The Newtown bee., 1900-03-23
sront eat Floyd ana his senior onloers %

pusinoes uteQ uob uet8ln Al long, Inc
prisoner, Amor Duerd0n. was on guard /!
az the furthest outpost. when for reasons
purely personal he chose 90 desefrs leav-
ing the approach open to the enemy.
Prisoner, You are charged with desertinR
your post In time Of war. Do you plead |
guilty or not guilty2"
sGuiity,o answered Amos firmly.
tneugh hot flush of shame spread over
hisfsce as he felt rather than saw the
start OF surprise OF the soldiers at his |
side. The officers at the table said no
word. Most of them knew that Amos
had brought news OF the intended attach. |
some or them knew that he had saved
Floyd's life. But they were all silent.
Not one OF them asked a question. or
urged anything in exlenuasion of the
prisoners crime.
"Guilty ~ echoed Floyd. "You hear.
gentlemen, he pleads guilty. Prisoner,
have You anything to say in your own
behalf"
ssNothing," answered Amos, and stood
In gloomy abstraction while Floyd and
his officers conferred together In low
voices.
At last the conversation ceased and the
General looked across at Amos. ssPrison-
| err" he said, "you have been charged
with desertion of your post in time Of
war. A graver charge cannot be brought
against soldier. That you voluntarily
surrendered yourself is to your credit;
put IL can avail you nothing, for the
PRAYER and better disciplined the soldier,
me more serious such dereliction of
ouly. Thsre remains nothing for me
out 60 pronounce the sentence of the
court, since you have pleaded guilty.
once more, nave you anything to say?''
ana once more Amos answered.
tNothing."
"Then," said Floyd in a low, grave
voice, "the sentence of the court In that
You be taken back to the guard-tent and
IN one hour from now you be removed
thence to place to be determined upon
and there shot. The court is dissolved"
Not word more WAS said. The guard
removed the prisoner, who, amid the
wondering Chances of his comrades, walk
ed with firm step to the guard tent, where
the flap was lowered and he was left to
all to quickly but ere il struck there was
q sound of jingling spur and scsbbard,
and Floyd strobe into the prisoners
presence.
Amos stood up and saluted.
/ "Duerden," began the General, ST
think you have behaved like mailman.
But you left me no option. 1 do not
wish 60 make your load of trouble heavier
than 1t is already, but wish to tell you
II JS3k SscAy foAo WI
out the camp, and not one of your COM
rades had word to say in your blame.
You have forced me to condemn you you
are acquitted by them"
| Still Amos was silent, and FLOYD went
on, not without emotion, "You saved my
life, Amos, and would fain be of service
TO you now. Ia there nothing you will
allow me to do?'
| General" was the answer, sslet me
face my comrades fire with my eyes un-
bound and do you see to it that Agnes
knows that atoned for my fault and
died as brave man should die"
81 WILL" promised Floyd. His voice
was gruff and unsteady, and his keen
Ieyes were moist as he left the tent.
Ten minutes later Amos Duerden stood
in front Of the firing party told of to do
him to death. His regiment, drawn up,
looked on, and all the superior officers
were present.
Amos stood with the handkerchief in
his hand which he was to drop as q sig
nal for the volIey which was to cut hi.
thread of life so suddenly. He glanced
at his comrades, and some of the rough
fellows were weeping. He looked at the
sky, the woods, the river for the last
time, and drew in long breath of the
time, he.thougbt DULY. ."For the last
: time" and braced himself for the coming
shock.
/ Suddenly, far away, his eye caught
sight Of party of hOrsemen advancing
at a gsllop. There was f1utter of skirts
somewhere in the midst Of them, and
Amos, forgetting to give the Gig nal, fixed
his eyes upon the cavalcade and bel6
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.
maiin pain, than any human sound, burst
from him. Ii he lost his nerve now he
would be disgraced for ever. And it was
going. he had not looked for trial such
as this. 1t was going-going fast. He
raised his hand above head and dashed
the handkerchief to the ground.
"Firep
From the dark mouths of the leveled
muskets tongues of fame streamed vi
ciously towards him. The rolling echoes
of the volley died away, and Amos
Duerden stood erect and unframed.
Dazed and bewildered, he stared 10
front Of him, hearing, as man in dream.
the sound of those gsllopipg hoofs. Then
mechanically, he raised his hand once
more and went through the action Of
dashing the handkerchief to the ground.
But Floyd, who had been watching him
keenly, left his place and hastened to
him.
1 "Amos Duerden," he said In q voice SO
loud that every man assembled there
could read each word that fell from his
lipe, "Amos Duerden, give me your
hand" He stood, holding the hand of
the condemned man and went on: "You
are brave man and no coward, Amos
Duerden. A coward would have hidden
his fault. knowing that it could never be
discovered, Only brave mani had
well-nigh said hero--could have come
forward, az you did to his own condem-
| nation. Amos Duerden, there is not
man smong your comrades who does not
honor you to-day" A deafening cheer
rent the air. "You forced me to this
course to defend you from yourself.
| You have faced the death You longed for,
faced il as q brave man should. Its Bit
| terness Is past for you. Your sin is
| atoned for, and you are free. Bymy or
der the muskets were charged with pow
/ der alone" s
AT that, Amos Duerden, brave, strong
man aslhe was, rocked from side to side
like wind-shaken sapliDg, reeled and fell,
even as q dead man, at his Generals feet.
When he came TO himself, the noise of
his comrades cheering was still in his
ears !. but his head was in Agnes lap, and
she YVES bending over him with tears of
Joy streaming down her face.
AyHousAsD TONGUES
.rny,Id mt ovproou tro ra NJ -