The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-06-07

soI0Ier Is allowed two pr1v1leges-to be
executed before dawn and to be shot in
his uniform-there was no need to
change the clothes of Private Santiago
Moreno So far as costume was concern
ed he was ready.
In front of the prison, stiffly drawn
up into line in the darkness, stood the
squad of the Twenty third Private No
reno's own regiment) which was to at
tend to the claw of fire, (" and in the
corridor waited impatiently the two
guards who were detailed to walk on
either side of him. The prisoner, how
ever, was not ready, and deep disgust
and scorn were shown on every face
when the warder appeared and stated
grimly that the prisoner was weeping
como IN nino and had begged one mo-
ment's grace. Weeping indeed A pref
ty way for soldier of the Twenty third
to die! And men who had thought pri-
vately that they would aim low in the
ley de fuga hardened their hearts. A
coward did not deserve such treatment.
That the prisoner, barely visible in
the gray dawn. was perfectly calm and
composed when he did appear made no
difference to them. Perhaps he had
mustered up some courage after his
weeping, but he had played the coward
for all that, and towards death was
no loss.
Out on the bare, swampy plains of
San Geronimo, just where Mount Ajus-
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 muf1ed marcha, but very dreary.
There was hardly light enough to see
each others faces and the trees and
cactus shrubs doomed up gray and ghost
ly along the side of the rocky trail. AS
for the condemned man, though he
might have played the part of coward
in the prison, there was no sign of fear
now. With quick, light steps, almost
understanding the regular pace of the
others, he walked out bravely, as
though going to another decoration by
ell presidente instead of to the death of
murderer at the hands of the very
men with whom he had fought at Ma
tanzas and Huella 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 moment, while the captain made
a brief address, concluding with the
statement that only because the prison
er was soldier the law of fire. would
be put into effect-when the word
Juno" was pronounced he was to run
for his life. On the oraggy side of
Ajusco he might find shelter, perhaps.
"Uno-dos-tres" would be counted.
at tires, the squad would fire. There
fore he would have to hasten-other-
wise, God have mercy on his soul.
"Atencion" The soldiers stood on
guard.
"Unol' was counted slowly. The
prisoner 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 lifeD and at last slow
ly, "Tres Firer'
Motionless, Mortified, the men had
watched. Still the prisoner stood there,
head up and shoulders back. At the
sound Of the "tres," however, muskets
were lowered and every hammer pull
ed. Out thundered the salute of bullets,
a veritable hail of them, and the soil
tary, pathetic figure tottered, then reel
ed over, face downward in the damp
grass. Dead, of counsel How could it
be otherwise? The captain should have
looked to make sure, but he wanted his
breakfast and some cognac. Merely
glancing casually at the body, he gave
the order to march, and with the Marcia
once more ringing out the men tramped
back through the light of the coming
day to barracks and breakfast, leaving
the dead man alone on the plain.
The next day Private Santiago More
no himself, whom we have seen shot
and left dead on the San Geronimo
plains, was there at sunset, pale, crazed
with grief and holding in his arms
dead body In the uniform of soldier
but with the sweet, peaceful face of
woman who had offered up her life for
friend. When the sun went down, his
lifeless form renamed, still clasping-
even in death-the other body that had
been thought Herman Felix in