Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-08-12
Her UNAVAILING
SACRIFICE.
4 BARRACKS TRAGEDY.
by HERMAN FELIX

It WAS very quiet, very Tranquil
In the barracks that day, and iron
the deserted grounds, where only
a solitary sentry or two paced NJ
and down, none of the usual bar
rack room talk, laughter, or sing
ing could be heard. For every
soldier, band man, and officer had
been called to the officers polio,
quarters, where a iellOw.sOldlel
was being tiled for his lite bl
court martial. 1t was during the
revolutionary days, when pOweI
was vested in the hands OF the
military. They had the night tt
say WHEELER or not Priyate sam
ago Moreno was guilty OF man
slaughter, aud wheth er, in pay
ment thereof, he should die.
No women were present in the
grim, fortress-hke quarters; only
the soldiers who stood in silent
stern rows around the room. On
the dals sat The cOlone', the major
and some lesser officers; fronting
them, straight and erect, Witl
shoulders thrown back, stood The
prisoner. Santiago Moreno. lie
was a good looking fellow, and Il c
star on his uniform lapel shove d
that he had received credit '1tI
valor IN the field Not a flicker of
an eyelld, not movement, SHOW
ed what he telt; there was not even
a tremOr whtn the colonel, atltI
long aud grave discussion, at tie
last stood up, with the other Off
GERS grouped about hlm, and lrO.
nOunced the sentence Of death
that on the morning of the fol-
loving day, Private SanrlagO Mo
reno wonld he escorted 10 The
plains Of San Geronimo, and there
be put ny Tie ley de fuga to death,
That was all. The prisoner drew
himself Op, and salute d, bis face
no more concerned than that OF
the men about him, and was taken
to his cell,
Tue SOldier5 melted way, Srcup
bv group, some OF them display ing
sorrow, some uuc0ncern,a ,and 0 hers
anger. For the staying OF his
companion.in.arms 10y Private Mo
reno had been a very cold d.bloOded
and more than usually wicked deed
even in a country where wicked
deeds are common. For With de-
hberate intention Moreno hac
waited for the other. after parting
with his sweetheart, Pdncha, aud
cody and methOdlcally bored a
danger straight to his heart. Fm
it he had offered no excuse or de-
fense, stating merely that the mur-
d,red soldier had 'dnnOl ed Pan
chita; hat a cavalier can notallOw
lch thing as the mOiesting OF
his sweetheart.'
tn his small stone cell Private
Moreno waived about, whislllng Il
gay Spanish dauza, hunting .ht
he While for writing materials
He wanted to write adiOS TO hlS
sweetheart, he stated lightly to tht
Sarder, who was eyeing him warlly
one hand on his pistol. Though
Moreno might not be armed, h,
was man to be watched. But a.
the prisoners wish 10 write a note
TO PencLlta, the warder'S face Ie
laxed, aud he offered to fad penci
and paper. For Panchita was bii
own cousin, and every one lOve(
lhegay, pretty gHl, with her art
less, innocent ways that had lareC
two men on 20 death.
Poor little Panchita Five min
utes after the death sentence hat
been pronounced. she knew Of it
and, her door locked, was lying
face downward on the cold stOn
floor. moaning and crying for help
IL had all been her fault, as sh
knew.
On the shrine before her, docke'
out IN blue an1 white, Pauchita
weak aud faint from long fastini
ana crying, was pouring out hear
aud soul. Only that Santiago
her SaOtagO-mlghJ be save,
some way. Take her liie-oply lie
Santiago escape! Too weak to pra.
loud, she had CT awlef before tn
shrine, aud with burning, t'ai
covered face was family whisper
ing her petitions.
The girl drew herself hnmbly Ol
her knees, sobs that came from he
d. body. A sound outside startle
her, until she remembered tha
Sanfiapo's mother had come I