Evening star., 1901-01-19

mound of earth lay along yawning, mar
row rectangle-a newly made grave. Shr.ll
and wa.ling and to the accompaniment OF
the throb and roll of the mournful mufffed
drums the notes of Pleyefs hymn arose and
fell on the heavy air, as into the square,
with slow funereal step, came marching
little column Foremost the field musi-
clans of the provost guard.
Then a lieutenant with a dozen infantry,
their arms reversed, their eyes downcast.
Following came two stan officers In saddle
and then Il two-horse team with a long,
open wagon. surrounded by guards. with
rifles loaded and on the shoulder. Within
the wagon. from which all but the drivers
seat had been removed, upon long, rec
tangular hoX of unpainted pine, sat a young
soldier in the union blue. The box nearly
filled the length of the wagon. and some
body in authority, noticing this, and being
possibly a deputy master of ceremonies for
the occasion, had told the line occupant to
sit faced to the rear. Obedient1y, passive
ly he had submitted, and with dark,
mournful eyes from which all light of earth
ly hope fire of soldier protest had fled,
he sat looking sadly over the crowded road
and over the dripping fields-over the heads
of the guards who followed close at the
acknowledgements whose very glances were
furtiVe and ashamed when they glanced at
all. In that solemn funeral procession
there came but one more vehicle, buggy,
in which, seated beside the hired driver.
was q grayhaired chaplain whose lips
seemed moving constantly. as though in
prayer: whose eyes were often upllfted, as
though imploring divine intercession; often
closed as though to shut out from sight
the unutterable sadness of the young face
before him; yet when they opened again
were fixed upon 1t in tenderness and SYM
pathy unspeakable Six thousand strong,
soldiers in rank, spectators in nudglng,
shouldering, neck stretching, gaping
SwarmS, the onlookerS watched the coming
of that mournful little cortege, and never
dreamed that that very morning, for over
half an hour, that gentle soldier of the
cross had earnestly. eloGuently, vehemently
pleaded with the general, at whose order
dAlth was to be dealt, despite the recon-
mendation of the court for mercy, and had
pleaded all in vain. Cruel? YeS!' was
the final answer. But unless this army
learn that death alone can be the punish
ment of the sentry who sleeps upon his
post, something far more cruel will happen
any night. [ would not remit it were he
my only SON
The head of the column had reached
the grave, and there, irresolute, marked
time The provost marshal, charged with
the execution OF the sentence. sat in sad
die, facing them. but knew not what to
do. Every ceremony laid down in the regu-
lationS. guard mount, review or dress pa
rade these fellows of the army of the Ohio
could be counted on to do without appre-
ciable flaw. Without ceremony, too, had
they done to death many a man along
their blazing front, but this ceremOnious
shooting of a fellow soldier in cold blood
was another matter. One colonel. refining
about, gave the command attention to his
graye-faced line The other two followed
suit. and military propTiety, so far as they
were concerned, had been observed. 1t was
the escort itself that seemed uncertain
and the column halted. Then the staff
officer and the provost marshal rode to-
gether and compared notes and opinions.
but none of the three had ever seen the
like before. and the mode of procedure WIS
not prescribed in the tactics. Just one
thing the provost marshal knew. and that
was, in case the firing party failed, through
nT del to Il tn ly;1l
condemned man, it would become his duty
TO finish him with the pistol, and the pro-
vost marshall was wondering what his wife
and children and fellow citizens of Chicago
would think of him amateur Cal
craft. and prayed to God the volley might
spare him-and not tn" prisoner.
Then the senior staff officer bade the
drums and flies strike up again and follow
him. He led them twenty yards beyond
the gaping mouth in the face of the field.
filed them to the left the escort followed.
and presently he had them in line again,
their backs to the center regiment. the
grave in their front, and beyond them. 900
yards away the upward slope of the Over
ton ridge to stop such bullets as might
elude the living target. The wagon too,
reined to one side. the buggy followed the
chaplain. with brimmng eyes, stepped
slowly forward and extended a helping
hand to the young soldier who thanked him
tailboard and stood erect. unbound. un-
shackled. and took his place by the chap
lain side. The guard looked unhappily
about them and the provost marshal. after
a whisper with his associates rode over
and said in low tone: Get that-that box
out some of you, and bring 1t over here"
1t took personal orders from the sergeant
TO induce three of the buard to lay their
rifles aside, and sliding the long box over
the creak1ng, protesting tailboard to bear
II over to the grave where. after much NUT
terlnS taik and impatient gesticulation it
was placed close to the edge of and parallel
with the cavity. the firing party meanwhile |
drearily looking on Then. over at the right
OF the regiment forming ane east side of
the square, a bugle sounded and little |
cavalcade came riding into view A general i
with four or five staff officers and half a !
dozen orderlies entered the square but ,
halted as soon well within as though un- |
Wiling to come closer to the scene Then !
the marshal and his friends again took |
counsel Il suppose you'n have to read the |
order, said he to the senior, "and-he |
ought to be at the coffin oughtn't he?"
he added in lower tone. |
Yes, and afterward he must be blind |
.oided. answered the other thanking God !
he didn't have to carry out his own sugges- |
ton.
Chaplain, will you and-and the prisoner
please step this way?" said the provost
marsnal. Right here-yes, that's ripbt =
Tor condemned soldier, calmly removing
ms cap. nad taken the position of attention. !
Don read-1ust yet whispered the ma !
Jor TO the assistant adjutant general, who |
sitting very high on his horse and clea ring
MS throat. was glancing about at the three
reSiHentai lines as though wondering if |
he was expected to make them all hear.
and yet sit facing the prisoner. In the
cum OF his gauntlet was tucked a CODY of !!
the fateful order, and he wanted to get |
through with his part of the business as
quickly as possible. Then he could ride off |
back of the brigadier-anywhere out of !
sight or seeing. But the provost had be- |
thought himself of another thing. One Of |
the twelve rifles told off for the execution
should be charged with only blank car
fridge. eleven with ball. One man was des- F,
tined to fire harmless shot. No man was |
to know which. Any man might. but for |
the kick. perhaps, believe that his was the |
blank and that therefore he had no part |
in the sad work. But how was this load |
ing to be accomplished without their know |
ing? This was something the major real |
lied he should have thought of before. |
Here. silent and somber. in line stood the |
firing squad There, huddled about the |,
wagon were the guards with their sergeant. I
An idea occurred to the officer: The rifles |
could be loaded by the guard while the con- |
demned man was facing the adjutant gen. |
eral and listening to the long order that |
presently was to end his earthly career. !
Then guards and firing party could tenn |
porarily exchange. Go ahead captain"
whispered he. ''read the order" And, |
glancing about him at the dull blue ranks |
of the silent sOuare the STAFF officer again |