely looked out of the wind
ow with cry of 'Oh, my sufferin'
Jesus y put her apron over head
and rocked in Mysteries on the stairs.
The soldiers were marching around
the cart in which Wrenn sat, bound,
on his way to the scaffold. The
colonel had decided to make an ex-
ample him.
What is it 2 Rosie asked drow-
silly. They had given her opiates
until her senses were dull.
Rose spoke rapidly, her breath
coming in gasps. 1T is Harry's
funeral she said. They are Civ
ing him military funeral. lie
was hero, and even the Northern
soldier honors him. Will you let
me go: | must take somehow
ers.'
Rosie began to cry weakly, and
Rose put her down and ran from
the room. She rushed past Cely
on the stairs like q wild thing, her
lip caught in her teeth. There was
no time to saddle a horse. There
was only one horse there, her faith
er's fierce colt, which no woman
had ever mounted. With strong
hands the bit was pushed into his
mouth, and springing to his bare
back, Rose whipped him to his
highest speed There was mead
ow between the Aliens house and
the camp. She must cross it, and
get back TO that awful wooden frame
behind the hill, before She
must not think. The horse rose
like bird TO the fences, his hoofs
fairly eating the ground under them.
Sentries tried to stop her at the
edge of the camp; one grasped her
bride, but the half wild horse tore
loose. Her hair was falling about
her bare neck when she dropped at
the door Of the colonel's tent.
lie sat, grave as ever, writing at
his camp table. Rose fell to the
ground before him, while he stood
up bewildered.
Her voice was husky with emo
tion.
'Reprieye Wrenn,' che said, 'and
telegraph the President-he always
spares q life = And then, as if his
understanding were too slow for her
eagerness. she shook mis- hand.
Write it !! They are killing him
now y
why do you care p
She heard suspicion in his voice.
He is to marry my friend, and
love her. she replied.
For an instant they stared into
each others eyes. Then Roses
fell.
Il ask you this in the name Of my
love for you.' she said.
The colonel turned toward the
door.
Fire a signal, and run up flag
that the execution is delayed. Make
haste he said 20 the officer who
sfood there