The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-07
THE SCRANTON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., SEPTEMBER Z 1899

on, not without emotion, "Nou saved my
life. Amos, and would fnin he of service
TO you now. is there nothing you will
allow me to do?'
General" was the answer, "let me
face my comrades fire with my eyes un-
bound, and do you see to 1t that Agnes
knows that ! atoned for my fault and
died as a brave man should die"
"I will" promised Floyd. His voice
was gruff and unsteady, and his keen
eyes were moist as he left the tent.
Ten minutes later Amos Ducrdon stood
I'm front of the fring-rarty told of 20
do him to death. His regiment, urawn
up, looked on, and all the superior officers
were present.
Amos stood with his handkerchief in
his hand which he was to drop as a sig
nal for the volley which he was to cut
his thread of life so suddenly. lie
glanced at his comrades, and some of the
rough fellows wcrc weeping. He looked
at the sky, the woods, the river, for tho
last time, and drew in a long breath of
the sweet fresh morning air. For the
last time" he thought duly. For the
last time" and braced himself for the
coming shock
Suddenly, far away, his eye caught
sight of n party of hOrsCmcn advancing
It a gallop. There was huttcr Of skirts
somewhere In the midst of them, and
his eyes upon the CaValCadC and held
them there, fascinated.
Nearer and nearer they came, until
at last he could distinguish the familiar
| figures of men he knew. But among
them, horrible to dream of, was his love,
his Agnes, coming to see him die. A
| strange scream, more like that of an ami
| mai in pain than any human sound. burst
| from him. If he lost his nerve now he
would be disgraccd for ever. And It
| was going He had NOT looked for trial
| such as this. 1t was goinggoing fast.
lie raised his hand above his head and
| dashed the handkerchief to the ground.
| Fire
From the dark mouths of the lcvclcd
muskets tongues OF flame strcamcd vi
| ciously toward him. The rolling echoes
of the volley died away, and Amos Duer-
| den stood erect and unharmed.
| Dazed and hewidered, he stared in
| front of him, hearing, as a man in a
dream the sound of those gallopng
hoofs. Then mechanically he raised his
hand once moro, and went through the
| action Of dashng the handkerchief 10
the ground. But Floyd. who had been
watching him keenly, left his place and
hastened to him.
| Amos Duerdon," he said in a voice 50
| loud that every man assembled there
could hear each word that fell from his
lips. Amos Duerden, give me your
| hand" He stood, holding the hand OF
the condemned man and went on: you
are a brave man and no coward, Amos
| Duerden. a coward would have hidden
| his fault, knowing that it could never bc
| discovered Only n brave mani had
| wcllnigh said a hero-could have come
! forward, as you did, to his own condem.
| nation. Amos Duerden. there Is not q
man among your comrades who does not
honor you today" A deafening cheer
rent the air. You forced me tC
this course to defend you from
yourself You have faced the des II
YOU lonEed for, faced it as brave
man should. It's bitterness is past fol
you. Your sin is atoncd for, and you are
free. BY my order the muskets wer,
charged with powder alone"
At that, Amos Ducrden, brave, stronl
man as he was, rocked from side to side
like n wind-shaken saplng, reeed anC
fcll, even as a dead man, at his general.
feet.
When he came to himself the noise o.
his comrades cheering was still in hi
ears; but his head was in Agnes lap
and she was bending over him with tears
of joy streaming down her face