Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-05-26

'itlcr size OF nm. The prisoner, how
ever, was not ready; and deep disgust
ana scorn WAS shown on every face
when the Warder appeared and stated
@rlinly that the prisoner was weeping
como un nino, and had begged one mo-
nents grace. Weeping, indeed. \
pretty way for soldier of the Twenty
third to die! And men who had thought
privately that they would aim low in
the ley de fuga. hardened their hearts
a coward did not deserve such treat
ment. ia. y ~ s : ~. -. s'' ...
That the prisoner, barely visible IL
the gray dawn, was perfectly calm and
composed when he did appear made nc
difference to them; perhaps he had
mustered up some courage. after his
weeping. but he had played the coward
for all that, and a towards death was
no loss.
Out on the bare, Swampy plains Of
San Geronimo. just where Mount Aus
co rises up bleak and rock covered. was
the place of execution. The walk was
not long for the men, to the sound of
the mutiled marcia, but very dreary.
There was hardly light enough to see
each others faces. and the trees and
cactus shrubs doomed up gray and
ghostly along the side of the rocky
trail. AS for the condemned man,
though he might have played the part
of Il coward in the prison. there was no
sign of fear now. With quick, light
~.
lar pace of the Others he walked out
bravely. as though going to another
decoration by el presidente. instead of
to the death of murderer, at the
hands of the very men with whom he
had fought ut Matanzas. and Huelle
and other places. arm to arm, back to
back
Here was the spot And. with his
back to Ajusco, his feet sinking into
the damp ground. and the gray mist of
the morning resting like a pail about
him. the prisoner was allowed to stand
for a moment. while the Captain made
brief address. concluding with the
statement that only because the prison
er was soldier the claw of fire" would
be put into effect; when the word Juno"
was pronounced he was to run for his
life. On the craggy side of Ajusco, he
might find shelter, perhaps. 'Uno-
dos-tres" would be counted; at tres"
the squad would fire. Therefore he
would have to Observation-Disclosures God
have mercy on his soul.
"Atenciou." The soldiers stood on
guard.
'Uno" was counted slowly. The pris-
oner stood stock still. and the man
nearest swore that there was smile
on his face. "Dos.'--(Dios de la vida.
was he paralyzed. that he could not
run. even to save his lfe?>-nnd at last.
slowly. Tires. Fire.
Motionless. Mortified the men had
watched. Still the prisoner stood there,
head up md shoulders back. At the
sound of the tres" however. muslets
were lowered. and every hammer pull
ed. Out Numbered the salute of bullets.
veritable hail of them. and the soil
tary. pathetic figure tottered. then
reeled over, face downward. in the
damp grass Dead. of course-how
could it be otherwise? The Captain
should have looked to make sure. but he
wanted his breakfast and some cognac;
merely CHANGING casually at the body.
he gave the order to march. and with
the marcia once more ringing ont the
men tramped back thnough the light of
the coming day to barracks and break
fast. leaving the dead man alone on the
plain.
The next day Private Santiago Mo
reno himself. whom we have seen shot
and left dead on the San Geronimo
plains. was there ut sunset, pale.
crazed with grief. and holding in his
arms a dead body in tile uniform of Il
soldier. but with the sweet. peaceful
face of woman who had offered up
her life for a friend. When the sun
went down his lifelcss form remained.
still claspng-cvcn in death-thc other
body that had been thought nissan
Francisco Argonaut.