The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-08-06

NszS0 canvas roof of a great tent In
the heart Of the encamped divisions at
the headquarters of the army of the
south. In the tent there was a densely
packed throng, IN immense. close,
hushed. listening crowd, of which ev-
cry man wore the uniform Of France,
for they were In court. and that court
was the court martial of their own
southern camp.
The prisoner was arraigned on the
heaviest charge that a be laid against
the soldier of any army. and yet. as the
tany eyes of the military crowd turn.
ed on him where he stood surrounded
by his guard. his crime against his
chief was forgotten. and they only re-
membered Zaraila. He preserved en-
tire reticence In court. The instant the
accusation had been read to him be
had seen that his chief would not dare
to couple with 1t the proud. pure name
he had dared to outrage. His most
bitter anxiety was bus at an end. For
all the rest he was tranquil.
No case could be clearer, briefer. less
complex, more entirely incapable of de-
Tense. The soldiers Of the guard gave
evidence as to the violence and fury Of
the assault. The accuser merely stated
that. meeting bis corporal out Of the
bounds of the cavalry camp. he had
asked him where he had been and on
his commanding an answer had been
assaulted In the manne described
with violence sufficient to have cost his
life had not the guard been so near at
hand. The statement passed without
contradiction by the prisoner. who only
replied that the facts were stated ac-
curately as they occurred and that his
reasons for the deed he declined to as
sert. When 1t was finally demanded
of him II he had aught to urge in his
ex%tenuatlon, he paused n moment.
with a gaze under which even the hard
eagle eyes grew restless. looked across
to ~Chateauroy and addressed his an.
tagonist rather than the president:
"Only thls-that a tyrant. a liar and
a traducer cannot wonder II men pre-
fer death to submission beneath insult.
But | am well aware that this Is no
ylndication of my act as a soldier, and
l have no desire to say words which.
whatever their truth. might become
hereafter dangerous legacies and dan
gerous presidents to the army"
That was all which he answered, and
neither his counsel nor his accusers
could extort another syllable from him.
He never moved once while the decree
Of death was read to him. and there
was no change In the weary calmness
of his eyes. He bent his head In &C.
quiescence.
at is WELL" he said simply.
1t seemed well to him. Dead, bis
secret would lie in the grave with him
and the long martyrdom of his life be
ended.
In the brightness of the noon Ciga-
rette leaned out of her little oval case
ment. and, for the first time also. hap
piness was not with her.
They were gone forever-all the elias
tic joyance. all the free. fair hours. all
the dauntless gayety Of childhood, all
the sweet. harmonious laughter of a
heart without a care. They were gone
forever. for the touch of love and pain
had been laid on her. and never again
would her radiant eyes smile cloud
lessiy. like the young eagles. at a sun
that rose but to be greeted as only
youth can greet another dawn Of life
that Is without a shadow. To her 1t
seemed impossible that this patrician
who had his passion should not return
It She only thought of love as she
had always seen lt-quickly born. holly
cherished. wholly INDUCED and without
tie or restraint.
"ADd | came without my v%engeancev'
she unused. To the nature that Eel,
the ferocity Of the vendetta a right
and a due there was wounding humili.
alton In her knowledge that she had
left her rival unharmed and had come
hithcr. out from his sight and bis
presence. lest be should see In her ono
glimpse OF that folly which she would
! nsye killed herself under her own steel