El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-15
Mot one that will go. general. but
no ya an hQurNlaSS here,

livery well; set it running. Collect
your men and exactly at the hour lead
them to the west front. 1t is but five
minutes quick march from here. An
hour and five minutes from this mo-
ment / expect you to begin the attack,
and the moment you are before the
western gate make as much noise as
your % men are capable of SO as to
lead the enemy to believe that the at
tack is a serious one
81 set the hourglass running and went
at once to call my men, stationing them
where l had been ordered to place
them. l returned to have a word with
Gretlich before l departed on what l
knew was a dangerous mission. Glanc-
ing at the hourglass, 1 saw that not
more than a quarter of the sand had
run down during my absence. 1 re-
manned in the doorway where l could
keep an eye on the hourglass, while the
girl stood leaning her arm against the
angle of the dark passageway, support
ing her fair cheek on her open palm.
and standing thus in the darkness she
talked to me in whispers. We talked
and talked, engaged in that sweet, end
less conversation that murmurS in SUBJ
dued tone round the world, being .du-
plicated that moment at who knows
how many places. Absorbed as l was
in listening, at last there crept into my
consciousness the fact that the sand in
the upper bulb was not diminishing as
fast as it should. This knowledge was
fully in my mind for some time before
l realized it's fearful significance. Sud
denly the dim knowledge took an actu-
atty. 1 sprang from the door Intel,
saying:
"'Good heavensl The sand in the
hourglass has stopped runningr
81 remained there motionless, all ac-
ton struck from my rigid limbs. gaz-
ing at the hourglass on the table.
Gretlich, peering in at the doorway and
looking at the hourglass and not at me.
having no suspicion of the ruin in
volved in the stoppage Of that minia-
ture sandstorm. said presently:
"'Oh. yes; forgot to tell you it does
that now and then, and so you must
shake the glass
"She bent forward as If to do this
when the leaden windows shuddered,
and the house itself trembled with the
sharp crash of our light cannon, fol-
lowed almost Immediately by the deep
er defamation of the heavier guns from
the citadel. The red sand in the glass
began to fall again and its liberation
seemed to unfetter my paralyzed limbs.
Bareheaded as / was, l rushed like one
frantic along the passage and down
the stairs. The air was resonant with
the quick following reports of the can
non. and the long, narrow street was
fitfully lit up as if by quick flashes of
summer lightning. My men were still
standing where l had placed them.
Giving a quick word of command. l
marched them down the street and out
into the square, where l met General
Trelawny coming back from his futile
assault. Like myself. he was bare
headed. and his white hair bristled
with rage. His military countenance
was begrimed with powder smoke. but
he spoke to me with no trace of anger.
Lieutenant Sentore,' he said, dis
perse your men,
II gave the word to disband my men.
and Their stood at attention before him.
Lieutenant Sentore.' he said. In
the same level voice. return to your
quarters and consider yourself under
arrest. Await my coming there I
turned and obeyed his orders. 1t SEEM
ed incredible that the sand should still
be running in the hourglass. for ages
had passed over my head since last I
was in that room. I paced up and
down awaiting the coming Of my chief.
feeling neither fear nor regret. but
rather dumb despair. In a few min
utes his heavy tread was on the stair,
followed by the measured tramp Of a
file Of men. He came into the room
and with him were sergeant and four
soldiers. fully armed. The general was
trembling with rage, but held strong
control over himself. as was his habit
or serious occasions. Lieutenant Sen
tore he said. why were you not at
your postY
THE running sand in the hourglass'
Il hardly recognized my own voice on
hearing IT. stopped when but half ex-
hausted. 1 did not notice it's Interrupt
ton until it was too late
"The general glanced grimly Mt the
hourglass. The last sands were falling
through to the lower bulb. 1 saw that
he did not believe my explanation.
1T seems now to be in perfect work
ing order he said ut last.
HE strobe up to it and reversed 1t.
watching the sand pour for a few mo-
ments: then he spoke abruptly:
Lieutenant Sentore, your sword
81 handed my weapon to him without
a word. Turning to the sergeant. he
said:
Lieutenant Sentore is sentenced to