Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12

say. There had been no opportunity for
condolences. The Lanes had heard with
great sorrow. said she, of this new trouble
that had come upon him. but were conf
dent, at least Mrs. Lane SO expressed her.
self. that he would come through with
flying colors. Daisy, speaking Of color,
had little or none. Daisy looked white and
wan. Her mother said it was The heat.
They had been accustomed to go to the
country for the summer. but this year they
felt they could not leave Cincinnati. Mr..
with McDowers corps. and they were very
anxious, for "Stonewalf' Jackson was near
ing the Rapidan. Mcclellan was hurrying
out of the peninsula.
The army didn't like or trust the new
general from the west. and things were at
skies and sevens. Mr.. Lane wrote that he
was fearful that big battles would be fought
around Washington. and that the south
would make dash on Cincinnati. MRS.
Lane talked all the time said Kate. 1t
was Mr.. Lane said this, or Mr.. Lane wrote
that Mr.. Lane thought all manner OF
things, and it was evident to the clear
sighted girl that Mrs. Lane was nervous,
anxious and i'll at ease, that her incessant
chatter was to prevent questioning OF
either Daisy or herself, and so. although
Kate had stayed and lunched with them
she came away with as little knowledge OF
their real sentiments toward Norman as
when she entered the house. Neither had
to what she considered his persecution OF
Norman. But there had been one sgnif-
cant episode to which she made no allusion
whatever. She did not wish Norman to
know that, as she left the house, followed
to the door wistfully by Daisy, volubiy by
her mother, there on the steps, as though
just about to enter, stood portly, pros
perous-looking, somewhat overdressed man
of fifty years or more whom Mrs. Lane
at once addressed as Senator and whom
Miss Ray knew at once to be the senior
Malloy. AS she glanced back over her
shoulder she saw one piteous look in Daisy's
white face and it haunted her all the way
to Nashville. Thither had they journeyed
under escort Of Major Marshall. a near
neighbor and old friend. There had they
communicated at once with Enyart, and
presented their letter to the commanding
general who received 1t and then obviously,
and within forty-eight hours OF their ar
rival Enyart received orders to the front.
Marshall to the rear, and the ladies were
politely told that Major Marshall would
escort them back to Louisville, where ruieo
a new general commanding the department,
a patriot who knew not kentuckyians ana
feared them, even gift-bearing and profess
ing loyalty. Kate Ray was wrathful, IN
curbed the rising indignation and ready
tongue 1t was Bob" Enyart who most
felt and could least resent the generals
BE of good cheer, Holt, my boy" he
had said to the prisoner, as he shook MS
hand. Even if they have to find in ac-
ccrdance with-that one-sided evidence,
they'll be sure to recommend. and When
the case comes up for review you'll be all
right"
"Be of good cheer, Norman murmered
Kate, with trimming eyes: as sne clas sen
both his hands in hers. Somebody's been
at work telling tales at our expense, as
they have at yours but once back In Ken
lucky we watch over your interests
and will.
Be of good cheer indeed. One or two
junior members of the court in the course
of the long long trial that followed strove
to cross-question and to extract evidence
that might tend to shake the strong tes-
timony accommodating hour by hour against
him. but. just as before. when captain
Wing could have cleared him of the charge
of treachery, at Belleview, so, now. the one
man whose evidence might save him was
either dead prisoner In the enemy
lines. Neither Wing nor Corpora! Connolly
had yet been heard from. In those days
the accused could not take the witness
stand in his own behalf. He could only
make a statement. In those days the Judge
advocate was not excluded. as now, from
the deliberations of the court upon the evil
dence He was there to argue and plead. II
need be. the cause against the prisoner ana
did 1t. On the last day Of the trial Norman
Holt had read with choking voice his brlei
soldierly but solemn appeal. He reiterated
what Malloy had denied under oatn. tnat
the one witness who could have aided MIN
had been practically ordered by Malioy 10
cross the bridge, to creep within earsnot OF
the enemy. He declared that he believed
now that it was all part of deliberately
arranged plan to ruin him. He believed the
coffee given him had been drugged. He mad
no evidence of any kind to offer. unless
they could summon his old captain as 10
character, or that new young prlsaalef sen-
eral. Sheridan who had urged ms nsts
commissioned. The judge advocate SAID ne
was ready to admit that the captain couln
testify to his having been a soldier without
a. flaw so might Sheridan, though he had
only seen him once. These were. after ALL
matters Of individual opinion and had moth
ing to do with the case. The question be-
fore the court was whether or no Holt hau
gone to sleep on his post IN the lmmeuiare
front of the enemy; and when the court
was cleared and closed for deliberat1on the
prosecution remained to argue. the defense
| went back to jail
/ And three weeks later, with a stroke Of
his pen the general commanding the de-
nartment-Grant and Buell. being further to
| the south watching the mysterious moves
| of Beauregard and Brags-approseae me me
| court "two-thirds Of the members Thereon
| occurring that Private Norman Holt.
| Company c, -th Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
| guilty of the crime Of sleeping on post De
| shot to death by musketry.
There was a strange, solemn scene Wnen.
| l., the presence Of his guard and certain or
| the prisoners. the order promulgatlns that
sentence was read. The young officer on
whom devolved the painful duty, mad
marched with him many day shoulder to
shoulder in the battalion of cadets. ana
| though not in the same class. mao kno WI
! him well, and so was not surprised at the
| calm, resolute bearing Of the almost friend
| less soldier. Holt we'll knew what to ex-
meet Before the order was in print the
rumor was on the streets and flying from
| camp to camp.
'"The-the date will be announced In
day or two said the aid-de-camp. In a
voice that grew husky and almost inaudtbia
Something in Norman's sp4ae, sad face.
moved him In spite Of official effort. Tha
| general has directed me to ask if you have
| any-any wishes to express"
yes" said Norman. promptly, firmly
Eyes, one. 1 ask that the officer who swore
my life away may be required to complete
his wOrk-that Lieutenant Malloy be or
dered to command the firing party"
CTo be COntinued)
PIT