Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-06-11

speaking no word. For no Catholic is
privileged to address priest who is
counting his rosary beads
The cell door opened and closed ST.
lently after the padre, and the watchers
outside heard smothered, impatient
ejaculation from Private Moreno, who
was smoking cigarette and trying hard
to write that adios TO Panchita. Then
the door was locked, for the padre was
going TO confess the prisoner. and the
guards retired, laughing at the idea of
confession for Santiago--the wiokedest
dog in the army of Mexico.
Lounging in the doorway, the soldiers
speoulated lazily as to what was going
ON in the condemned cell, it was so quiet
Not even murmur could be heard, and
finally the men agreed that the padre
was praying silently, with Santiago
cursing in the other corner of the room.
1t was dark--quite dark-when Padre
Francisco came out, with head bowed
lower than ever, cloak wrapped disoon-
solately about him and fingers still
telling his beads. He had been there for
an hour, and surely Santiago was either
talked down or dead by this time.
"Shall we go and see?' asked guard.
"No, hombre. Let the poor brute
alone" said another.
To the men who watched all night
for fear that tho prisoner might escape
it seemed a century before midnight
gave way to the darkness that comes
before dawn, though to the prisoner
quien sabe? Such waiting Is hard even
ON the men who are not to die, and
there was a sound of relief when at last
the first bugle sounded. It was time to
get the prisoner and march. Because a
soldier is allowed two privileges-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
cd he was ready.
In front of the prison, stiffly drawn
up into line in the darkness. stood the
squad of the Twenty third Private Mo
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 un nino and had begged one mo-
ment 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 i'll
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 o 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 muffled 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
81 presidente instead of to the death of
a 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 pail about
him, the prisoner was allowed to stand
for 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
"uno' 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 tires, . the squad would fire. There
fore he would have to hasten--other-
wise, God have mercy ON his soul.
"Atencionl" The soldiers stood on
guard.
"Unor' was counted slowly. The
prisoner stood stock still, and the man
nearest swore that there was smile on
his face. "DosF' (Dios de la vida, was
he paralyzed, that he could not run,
even to save his lifeD and at last slow
ly, "Tres Firel"
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 Numbered the salute of bullets,
veritable hail of them, and the soli-
tary, pathetic figure tottered, then reel
ed over face downward in the damp
grass. Dead, of counsel How could it