The Yale expositor., 1901-11-29

n you will grant my request u WIZ
enable me TO die more calmly"
what do you want me to dor
asked.
ITO write n letter 90 the woman
love and send her the money belong
ing TO me and on deposit In New
York savings bank"
Certainly. | will cary out your
instructions faithfully"
THANK you. Now let M tell you
my story. | am n native OF Sweden.
My name Is Oscar - and my
family live ON a farm n few miles
from Stockholm. Two years ago
fell IN love with younc and pretty
girl (herc Is her picturel. the daughter
OF n farmer richer than my own peo-
pie. Her family opposed my suit. be-
cause | was comparatively poor, and
Christina and | were very unhappy.
In an evil moment l read letter
written by young nelghhor OF ours
who had gone TO America. He said he
had Joined the Union army on boun-
~ OF over $1,000 paid him on enlisting.
"A thousand dollars Is great deal
OF money In sweden. and decided
TO emigrate and become an American
soldier. To my surprise bountlos had
risen. and | got $1,000. all OF which Is
now in the bank. had no thought OF
ever deserving. being willing 10 take
my chances: so left sealed letter in
the bank. to he opened only In the
event OF my being killed In battle. IL
contains my VIII and bequeaths all
the money TO my sweetheart.
These two men who are 10 die on
the same scaffold with me. entered the
service fully resolved TO desert AZ the
first opportunity. One night while
we were on picket guard together at
Cedar Mountain. week or two before
the battle. they revealed 10 me their
purpose OF slipping through the lines
into Early's camp. and asked me TO go
with them. As an lnducement they
explained that after joining the Con-
| federates Il would be easy Co get trans
| ferred elsewhere and th we could
redesert. ana get free OF all military
duty.
"To this day | do not know why
consented TO take the step that has
proved SO fatal 10 all OF us. But l did.
and here am In heavy hons doomed
to an awful and disgraccful death.
Now. however. that you have prom
iscd TO grant my request | am more
resigned 10 my fate
Have you told this story to anyone
elsef" was my natural Inquiry.
mo. what would be the usey IL Is
no excuse for the military crime /
have committed. AS long as my girl
remains Ignorant regarding the pre-
else nature OF my death. IL viii he
happier for her. and In time she may.
with my money. get better nus
band"
took down In my notebook all the
necessary details. again promising TO
carry out his instructions. and the In
terview ended. oscar" being taken
back TO the guard tent. As he had
asked earnestly that would place my
self in front OF the scaffold, | obeyed.
Ii was bright. sunny November
morning. when the division TO which
these hapless men belonged was
paraded TO witness the execution. OBJ
tanning the necessary permission from
General Wright. stood beside the pro-
vost marshal and saw the men die.
Oscar" - that was not his name
as may well be supposed-stood Ia the
centre. As the moose was placed
around his neck he recognized my
presence, and. just before the cap was
drawn over his eyes. nc gave me n look
OF thanks which | shall never forget.
The next instant the drop fell.
In due time | wrote TO the young
woman. announcing her lovers death
"in front OF Petersburg" and the
bank transferred Oscars deposit
TO her. Three years after | received
letter from Sweden. saying that the
girl had never married. but died OF
grief. IL was the saddest tragedy that
came TO my notice during the entire
Wharf.-The Journalist.