Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-08-12

gust and scOIn was ShONn on every
race when the warden appeared
and stated grimly that the prisoner
was weeping, aud had legged one
moments grace. Weeping, indeed!
Z pretty way for a soldier Of the
Twenty Third TO dieI And meE
who had thought privately that
they would aim low in the ley de
fuga, hardened their hearts, a
coward did not deserve such IIeat-
ment.
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 b adj mustered up son e
courage, after his weeping, but he
had played The coward for all hat,
and a cOwarG's death was no loss.
Out on the bare, swampy plains
Of San Geronimo, just where Mt.
AlnScO rise up, bleak and rock
covered, WAS the place Of execu.
tion. The wax was not long for
the men. to the sound of the muf-
fled marcha, but very dreary.
There was hardly hight enough to
see each Others faces, and the
trees and cactus shrubs lOOmed up
gray and ghOstly along the side OF
the rocky trail. AS for the con
Gemned man. though he might
have played the part Of cONaId
in the PRISON. there was no sign OF
tear nos With quick, light steps,
almost Out.distauciDg the regular
pace of Tie others, be walked out
bravely, AZ thOngh to another de.
cOratiOn instead OF The death OF
1
murderer; At the hands of Tie very
men with whom he had fought al
Matarzo and IIIelle, and other
places, arm to arm, back to bach.
Here was the spot. AMI, with his
back to Alusc1, his feet sinking IL
to the damp ground, aud the gray
mist OF the morning resting like
pail about hi p, the prisoner was
allowed to stand for moment,
Ghle the captain made briei adj
dress, concluding with the state
neht that only b' cause the prison.
er was soldier the claw OF fire.
wonid be pot into eject; when the
word "uuo' WAS pronounced, he
was to run for Ills llte. Ol the
craggy side Of Ajnsco, be might
Gnd shelter, perpaps. "Uno-dos
tres" woulI be counted; At "tres'
the squad would fie. Therefore
he would have to hasteu-other
wise, God have mercy. oi+s his
soul.
"At,entlon ~ The soldiers stood
on guard.
"Uno!" was counted slowly.
The prisoner stood stock still, and
the man nearest swore that there
was a smile on his fsce. "DoSw-
Was he paIaly,ed, that lie could
not run, even to save hls lift?-
and at last, slowly Tres. FIRE"
MouOuless, horrlfrd; the men
had watched. Sill the prisoner
stood there, head up and should
ers back. At the sonnd Of the
trees however, muskets were
I lowered, aal every hammer pulled.
Odt thuudered the salutO of bull
let's, a verltable bail Of them, and
the solitary, pathetic figure tOtter-
ed, then reelcd over, face dowt-
ward, 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; merely glancing casual
ly at the body, he gave the order
10 march, and with the marcha
once more ringing cut, the men
tramped back through the light of
the coming day to barracks aud
breakfast, leaving the dead man
alone on the plain.
) The next day, Privste Santiago
Moreno himself, whom We have
seen shot aud lett dead on the San
Geronimo plains, was there at sun
set, pale, crszed with giief, and
holding III his arms dead body
in the uniform Of soldier, bat
the sweet, peaceful face of a vo
man who had offered mp her life
for friend. When The sun went
down, bis lileless torn remained,
stll claspiug even IN death-the
, other body that had been thought
hie.-San Francisco ArgOnaut.
Tctter, Salt-Rheum and Eczema
t The intense itching and smarting, incl,
o dent To these diseases, isinstantly allayed