The evening times., 1898-05-11

the prisoner and march. Because a SOL
der Is allowed two privileges-to be ex-
ecuted 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 concerned, he was
ready.
In front Of the prison, stifiy drawn up
into line. in the darkness, stood the
squad Of the Twenty-third private Mo-
renos own regimenD. who were to at
tend TO the law of fire." and in the cor
ridor waited impatfently the two guards
VINO were detailed to walk on either side
Of him. The prisoner however, was not
ready; and deep disgust and scorn was
shown on every face when the warder
appeared and stated grimiy that the
prisoner was weeping como un nino and
had begged one moments grace. Weep
ing, indeed! A pretty way for a soldier
OF the Twenty-third TO die, And men
who had thought privately that they
would aim low in the ley de fuga hard
ened their hearts-a coward did not de-
serve such treatment
That the prisoner. barely visible in the
gray dawn. was perfectly calm and COM
posed when he did appear made no diff
ference TO them: perhaps he had mus
tered up some courage. after his weep
ing. 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 Mt. Ajusco rises
up, bleak and rock-covered, was the
place Of execution. The walk was not
long for the men. to the sound OF the
muffied 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 a coward in the
prison. there was sign of fear now.
With quick, light steps. almost outdist-
ancing 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 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 MORN
ing resting like pail about him, the
prisoner was allowed to stand for n mo-
ment, while the captain made oriet
address concluding with the statement
that only because the prisoner was SOL
der the law of fire" would be put into
effect; when the word '.uno" was pro-
nounced he was to run for his life On
the craggy side of Ajusco, he might hnd
shelter, perhaps. ''Uno-dos-tres wouid
be counted; at tres, the squad would
fire. Therefore he would have to hasten
otherwise. God have mercy on his SOUL
"Atenciont' The soldiers stood on
guard.
.I-nor- was counted slowly. The pris-
oner stood stock still and the man near
est swore that there was smile on ms
face. ..Dos-'-(Dios de Ia vida. was ne
paralyzed. that he could not run even
to save his life?)-and at last, slwoiy,
Tires. Fire..
Mo;ionless. Mortified, the men hau
| watched. Still the prisoner stood there,
| head up and shoulders back. AT the
! sound of the tres however. muskets
were lowered. and every hammer pulled
4 Out rhundered the salute OF bullets
/ yeritable hail of them. and the solitary.
pathetic figure tottered. then reeied over
! face downward in the damp grass Dead.
| of course-how could ii be otnerWise'
| The captain should have looked to make
| sure but he wanted his breakfast and
/ some coEnac; merely glancing casually
I 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 ana
| breakfast leaving the dead man alone on
| the plain
| The next day. Private Santiago Moreno
| himself whom we have seen shot and
| left dead on the San Geronimo plains
| was there at sunset. pale, crazed VITA
grief. and holding in his arms a dead
body in the uniform of soldier, but
with the sweet. peaceful face OF wom-
an who had offered up her life Tor
| friapd When the sun went down. his
| lifeless form remained. still clasping-
! even in death-the other body that had
! peen thought his.-The Argonaut-
The Argonaut.