Saint Mary's beacon., 1899-11-30
Saint Yar5's Bsacca
A JUDITH OF sIxTY-FoUR.
(Continued from First Paqe.l


the man. What had she done ?
He 60 be shot like dog? oh, and
such things so oftensd happened 10
times Of war. Already she could
see him lying white and still, the
red blood trickling from his breast
and staining the blue coat he was
Supposed to have dishonored. Death
and dishonor-and she the cause !!
How unJndith like she was now,
wretched bundle Of misery crouch-
ing low in q clump OF cedars near
the window, sobbing.
After little space she crept back
to the log window and peeped
through the Stats OF the closed
blinds, which had slammed to on
the messengers departure. There
sat the lieutenant, his pallid face
in his strong hands, his coat thrown
back, his limbs stretched out in
utter abandon. She heard him
groan
God ! How did it happen
Yes, | suppose il am not cleared
it means disgrace and death. And
that q woman must needs be hauled
into the affair ! Oh, the cowardice
of men 7
And again Judith fed. Before
his face, his reverence for her, her
Tebellious spirit broke forever. Lee,
the Confederacy. her people. melted
away like the morning mist. and
the sun of love rose IN her heart.
Within twenty-four hours the
lieutenant was placed under arrest,
and when he bade her good by he
could scarcely look into her eyes.
for his heart lay in his own. And
she, pretending not to know the
cause of his departure, coldly with
drew her slim white hand and left
the room. 1t was nine ct night
when he left under guard. A few
minutes later q girl mounted the
stairs, stole the uniform of @ sick
drummer. clothed herselfin it, stole
down so the stables, loosened Helen
of Troy. put double thicknesses Of
army socks on her four feet, aud
then mounted her. She followed
the three horsemen over the soft
red roads, she spoke tender words
to the little mare, she petted its
glossy neck, and showered hot tears
on the coarse brown hair.
The three horsemen rode into
camp early in the next dawn, the
girl following close behind. She
bad heard the countersign, Lin
coln.' which they had passed, and
gave it 10 the pickets. They did
not glance at the face under the
little peaked cap. and let her pass
with the word, thinking she was the
lieIteaant's servant. And his SER
want she was in heart.
They reached the headquarters
in a farm house to the right Of the
tents. Ihe men enter, and Judith
follows into the ball. weighted with
two sins--a traitor to her father, q
traitor to the man she loved so un-
wisely and too late.
Outside the door she listened to
the voices. The general produced
written affidavits from men on guard
that night, testifyipg to the fact
that the messenger came and deliv.
cred despatch to the lieutenant.
Things looked black for the young
officer.
Sir, You are not only Q coward,
but disgrace to Jour country. ]
have word that your motive for not
moving when l ordered you was
that You had fair lady in the man
or. / believe in moments like these
action must be quick and sharp.
trusted in you, believed in you
but you viii have to take the con-
sequences Of your breach. have
orders from the President to deal
speedily with all found asleep at
their posts. You not only slept,
but disregarded all laws Of country
and decency. / have sworn oaths
from two of the men on guard that
you were with the woman in ques-
ton that night; she vas with You
In the south parlor when my mes
sage arrived. You have forfeited
both your honor and your life."
The soldier stood still, white to
the lips, neither denying the i'm pu-
tat'on nor imploring a reprieve.
Suddenly there broke into the room
a young woman clothed in in sold
ier snit of blue. her thick golden
hair escaping from the drnmmsr,s