Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-03-05
ACCUSED OF
TREACHERY
GOriginal.]


but seldom Of the war with Mexico.
Surely you, a veteran Of that war.
must have some adventure to tell"
The girl addressed a man Of eighty,
shriveled and silver haired, but sitting
erect in his chair with something Of
the bearing Of soldier.
"There is zone episode 1 could tell
you, Alice, but it is very sad"
"Tell it anyway"
"In the brigade with which I served
there was a young fellow from Louisi-
ana, Adrian Picard. lieutenant of artil-
lery, a typical southerner Of the high
est class. He was handsome as pic
ture and one Of the few men have
met who seemed to be at all times I'M
conscious of fear. There was a time
when we were detained in the same
encampment waiting developments. l
don't now remember what, but during
this time Picard used to ride about
recklessly outside the lines, at first by
daylight, but afterward at night. 1t
was noticed by his brother officers that
on every third night he would grow inn
patient for the darkness, and when it
did come would mount his horse and
ride away. One night Blanchard Of the
cavalry took it into his head to follow
him. The next day at the mess table
we were badgering Picard about his
nocturnal rides when Blanchard sheer
fngly remarked:
when an officer rides at night in the
direction Of the enemy, it is time his
rides were stopped"
"We all sat aghast at this charge of
treachery. The two men being from
the south, where dueling was common,
we knew what would follow. Never
theless everything was kept so secret
that l had no suspicion till 2 o'clock
the next morning, when my terminate.
Tom Ingersol, stole out and away,
thinking that he had not awakened
me. Since he was Picard's intimate
friend, felt assured he had gone to be
with him at meeting with Blanchard.
"At breakfast Picard was not with
us. Bankhard was there, looking very
much disturbed, and several others,
including my terminate, were distressed
beyond measure.
"'Where is Picard? asked.
'The query was like dropping shell
in the midst of the party. For mo-
ment there was no reply. Then fnger-
sol said resolutely, as though he would
resent any denial of his statement:
"'Picard has been killed. Last night
several of us made reconnaissance
toward the enemy's lines, and Picard
got bullet in his heart
Every one at the table knew that
the story was made up to prevent, If
possible, any inquiry into the real
cause of Picard's death, and every one
knew that he had been killed in duel
by Blanchard. But no one disputed
the explanation, and we went on eat
ing our breakfast without further ref
erence to the matter. though there was
no great appetite in any of US. We all
blamed Blanchard till his second made
1t known to us that on the night he
had followed Picard he had seen him
ride into the enemy's lines, following a
wooded ravine. Picard had evidently
found a way Of getting within the lines
and carrying his information to head
quarters unobserved.
"A few days later we broke camp,
moved forward half dozen miles and
camped near a hacienda surrounded
by q high hedge. After supper Inger-
sol tapped me on the shoulder, saying:
"'Come with me. don't care to be
accused of giving information to the
enemy and want you for witness
'We went to the hacienda, stood at
the gate watching for an opportunity
to enter unobserved and. finding one,
went inside, where we could not be
seen from without on account of the
hedge. After walk of nearly mile
we came to the house. There Ingersol
gave "a servant his card, on which he
had written, "A friend of Lieutenant
Picard and told him to take it to Sc
nOrita Herrera.
.In few minutes the lady entered.
She was about your age, Alice, and
very nearly your build. In other re-
spects she was very different. She had
an immense coil Of jet black hair, and
her eyes were also very black and very
large. Her complexion was olive. with
a red tinge in each cheek. AS she came
in she was the picture of anxiety. her
great orbs darting from one to the
other of us as if uncertain which was
the friend of Picard and sure that
there was bad news i'm store for her.
81 am Mr.. Ingersol,' said my COM
panion. I come with message from
Lieutenant Picard
"She staggered back. placing her
hand for support on table.
"'Oh. senor.' she said family. it is a
FAREWELL
"Ingersol bent his face to the floor.
either TO hide his emotion or in an as
sent he did not care to give in words.
i kept my eyes on the girl and. seeing
that she was about to swoOn. caught
her in my arms and laid her on sofa.
''She revived presently and. summon
ing her resolution. heard the story
which Ingersol had been commissioned
to tell her by Picard should he fall in
the duel.
1.-THE man who had fought rather
than explain his motive had met the
senorita, fallen, In love with her and
visited her under cover of the night"
The story andad and there waa N