Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-01-08

If you WIN grant my request 1t will
enable me to die more calmly"
"What DO you want me to do?"
asked.
ITO write q letter to the woman
love and send her the money belong
Ing to me and on deposit In a New
York savings fank."
Certainly. l win carry ont your
instructions faithfully"
"Thanh you. Now let me tell you
my story. l am a native OF Sweden.
MY name is Oscar ---- and my
family live On farm a few miles
from Stockholm. Two years ago I
fcll IN love with young and pretty
girl (herp is her picture), the daughter
OF farmer richer than my own peo-
pie. Her family opposed my suit. be-
cause I was comparatively poor, and
Christina and / were very unhappy.
In an evil moment l read a letter
written by young neighbor of ours
who had gone to America. lie said he
had Joined the Union army on boun-
ty Of over $1,000 paid him on eniisting.
Of money IN Sweden. and 1 decided
to emigrate and become an American
soldier. TO my surprise bounties had
risen. and got $1,000, all OF which is
now in the bank. I had no thought of
ever Deserving, being willing to take
my chances; so left sealed letter In
the bank, to be opened only In the
event of my being killed in battle. 1t
contains my VIII and beQueaths all
the money To my sweetheart.
''These two men who are to die ON
the same scafRold with me, entered the
service fully resolved to desert at the
first opportunity. One night while
we were on picket guard together at
Cedar Mountain, week or two before
the battle, they revealed to me their
purpose Of slipping through the lines
into Early's camp, and asked me to go
with them. AS an inducement they
explained that after joining the Con-
federates it would be easy to get trans
ferrcd elsewhere and then we could
redesert, and get free OF all military
duty.
"To this day I do not know why
l consented to take the step that has
! proved so fatal to all OF us. But / did.
and here 1 am in heavy irons doomed
| to an awful and dsgraceful death.
Now, however, that you have prom
lsed to grant my request, 1 am more
resigned to my fate"
"Have you told this story to anyone
else?' was my natural inquiry.
NO, what would be the use? 1t Is
10 excuse for the military crime
have committed. as long as my girl
remains ignorant regarding the pre-
else nature of my death, 1t will be
happier for her, and IN time she may,
with my money, get a better hus-
band"
l 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 l would place my
self in front of the scaffold, l obeyed.
1t was a bright sunny November
these haplcss 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 supposod-stood in the
centre, AS the moose was placed
around his neck he recognized my
presence, and, just before the cap vas
drawn over his eyes, he save me look
of thanks which l shall never forget.
The next instant the drop fell.
In due time l wrote to the young
woman, announcing her lovers death
"in front Of Petersburg" and the
bank transferred Oscars" deposit
to her. Three years after I received
letter from Sweden, saying that the
girl had never married, but died of
grief 1t was the saddest tragedy that
came to my notice during the entire
wGr-The Journalist.